The United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Remarks for the UN Day 2024 ‘Sustainable Peace and Security’

The United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Remarks for the UN Day 2024

‘Sustainable Peace and Security’

October 22, 2024

Your Excellency Mr. Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Your Excellencies the Ministers, Governors, Ambassadors and Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps and our partners in the State of Kuwait

Dear Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

All protocols observed,

Greetings,

We welcome you to the seventy-ninth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and together we commemorate the sixty-first anniversary of the partnership between the United Nations and the State of Kuwait.

This long and effective partnership reflects Kuwait's enduring commitment to multilateralism and world peace.

Your Excellencies and Dear Guests,

Today, we face a world where peace is increasingly fragile. The ongoing conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, and other parts of the world directly affect the lives and future of nations, peoples, and individuals. These conflicts cause severe suffering in which lives are lost and human dignity is violated through displacement, refuge, poverty, and lack of basic service.

Today, we witness an exacerbation of these crises and an increase in the challenges facing the global system. The United Nations and the Security Council, established to maintain global security, are facing an unprecedented test of the effectiveness of their efforts to ensure peace for future generations.

This requires the entire world to return to the fundamental principles of human rights and the Charter of the United Nations. Our predecessors in the international community pledged, through international agreements and conventions, not to repeat the atrocities witnessed during the Second World War. Today, it is our collective responsibility to honor this pledge.

We must work together to ensure that this “global town hall” remains effective in carrying out its duties and essential role in promoting international peace and security. The United Nations system has proven its effectiveness when it was able to unite our voices despite differences and transform them into decisive actions to restore peace and sovereignty over territory for member states in the United Nations.

Today, peace requires more than words - it requires decisive leadership and serious action in a world where geopolitical divisions are increasing, and international laws and conventions are increasingly violated. Conflicts have become more complex and more violent, and the civilian death toll has increased.

Peace for me is a personal matter, and I have lived through conflicts and atrocities and felt their agonizing pain in my country, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia, Somalia, Ukraine, and the list goes on. I experienced the meanings of loss for the families of the dead and missing, displacement, disintegration and fragmentation, and how great wounds they leave behind that take generations to heal. Therefore, I believe that peacebuilding process, no matter how challenging, is more effective than responding to the aftermaths of conflicts and their long-lasting effects.

Your Excellencies and Honorable Guests,

Kuwait, with its commitment to multilateralism and its efforts and belief in the necessity of respecting international conventions, has continued to play its role in peace and security, and has remained a committed partner of the United Nations in the journey of peace and development. We are proud to work closely with the Government of Kuwait to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals as a fundamental pillar for establishing the foundations of sustainable peace. Kuwait has provided financial support and assistance to development projects and humanitarian assistance for people affected by conflicts throughout a long journey that has remained and continues to stand as a witness to an unwavering belief in solidarity and collective action. UN agencies have also continued to work in true partnership with the Government and people of Kuwait in various areas of development such as economic diversification, youth empowerment, health, education, climate action, human rights, governance, and others.

In the past year alone, we have witnessed remarkable cooperation in several areas, including supporting governance and transparency, which helped Kuwait improve its ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index, in addition to innovation in assistive technology for people with special needs. We have also worked on policies related to childhood, elderly health, strengthening economic policies, and environmental projects such as the Sand and Dust Storm project and Kuwait Plantation Campaign.

Your Excellencies and Dear Guests,

During the past year that I spent in Kuwait, I was touched by the generosity of this country and its people. Kuwait’s long history as a global trading hub has fostered a spirit of openness and hospitality, values ​​that remain a fundamental part of the nation’s identity today.

Kuwait is now ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa region in the 2024 Global Peace Index, and 25th globally. This is a major achievement for the Government of Kuwait, and I extend my warmest congratulations to the leadership and people of Kuwait on this achievement. But at the same time, this achievement highlights the profound responsibility that lies with Kuwait as a peacemaker in a region that has been the least peaceful in the world for the ninth year in a row.

Dear Guests,

With only six years left until 2030 to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and 11 years to achieve Kuwait Vision 2035, time is running out but we are very optimistic about Kuwait’s efforts to direct resources and energy towards achieving Kuwait’s vision.

We look forward to a bright future where the forthcoming Strategic Cooperation Framework will guide our cooperation with the Government and people of Kuwait in key areas such as diversified economic growth, education reforms, women and youth empowerment, clean energy, digitalization, and public health. Under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the United Nations in Kuwait will continue to work side by side with all partners to ensure that no one is left behind in our shared journey towards Sustainable Development Goals.

Excellencies and Distinguished Guests,

The United Nations House here in Kuwait will remain your space to come together, to share ideas, set agendas, innovate programs and work towards our shared goals. The United Nations in Kuwait is committed to continuing its role as a trusted partner to the Government of Kuwait in achieving Kuwait Vision 2035 and the Sustainable Development Goals for people, peace, planet, prosperity and progress.

Once again welcome to the United Nations House and thank you for listening.