“Presidency of Hope” is what this moment in time calls for, says President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid.
In his speech at the opening of the 76th Session of the UNGA early Wednesday, the Maldivian Foreign Minister noted that “hope” was embraced as the theme of his presidency, as he believes “this is what this moment in time calls for”.
During the speech, UNGA President Shahid expressed keen interest to work closely with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, adding that he is well aware of his priorities of “Restoring Trust and Inspiring Hope”.
FM Shahid assured SG Guterres that he will find in him, a “willing partner”, whether it is prioritizing gender parity within UN, or launching a global conversation on building a better future for all or even improving the United Nation’s response to current and future challenges.
One of Shahid’s priorities for his “Presidency of Hope” is to continue the recovery from Covid-19. With this being said, during his inaugural speech, the UNGA President stressed that the globe did not experience the pandemic in number, but on a personal level, having lost loved ones, facing restrictions on personal freedom due to lockdowns, having been distanced from family and friends, observing hospitals getting overwhelmed, lay-offs and economic hardships among impacts on the mental wellbeing of many such as grief and anxiety.
While the global communities are being enveloped in news that immerse them further in anxiety such as climate change, disasters, instability and conflict, the UNGA President noted that there is urgency for change in the narrative that these issues dominate global airwaves.
He noted that UNGA must play a part in providing assurance for the trorubled people who seek signs that things will “indeed” get better and that tomorrow, “will be better”.
The very mention of the United Nations conjures up images of world leaders standing before the world, standing against this green marble backdrop. To billions of people, the United Nations represents an ideal, an aspiration. It represents a promise of a brighter future. While the pandemic unleashed an unprecedented crisis, we have witnessed incredible acts of kindness and compassion, acts that reaffirmed our common humanity and collective strength as ‘nations united’. Let us draw upon that collective humanity now.”Abdulla Shahid, UNGA President.
Highlighting that his presidency revolves around hope, Shahid noted that it is never “overrated or cliché” and that it drives the people to not give up, despite the odds seeming high.
Seven billion people of this planet are united in one common humanity; hope.
With this being said, Shahid stated that the UNGA must stand before the people of the globe and demonstrate to them, that “we are aware of their plight and their anxiety, we are listening, we are willing to work together to overcome these problems and the United Nations is as relevant to today’s crisis as it was 76-years ago during the aftermath of the Second World War”.
Shahid’s ultimate objective is to strengthen multilateralism, enhance cooperation, make the UN deliver, and reign in a “Presidency of Hope”, which revolves around five main priorities. Which are, as per order, continuing the recovery from Covid-19, build back better, stronger, bluer, and greener, responding to the needs of the planet, continuing to promote, protect human rights, address inequalities and injustice, and continue efforts to empower and reform the United Nations.
On his first priority, Shahid noted that his main focus is not vaccinating the entire globe, adding that more efforts need to be put on closing the gap to vaccine access.
A high-level thematic debate on vaccine equity will be held with leading experts and world leaders, said Shahid.
I am glad to announce that the city of New York will also be offering vaccination and testing resources for all the attendees of the High-Level Week. I urge all of you to be an example to the world, and do our part in following local requirements. “Abdulla Shahid, UNGA President.
Shedding light on his second ray of hope, Shahid noted that he will be engaging with the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations System, and International Financial Institutions to help ensure that the socio-economic recovery is forward thinking.
Discussions on joint efforts regarding building back bluer, greener and more resilient are already underway, he noted.
The Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, to be held in Doha in January 2022, will be one such avenue. The ongoing discussions on the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index will be another.”Abdulla Shahid, UNGA President.
Further, Shahid will also be announcing the reconstituted Advisory Board on Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States in the next few days. He also pledged to convene a high-level climate change event in October, prior to the COP26 summit, in responding to the needs of the planet.
The goal is to galvanize the collective ambition and push for concrete actions that deliver change, Shahid said, adding that he will also hold a high-level thematic debate on the efforts needed to address the interlocking challenges facing our environment towards the ends of the 76th session.
Respecting the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family will lay at the heart of every process that we as member states embark on during the 76th session.”Abdulla Shahid, UNGA President.
In addition, the Maldivian Foreign Minister added that he intends to reconstitute the Gender Advisory Board, on gender issues and repeated his earlier pledge to only participate on panels that are gender balanced.
Shahid assured that he has made training courses on gender equality and prevention of sexual harassment mandatory, for all of his staff.
Adding that he plans to launch the “President of General Assembly Youth Fellowship Programme”, Shahid stated that this will be a signature initiative to empower youth communities. By offering opportunities to young diplomats and civil servants from underrepresented countries, the global multilateral system will be strengthened, thus opening more doors for youth.
On UN reform and revitalization, we must once again, make the United Nations a forum for all. A forum of “We the Peoples”. To achieve this, I will work on enhancing the participation of civil society organizations. I will engage regularly with civil society and youth, through townhalls and engagements with both CSOs and young people. I promised an Office that is gender balanced, multi-national, with geographical diversity. I am proud to announce that my team is indeed gender balanced, including my senior cabinet.”Abdulla Shahid, UNGA President.
UNGA President Shahid noted that although it has been a challenging and tragic year, this is a new session and “we can fall back on the comfort and predicatblitiy of the systems and procedures on the UN machinery that fills our days” or choose to push forward and turn the page.
A hopeful president noted that they “can choose to write a new chapter”, which he has urged.
Let us choose the latter, let us dare to dream and let us dare, to hope, to embrace, the Presidency of Hope.”Abdulla Shahid, UNGA President.
