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  4. Multilateralism After COVID 19: What Kind of UN Do We Need At The 75th Anniversary?

Multilateralism after COVID 19: what kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary?

ECOSOC held a high-level conversation among leaders on global solidarity and renewed multilateralism during times of crisis and in the continuing pursuit of long-term sustainable development. The session was a substantive contribution of ECOSOC to the 75th Anniversary Commemoration of the United Nations held under the overall theme of “The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism.”

This session reflected on the kind of multilateralism needed today to deliver a forward looking and effective collective response to global crises such as COVID-19 and long-term challenges such as climate change, while accelerating progress towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Central to the discussion was the role of the UN and its institutions in charting the way forward towards more trusted and impactful international cooperation.

Against the backdrop of a changing international environment, the session focused on critical forces shaping the trajectory of multilateralism and explore ways to reinvigorate the multilateral agenda through strong multilateral leadership, effective international institutions and an enhanced focus on global public goods and justice for all.

The event also considered how to evolve towards a more “inclusive multilateralism” by strengthening the voices and participation of civil society, the private sector, academia and other non-state actors in the work of the United Nations.

Proposed guiding questions:

  • What concrete steps could the international community take, through the United Nations, to enhance global solidarity and international cooperation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic?
  • In light of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, what would an “ideal United Nations” look like and how can we get there?
  • What actions would need to be taken to make the work of the UN more open and inclusive?
  • Looking ahead, what is the role and contribution of ECOSOC in a reinvigorated and strengthened multilateral system that is fit for addressing short and long-term global challenges, including the provision of global public goods and justice for all?

The recording of the session can be found here and here

9:45 AM – 10:30 AM:  Opening and panel

Chair:

  • H.E. Ms. Mona Juul, President of Economic and Social Council

Remarks:

  • Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations

Moderator:

  • H.E. Mr. Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister of Australia, International Peace Institute

Resource persons:

  • Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD
  • H.E. Ms. Yasmine Fouad, President of the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 14) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
  • Mr. Zhang Xinsheng, President, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
  • Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director, UN Global Compact
  • Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth
  • Ms. Julia Sanchez, Chair of the Board of CIVICUS

10:30 AM-11:30 AM:  Statements by Member States

Chair:

  • H.E. Ms. Mona Juul, President of Economic and Social Council

Statements:

Heads of State or Government
H.E. Ms. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister, NORWAY
H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, INDIA

H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, CHINA

H.E. Mr. Pedro Brolo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, GUATEMALA
H.E. Ms. Gila Gamliel, Minister of Environmental Protection, ISRAEL
H.E. Ms. Maria Ubach Font, Minister of Foreign Affairs, ANDORRA
H.E. Ms. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, JAMAICA
H.E. Mr. Carmelo Abela, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, MALTA
H.E. Mr. Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, PAKISTAN
H.E. Mr. Jorge Arreaza, Chancellor, BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA
H.E. Ms. Alexandra Hill, Minister of Foreign Affairs, EL SALVADOR
H.E. Mr. Christian Guillermet, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs, COSTA RICA
H.E. Ms. Martha Delgado Peralta, Vice-Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, MEXICO
H.E. Ms. Erika Mouynes, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, PANAMA
H.E. Ms. Norma Allegra Cerrato, Vice-minister for International Cooperation and Promotion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Honduras, HONDURAS
H.E. Ms. Sevinj Hasanova, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AZERBAIJAN
H.E. Ms. Rosemarie G. Edillon, Undersecretary of the National Economic and Development Authority, PHILIPPINES

KAZAKHSTAN (On behalf of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries)
EUROPEAN UNION
DENMARK
AFGHANISTAN
SWITZERLAND
ETHIOPIA
MOROCCO
INDONESIA
SIERRA LEONE
AUSTRALIA
THAILAND
PARAGUAY
FRANCE
EGYPT
BANGLADESH
MADAGASCAR
NEPAL
PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA
JORDAN