President of the General Assembly, Philemon ·, speaks at the opening of the general debate

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Speaking at the opening of the general debate of the General Assembly, the President of the General Assembly, Fhelmon · Young, said that the road ahead is fraught with obstacles that sometimes seem insurmountable, but they are not insurmountable. These challenges can be overcome if people act together, with courage and faith.

He said it was lagging behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat, it is just around the corner, wreaking havoc on ecosystems and destroying the livelihoods of entire communities.

From the Middle East to Ukraine, from Haiti to South Sudan, conflicts are raging, causing death, destruction and immense suffering, he said. I call for an immediate ceasefire in all these conflict environments.

Call for a ceasefire in Gaza

Philemon · Young said that for nearly a year, the people of Gaza and Israel have been caught in a vicious circle of conflict and reprisals. He called for an immediate ceasefire in the Kazakh-Israeli war and for the unconditional release of all hostages. All parties must abide by international law, including international humanitarian law, and work towards a just and lasting solution based on the Charter of the United Nations, relevant resolutions and international law that ensures the dignity of Palestinians and Israel.

He stressed that only a two-State solution could end the cycle of violence and instability and ensure peace, security and dignity for Palestinians and Israel.

Eliminate the nuclear threat

Philemon · Young said people should come together for peace and the well-being of citizens. We should not divert the necessary resources to military stockpiles and fuel an arms race unprecedented since the cold war era.

He said that nuclear weapons continue to threaten humanity and our planet. Nuclear war must not be fought, and conditions for the use or accidental explosion of nuclear weapons must always be avoided. He called for urgent measures to be taken to dismantle these tools of destruction of humanity and the environment.

Eradicate hatred

Old hatreds rooted in prejudice and ignorance remain, and new divisions have resurfaced, according to Philemon · younger. The growing mistrust between States complicates the prospects for the peaceful settlement of disputes between States. He said it was time to step up efforts to build trust and engage in dialogue. He stressed that trust and dialogue were integral to human dignity and a prerequisite for lasting peace and security.

Promote equality

Gender equality remains a distant goal, as many women and girls around the world are still denied basic rights, justice and opportunities, Philemon · Young said.

Globally, he said, we are witnessing disturbing regressions in the protection of human rights and human dignity. Millions of people remain trapped in poverty, their lives limited by forces beyond their control. Forced labour and modern slavery, which extends even to school-age boys and girls, are an affront to human dignity. Every society must fight against it at all times.

International cooperation

Philemon · Young said there was an urgent need to reform the international financial system, as too many countries were still burdened with heavy debt burdens and forced to choose between repaying loans and improving the lives of their citizens.

At the same time, he said, the digital divide continues to widen, depriving entire people of the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century.

He noted that international cooperation is based on the undeniable fact that even the most powerful countries cannot solve these complex, borderless challenges alone. The efforts of the international community at the Summit of the Future and the unanimous adoption of the Future Pact have once again confirmed that truth.

Putting Africa at the center

Philemon · Young said that the challenges faced by small island developing States, landlocked developing countries, least developed countries and small countries must not be overlooked. It is incumbent upon the United Nations to do more than show solidarity.

He noted that Africa was one of the priorities of the United Nations. Africa is currently the youngest region in the world in terms of population. By 2063, one out of every four people will be African. Africa's potential must not be left unrealized. Indeed, to truly unleash Africa's enormous potential, we must actively foster a global partnership that aligns with the continent's aspirations and drives the continent to success.