UN matters more than ever, says Germany’s Baerbock in her run to lead General Assembly
The former German foreign minister, who is running for president of the UN General Assembly, gave a speech outlining her goals for the position, promising to make the global organization more inclusive, effective, and results-oriented. At a casual meeting with Member States on Thursday at Headquarters in New York, Annalena Baerbock outlined her goals.
If elected, she would only be the sixth woman to head the United Nations’ most representative and major policy-making body, which consists of all 193 Member States and rotates between regional groupings to pick a new president each year. “I will serve all 193 Member States, big and small, as President if elected. as a trustworthy broker. as a uniting factor. keeping an ear open. “And a door that is open,” she replied.
How does Baerbock plan to reform the UN?
This year marks the UN’s 80th anniversary, and she pointed out that the organization is confronted with many existential issues. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not being met. There are almost 120 ongoing conflicts in the world, including in Gaza and Ukraine, and the organization itself is under a lot of political and financial strain.
Her vision is based on the idea of “Better Together,” which she included into her speech to make the point that now is not the time to give up. As a global community, we are burdened by these problems and difficulties. However, they also demonstrate that the United Nations—our United Nations—is more important than ever, she said.
What does a ‘fit for purpose’ UN look like?
Her first aim, she continued, is for the UN to be “fit for purpose” and “fit for the future.”
She cited the Pact for the Future, which was ratified by Member States last year and set the stage for reviving multilateralism, accelerating the SDGs, and transforming the UN system to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
According to Baerbock, implementation needs to be connected to the UN80 Initiative in order to have the greatest possible impact. The proposal, which Secretary-General António Guterres unveiled in March, asks for significant changes to reduce expenses and boost productivity. She stated that she would prioritize making sure that the opinions of all regions and groups are heard in the significant reform process if she were elected president of the General Assembly.
How will Baerbock boost trust in the UNGA?
The necessity of a UN that produces outcomes was emphasized by her second priority. “People need to believe that our work truly impacts their day-to-day lives,” she stated. In order to promote a more peaceful world, she emphasized the importance of strong collaboration with the Peacebuilding Commission and the Security Council. Without making sure that there is no food scarcity, that people have work, that children attend school, and that women are protected, she continued, “you cannot sustain lasting peace.”
Along with focusing particularly on the climate catastrophe, which she describes as “one of the greatest threats of our time,” she also intends to work with Member States on financial system reform.
Engaging with civil society, particularly young people, is part of Ms. Baerbock’s third aim, which asks for a UN that is really inclusive and welcomes everyone. “The purpose of the United Nations is to assist its citizens. And interacting with future generations is the only way to create a better future,” she stated. “New York, Geneva, Nairobi, and Bonn are not the end of our effort. However, we must make our outreach and conversations more accessible to the general public.
