The Secretary General promised this Sunday that he “will not give up” his call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, adding that the Security Council's inaction undermines his credibility.
The statement came after Friday's Security Council meeting in New York, where the United States vetoed a resolution calling on Israeli and Palestinian militants to end intense fighting in the enclave that began on October 7 the bombings broke out. Hamas terrorists.
At the Doha Forum in Qatar, António Guterres said he had “called on the Security Council to apply pressure to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and I reiterated my call for the declaration of a humanitarian ceasefire.”
“Unfortunately the Security Council has not done this, but that does not make it any less necessary. Therefore, I can promise that I will not give up,” he told delegates to Qatar’s global platform, which brings together world leaders to discuss security, collective and other challenges.
In her opinion, It is necessary to reform a sclerotic council in which the disagreements between the permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) have only resulted in a solution focused on the provision of aid.
Equality and solidarity are essential
“We need serious efforts to update global structures based on equality and solidarity, grounded in the United Nations Charter and international law,” he said, noting that the council’s divisions “provide solutions from Ukraine to Myanmar and the Middle East”.
The horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas and the subsequent “incessant bombing” of the Gaza Strip have only led to a solution “which I welcome. But this delay comes at a cost,” he added.
“And the resolution will not be implemented,” he added.
The director of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) also spoke at the Qatar conference and stated this The dehumanization of Palestinians has allowed the international community to tolerate continued Israeli bombing in the Gaza Strip, which have claimed more than 17,000 lives since October 7th.
“There is no doubt that a humanitarian ceasefire is necessary if we want to put an end to the hell that is currently raging in Gaza,” said Philippe Lazzarini.
Weak global governance
With other “forces of fragmentation” gaining ground, Guterres reiterated that now is the time to build bridges and find common solutions to global challenges. Beyond the Security Council, Guterres said global governance cannot address two existential threats.
First of all, he said this about the climate catastrophe Much more ambition is needed to reduce emissions Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure justice.
“Despite promises and commitments, our climate is bankrupt. Emissions are at historic highs. And fossil fuels are one of the main causes,” he said, adding: “Renewable energy is cheap, clean and inexhaustible to meet growing energy needs without poisoning the environment or suffocating our planet.
He called on fossil fuel companies and their supporters to do so use its vast resources to lead the renewable energy revolution. And he also called on leaders at COP28 in Dubai to agree to deep emissions cuts in line with the 1.5 degree limit.
“This is the only path to not only climate sustainability, but also economic sustainability,” said the Secretary General.
Multilateral development banks must change their business model and to secure much more private finance for developing countries at reasonable costs for investments in climate protection and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Second, he highlighted the threat posed by new technologies, stating that generative artificial intelligence can provide solutions to many global challenges, but without proper regulation “it will also lead us into deep and turbulent waters.”
“These technologies cry out for governance“Guterres continued, lamenting that AI is already fueling hate speech and division, enabling data collection and mass surveillance, and exacerbating vast inequalities.”
To advance the search for solutions, it has established a high-level, multi-stakeholder AI Advisory Board, which will present preliminary recommendations later this year. I met in New York last week.
Future Summit
He explained it the same way Global governance reforms must be based on the Universal Declaration and in the enduring values of the United Nations Charter.
The Future Summit next September is a unique opportunity to make these important decisions.
“We have presented a number of proposals to member states and I hope for their commitment and support,” he said, presenting a list of three points for the summit:
- A global digital compact to mitigate the risks of digital technologies and help realize their benefits
- Reforms to the global financial architecture that enable developing country governments to invest in the education, health, employment and social protection of their populations
- Security Council reforms and a proposed new agenda for peace that would help prevent and resolve conflicts, establish equity and justice, rebalance geopolitical relations and give developing countries a greater voice on the international stage
“Now is truly the time to build a shared future, unite around solutions and change our world for the better,” he said at the conclusion of his speech at the Doha Forum.