TIME OF TEST, ERA OF OPPORTUNITY Selected speeches of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 2007–2016
TIME OF TEST, ERA OF OPPORTUNITY
Time of Test, Era of Opportunity: Selected Speeches of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (2007-2016) Published by the United Nations New York, New York 10017, United States of America Copyright Š 2016 United Nations | All rights reserved All queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to: United Nations Publications 300 East 42nd Street New York, New York 10017 United States of America e-mail: publications@un.org website: shop.un.org This publication in its entirety may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher. Requests to reproduce excerpts should be addressed to: permissions@un.org Time of Test, Era of Opportunity: Selected Speeches of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (2007-2016) Format: Casebound ISBN: 978-92-1-101348-1 eISBN: 978-92-1-058363-3 Sales no.: E.16.I.18H
Format: Paperback ISBN: 978-92-1-101347-4 eISBN:978-92-1-058363-3 Sales no.: E.16.I.17
United Nations Publication
Peace & Security TIME OF TEST, ERA OF OPPORTUNITY Selected speeches of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 2007–2016
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Location
Date
Ban Ki-moon
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BAN KI-MOON , the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, took office on 1 January 2007 and was re-elected by the General Assembly in 2011 to a second five-year term ending on 31 December 2016. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Ban sought to be a bridge builder, to give voice to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, and to make the Organization itself more transparent and effective. He pressed successfully for action to combat climate change, an effort that culminated in the adoption and rapid entry into force of the landmark Paris Agreement. He worked closely with Member States to shape the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to establish UN Women, thereby strengthening the Organization’s work for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Mr. Ban also undertook major efforts to strengthen UN peace operations, advance human rights, improve humanitarian response, prevent violent extremism and revitalize disarmament agenda. At the time of his appointment, Mr. Ban was Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea. His 37 years of service with the Ministry included postings in New Delhi, Washington D.C. and Vienna, and responsibility for a variety of portfolios, including Foreign Policy Adviser to the President, Chief National Security Adviser to the President, Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and Director-General for American Affairs. Mr. Ban has also been actively involved in issues relating to inter-Korean relations. Other assignments included service as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, and as Chef de Cabinet during the Republic of Korea’s 2001-2002 Presidency of the UN General Assembly. Mr. Ban was born in the Republic of Korea on 13 June 1944. He received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Seoul National University in 1970. In 1985, he earned a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He and his wife, Madam Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek, have one son, two daughters and four grandchildren.
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Introduction
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o serve as Secretary-General of the United Nations is to occupy one of the world’s foremost bully pulpits. Throughout my tenure, I sought to make ample use of this unique platform – from the General Assembly Hall to houses of parliament, from the Security Council Chamber to classrooms, clinics and refugee camps across the world. I sought to assure the vulnerable that the United Nations is on their side; to mobilize civil society groups to play their indispensable role; and to put before world leaders sensible proposals for tackling the challenges of our time. The past decade has been a period of exponential change and enormous turbulence. Today’s United Nations is asked to work in more spheres of activity, more locations and more difficult circumstances. The Organization deployed more peace operations and served more people in humanitarian need than ever. As humankind continued to be tested by violent extremism, virulent rhetoric, rising inequality and the widening impacts of a warming planet, leaders and global institutions struggled to keep pace. I have been honoured and humbled to serve during a period of such consequence. As someone who grew up in a country devastated by war and poverty, I knew the United Nations from an early age as an agent of transformation. A desire to keep that beacon alight for others underpinned my time in office. I remain disheartened by the unresolved conflicts and unspeakable suffering that still plague so many places and people. But the international community also found ways to save lives, protect human rights and lift millions out of poverty. There has been slow but steady progress towards the empowerment of women and gender equality. Most notably, the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change offered hope of steering the world onto a safer, more just and peaceful path for all. This volume collects 100 speeches from the many thousands I delivered. They span the international agenda and my ten years in office, and showcase the far-reaching ways in which the United Nations serves the Charter’s “we the peoples”. After a decade of speaking, I am convinced that the most important thing leaders can do is to listen to their people – to hear their yearnings, and to heed their call to build lives of dignity for all.
BAN Ki-moon
Contents General Assembly
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Address to the 71st General Assembly New York, 20 September 2016 Address to the 70th General Assembly New York, 28 September 2015 Address to the 69th General Assembly New York, 24 September 2014 Address to the 68th General Assembly New York, 24 September 2013 Address to the 67th General Assembly New York, 25 September 2012 Address to the General Assembly: Five-Year Action Agenda: The Future We Want New York, 25 January 2012 Address to the 66th General Assembly New York, 21 September 2011 Remarks to the General Assembly Upon Re-election as Secretary-General New York, 21 June 2011 Address to the 65th General Assembly New York, 23 September 2010 Address to the 64th General Assembly New York, 23 September 2009 Address to the 63rd General Assembly New York, 23 September 2008 Address to the 62nd General Assembly New York, 25 September 2007 Address to the General Assembly Upon Appointment as Secretary-General New York, 13 October 2006
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The United Nations In A Changing World Address to Global Compact Leaders Summit New York, 22 June 2016 Remarks on the Visit of His Holiness Pope Francis New York, 25 September 2015 Norman Rockwell’s Big Worldview Op-ed Article, The Boston Globe, 30 June 2015 Remarks on the 70th Anniversary of the Adoption of the UN Charter San Francisco, 26 June 2015
8 13 18 23 28
33 38 41 44 48 53 57
63 64 67 69 71
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Remarks at Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram Ahmedabad, India, 11 January 2015 Remarks at Memorial Ceremony For Nelson Mandela Johannesburg, 10 December 2013 Address to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea: Together, Building the Future We Want Seoul, 30 October 2012 Address Upon Receiving the Seoul Peace Prize Seoul, 29 October 2012 Remarks to the 16th Summit of the Movement of Non-Aligned Nations Tehran, 30 August 2012 Remarks at Gravesite of Dag Hammarskjรถld Uppsala, 12 October 2011 Remarks to Roundtable at the Central Party School Beijing, 3 November 2010 Address to the European Parliament Strasbourg, 19 October 2010 Address to the Asia Society New York, 6 November 2007
Sustainable Development Remarks at High-level Meeting on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants New York, 19 September 2016 Remarks on the Adoption of the 2030 Agenda For Sustainable Development New York, 25 September 2015 Remarks at Third International Conference on Financing for Development Addis Ababa, 13 July 2015 Remarks at Ebola Treatment Unit PTS1 Hastings, Sierra Leone, 19 December 2014 1,000 Days to Keep the Millennium Promise Op-ed Article, China Daily, 1 April 2013 Remarks at Museum of Oceanography Monaco, 3 April 2013 Remarks at World Food Prize Ceremony Des Moines, 18 October 2012 Remarks to the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases New York, 19 September 2011 Remarks at Launch of Roll Back Malaria Partnership Report New York, 13 September 2011 Remarks to General Assembly High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS New York, 8 June 2011
74 76 79
95 100 104 107 110 115
121 122
124 126 129 132 134 139 143
146 148
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Remarks to High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals New York, 20 September 2010 Remarks at the Event: One World One Dream: Sanitation and Water for All New York, 24 September 2008
Climate Change Address to the Arctic Circle Assembly Reykjavik, 8 October 2016 Remarks at Signing Ceremony for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change New York, 22 April 2016 Remarks following the Adoption of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change Paris, 12 December 2015 Remarks at Vatican Conference on the Moral Dimensions of Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity Vatican City, 28 April 2015 Remarks at Climate Summit New York, 23 September 2014 Remarks to Climate Change Summit New York, 22 September 2009 The Ice Is Melting Op-ed Article on Visit to the Arcic Circle, the New York Times, 17 September 2009 Address on Adapting to Climate Change Ulaanbaatar, 27 July 2009 Remarks During Visit to Antarctica Antarctica, 9 November 2007
Peace and Security Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Israel Op-ed Article, the New York Times, 31 January 2016 Remarks to the African Union Addis Ababa, 30 January 2016 Remarks to the General Assembly on UN Peace Operations New York, 12 October 2015 Keeping Peace, Building Trust Op-ed Article on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Le Monde, 23-24 August 2015 Remarks to International University for Humanities and Development Ashgabat, 13 June 2015 Remarks at Summit on Countering Violent Extremism Washington, D.C., 19 February 2015 Remarks on the Situation in Syria New York, 20 June 2014
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152
155 156 159 161 163
167 169 172 174 178
181 182 184 188 191 193 197 200
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South Sudan: Hard-won Hope Turns to Ashes Op-ed Article, Los Angeles Times 10 May 2014 Remarks to the Security Council on Sexual Violence In Armed Conflict New York, 25 April 2014 A Ticket Out of Misery Op-ed Article, the Washington Post,14 April 2014 In Africa’s Great Lakes Region, Peace Dividend Must Follow Peace Deal, By Ban Ki-moon, with Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group Op-ed Article, the Huffington Post, 20 May 2013 Address to the Union Assembly of Myanmar Nyapyidaw, 30 April 2012 Address to the Sofia Platform Sofia, 6 May 2011 Remarks to Civil Society Groups Tunis, 22 March 2011 The Cyril Foster Lecture: Human Protection and the 21st Century United Nations Oxford, 2 February 2011 Remarks at High-level Meeting on Côte d’Ivoire Addis Ababa, 29 January 2011 Remarks to Press, Gaza City Gaza, 20 January 2009 Address to Symposium on Supporting Victims of Terrorism New York, 9 September 2008
Disarmament Remarks at New York University on the Future of Multilateral Disarmament New York, 22 November 2016 Remarks at Special Event Marking the Opening of the Arms Trade Treaty for Signature New York, 3 June 2013 Remarks at Summit on the Safe and Innovative Use of Nuclear Energy Kiev, 19 April 2011 Remarks to the Conference on Disarmament Geneva, 26 January 2011 Remarks at Peace Memorial Ceremony Hiroshima, 6 August 2010 Remarks at Semipalatinsk Test Site Kazakhstan, 6 April 2010 Address to the East-West Institute: A Five-point Proposal to Revitalize the International Disarmament Agenda New York, 24 October 2008
206 209 211 213
215 220 223
226 237 240 242
247 248 252
254 257 260 262 264
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Humanitarian Action Remarks at the World Humanitarian Summit Istanbul, 23 May 2016 Remarks at High-level meeting on Global Responsibility Sharing for Syrian Refugees Geneva, 30 March 2016 Give Refugees Opportunities to Give Back Op-ed Article, Le Figaro, 11 November 2015 Remarks at Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction Sendai, Japan, 14 March 2015 The Sergio Vieira de Mello Lecture Geneva, 1 March 2013 Welcoming America Inspired My Public Service Op-ed Article for Red Cross Reunion, The USA Today, 22 August 2012 Remarks at Reception Hosted by Japan to Mark the One-Year Anniversary of the Great East Asia Earthquake New York, 8 March 2012
Human Rights, Justice and the Rule of Law
268 269 272
275 277 279 285 286
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Address Upon Receiving an Honorary Degree 290 from the University of Cambridge Cambridge, 3 February 2016 Remarks at Ceremony Marking the 20th Anniversary 295 of the Genocide in Rwanda Kigali, 7 April 2014 A Heart-rending Visit To Auschwitz Inspires Hope 297 Op-ed Article, The Citizen, 23 January 2014 Statement on Launch of “Human Rights up Front� Initiative: 299 Renewing Our Commitment to the Peoples and Purposes of the United Nations 22 November 2013 Protecting all Members of our Human Family 301 Op-ed Article on LGBT Rights, The Jakarta Post, 20 December 2012 Remarks to High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Rule of Law 303 New York, 24 September 2012 Remarks at Memorial Centre 305 Srebrenica, 26 July 2012 Address to Stanley Foundation Conference on the Responsibility to Protect 306 New York, 18 January 2012 Remarks at Space for Memory and for the Protection 311 and Defence of Human Rights Buenos Aires, 13 June 2011 Address to Review Conference of the International Criminal Court: 313 An Age of Accountability Kampala, 31 May 2010
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The Empowerment of Women and Girls Remarks to the Commission on the Status of Women New York, 14 March 2016 Remarks on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation New York, 8 February 2016 Remarks to Security Council Marking 15th Anniversary of the Adoption of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security New York, 13 October 2015 Remarks to the Global Colloquium of University Presidents: Empowering Women to Change the World Philadelphia, 4 April 2011 Remarks at Launch of Every Woman, Every Child Initiative New York, 22 September 2010 Remarks at Launch of the UNiTE Network of Men Leaders To End Violence Against Women New York, 24 November 2009 Remarks on the UNiTE to End Violence Against Women Campaign New York, 5 March 2009 Remarks to General Assembly on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women New York, 6 March 2007
The Empowerment of Youth Address at McGill University: Threats and Opportunities: The Power of Young People To Shape A New Future Montreal, 12 February 2016 Remarks at Event Marking the 20th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth New York, 29 May 2015 Remarks to Youth Assembly on Malala Day New York, 12 July 2013
Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms
317 318 321 323
326
332 333
337
341 342
346
348
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UN PHOTO / Marco Castro
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General Assembly
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Address to the Seventy-first General Assembly NEW YORK, 20 SEPTEMBER 2016
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stand before you with gratitude for your support across the decade I have had the privilege to serve the United Nations. In taking the oath of office in December 2006, I pledged to work with you for “we the peoples”. With the Charter as our guide, and the dedication of the staff, we have achieved much together. I also stand before you with deep concern. Gulfs of mistrust divide citizens from their leaders. Extremists push people into camps of “us” and “them”. The Earth assails us with rising seas, record heat and extreme storms. And danger defines the days of many. One hundred and thirty million people need life-saving assistance. Tens of millions of them are children and young people — our next generation already at risk. Yet after ten years in office, I am more convinced than ever that we have the power to end war, poverty and persecution. We have the means to prevent conflict. We have the potential to close the gap between rich and poor, and to make rights real in people’s lives. With the Sustainable Development Goals, we have a manifesto for a better future. With the Paris Agreement on climate change, we are tackling the defining challenge of our time. We have no time to lose. I urge you to bring the Paris Agreement into force this year. We need just 26 countries representing just 16 per cent of emissions. I ask you to help lead us to a world of low-carbon growth, increased resilience and greater opportunity and well-being for our children. These great gains are threatened by grave security threats. Armed conflicts have grown more protracted and complex. Governance failures have pushed societies past the brink. Radicalization has threatened social cohesion – precisely the response that violent extremists seek and welcome. The tragic consequences are on brutal display from Yemen to Libya and Iraq, from Afghanistan to the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin. In today’s world, the conflict in Syria is taking the greatest number of lives and sowing the widest instability. There is no military solution. Many groups have killed many innocents – but none more so than the Government of Syria, which continues to barrel bomb neighbourhoods and systematically torture thousands of
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detainees. Powerful patrons that keep feeding the war machine also have blood on their hands. Present in this Hall today are representatives of governments that have ignored, facilitated, funded, participated in or even planned and carried out atrocities inflicted by all sides of the Syria conflict against Syrian civilians. Just when we think it cannot get any worse, the bar of depravity sinks lower. Yesterday’s sickening, savage, and apparently deliberate attack on a UN-Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy is the latest example. The United Nations has been forced to suspend aid convoys as a result of this outrage. The humanitarians delivering life-saving aid were heroes. Those who bombed them were cowards. Accountability for these crimes is essential. I appeal to all those with influence to end the fighting and get talks started. A political transition is long overdue. After so much violence and misrule, the future of Syria should not rest on the fate of a single man. One year ago, Palestine proudly raised its flag at UN Headquarters. Yet the prospects for a two-state solution are being lowered by the day. All the while, the occupation grinds into its 50th year. As a friend of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, it pains me that this past decade has been ten years lost to peace. Ten years lost to illegal settlement expansion. Ten years lost to intra-Palestinian divide, growing polarization and hopelessness. This is madness. Replacing a two-state solution with a one-state construct would spell doom: denying Palestinians their freedom and rightful future, and pushing Israel further from its vision of a Jewish democracy towards greater global isolation.
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n the Korean Peninsula, the fifth nuclear test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has again threatened regional and international security. Meanwhile, the people’s suffering and plight are worsening. I urge the leaders of the DPRK to change course and fulfil their obligations – to their own people and to the family of nations. In Ukraine, the violence has caused an internal upheaval, renewed tensions across Europe and rekindled geopolitical rivalries. In South Sudan, leaders have also betrayed their people. Indeed, in too many places, we see leaders rewriting constitutions, manipulating elections and taking other desperate steps to cling to power. Leaders must understand that holding office is a trust, granted by the people, not personal property. My message to all is clear: serve your people. Do not subvert democracy; do not pilfer your country’s resources; do not imprison and torture your critics. Yesterday we made great progress in helping people find a haven from conflict and tyranny. The New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants points the way toward saving lives and protecting the rights of millions of people. We all must meet those promises. All too often, refugees and migrants face hatred. Muslims in particular are being targeted by stereotyping and suspicion that have haunting echoes of the dark
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past. I say to political leaders and candidates: do not engage in the cynical and dangerous political math that says you add votes by dividing people and multiplying fear. The world must stand up against lies and distortions of truth, and reject all forms of discrimination. We must also address the factors that compel people to move. That means investing in conflict prevention and engaging in patient diplomacy. And as the demand for peacekeeping rises, we must continue strengthening peace operations to help countries secure and sustain peace. I am encouraged that the General Assembly has endorsed the Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, which can help us tackle the drivers of conflict. In Myanmar, the transition has entered a promising new phase. In Sri Lanka, post-war healing efforts have deepened. In both countries, true reconciliation rests on ensuring that all communities, minorities and majorities alike, are included in building a new union. Next Monday, I will travel to Colombia for the signing of a peace agreement to end one of the world’s longest-running armed conflicts. The United Nations will support the Colombian people every step of the way. There is also encouraging movements towards an agreement on Cyprus. Let us all support the progress and solutions that may now be at hand. I would like to use this moment to express my regret over two matters that have tarnished the reputation of the United Nations and, far worse, traumatized many people we serve. First, the despicable acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by a number of UN peacekeepers and other personnel have compounded the suffering of people already caught up in armed conflict, and undermined the work done by so many others around the world. Protectors must never become predators. Member States and the Secretariat must deepen their efforts to enforce and strengthen the Organization’s zero-tolerance policy. Second, the outbreak of cholera in Haiti, shortly after a devastating earthquake, heaped misery upon misery. I feel tremendous regret and sorrow at the profound suffering of Haitians affected by cholera. The time has come for a new approach to ease their plight and better their lives. This is our firm and enduring moral responsibility. We are now developing a package of material assistance to those most directly affected, and intensifying efforts to build sound water, sanitation and health systems — the best long-term defence against the disease. This work cannot succeed without strong political and financial support from Member States. I will return to this Assembly with further details. Let us work together to meet our obligations to the Haitian people.
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llow me to briefly touch on a few other areas that I hope will long remain priorities of the United Nations. I am proud that UN Women came to life during my tenure. It is now our established champion of gender equality and empowerment, aiming for a “50-
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50 planet”. I have appointed more women to senior positions at the United Nations than ever before — and I am proud to call myself a feminist. Women hold up half the sky and are essential to meeting all our goals. I have been saying that the least utilized resource in our world is the potential for women. So we must do far more to end deep-seated discrimination and chronic violence against women, to advance their participation in decision-making, and to ensure that every girl gets the start in life she deserves.
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Gulfs of mistrust divide citizens from their leaders. Extremists push people into camps of “us” and “them”. The Earth assails us with rising seas, record heat and extreme storms. And danger defines the days of many.
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I have been a proud a defender of the rights of all people, regardless of ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. Our human rights machinery – along with the Human Rights up Front initiative — is placing human rights at the centre. Human rights are the pillars of society — and the antidotes to violent extremism and civic despair. We have deepened support for the Responsibility to Protect. We have made inroads against the death penalty. Landmark convictions by the International Criminal Court and other bodies have advanced accountability — but we still must do far more to prevent genocide and other atrocity crimes. Civil society is essential for all of these efforts. I ask all of you to join me today in saying “yes” to greater space for civil society and independent media, and “no” to cracking down on the freedoms of assembly and expression. We must also build on a decade of progress in education and health. Polio is almost eradicated. More mothers survive giving birth. More children are in school and live longer, better lives. Our collective response to the Ebola outbreak has prepared us for future health emergencies. The work of the Global Health Crises Task Force reminds us that vigilance must start well before pandemics reach the front pages. The control of deadly weapons advanced with the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Arms Trade Treaty and effective action against chemical weapons. We need to build on this momentum to move closer to the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons once and for all. The World Humanitarian Summit has fortified relief efforts to focus on prevention and resilience, as well as on reducing need. We are tapping the energies of young people as never before, including through the work of the first-ever UN Youth Envoy and a new Special Envoy on Youth Employment. Partnerships with the private sector have grown, as we push for responsible practices that harness the
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best of business for society and the world. And we have made important strides in adapting and reforming the United Nations for the 21st century. Continued progress will require new heights of solidarity. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Member States have still not agreed on a formula for reform of the Security Council — a continuing risk to its effectiveness and legitimacy. In the same spirit, I want to put on the table a major and much needed reform for fairness and effectiveness in the United Nations. Far too often, I have seen widely-supported proposals blocked, in the name of consensus, by a few or even just one country. We see this being done by large and small countries alike.
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ime and again, I have seen essential action and good ideas blocked in the Security Council. Blocked in the General Assembly. Blocked in the budget process, the Conference on Disarmament and other bodies. Is it fair in this complicated world for any one country to yield such disproportionate power, and hold the world hostage on so many important issues? Consensus should not be confused with unanimity. The global public is right to ask whether this is how an organization in which we have invested so much hope and aspirations should function. I propose, Mr. President, that you explore, with my successor, the establishment of a High-level panel to find practical solutions that will improve decision-making at the United Nations. States must also respect the independence of the Secretariat, in accordance with the Charter. When our reports say what needs to be said, Member States should not try and rewrite history. When our human rights personnel act on behalf of the most vulnerable, Member States should not block their path. When our humanitarian workers need to reach populations under siege, Member States should remove all obstacles. And when our envoys and personnel raise difficult issues, Member States should not ostracize them or threaten to banish them from the country. We must all be open and accountable to the people we serve. There is one last measure of the change that has defined the past decade. It is hard to believe, but when I took office, a smart phone like this had not even been introduced to the world. Today it is a lifeline and, perhaps at times, the bane of our existence! It is an indispensable part of our lives. Our phones and social media have connected the world in ways that were unimaginable when I took office. Yes, they have been abused by extremists and hate groups. But they have also created a world of new communities and opportunities. For me, it is all a reminder of the power of individuals to change the world. After all, people power helped make the 2030 Agenda the most inclusive development process of our time. People power mobilized millions to push leaders to take climate action. People power is what I have seen in every corner of the world this past decade. People like Rebecca Johnson, a nurse I met in Sierra Leone who contracted Ebola, recovered and then risked her life again to save her community. People like Yusra Mardini, the Syrian teen swimmer who pushed her damaged refugee boat to safety and then went on to compete in the Olympics. And, of course, people like
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young Malala Yousafzai, who came to the United Nations and showed us all how one book, one pen and one person can make a difference. A perfect world may be on the far horizon. But a route to a better world, a safer world, a more just world, is in each and every one of us. Ten years on, I know that working together, worked united, we can get there. I count on your leadership and commitment.
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After ten years in office, I am more convinced than ever that we have the power to end war, poverty and persecution. We have the means to prevent conflict. We have the potential to close the gap between rich and poor, and to make rights real in people’s lives.
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Address to the Seventieth General Assembly NEW YORK, 28 SEPTEMBER 2015
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he 70th session of the General Assembly has opened with a towering achievement: the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, including 17 inspiring Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs. Our aim is clear. Our mission is possible. And our destination is in our sights: an end to extreme poverty by 2030; a life of peace and dignity for all. What counts now is translating promises on paper into change on the ground. We owe this and much more to the vulnerable, the oppressed, the displaced and the forgotten people in our world. We owe this to a world where inequality is growing, trust is fading, and impatience with leadership can be seen and felt far and wide. We owe this to “succeeding generations”, in the memorable words the Charter. In this year in which we mark the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, we must heed the call of the Charter, and hear the voices of “we the peoples”. That is how we can overcome the grim realities of the present — and seize the remarkable opportunities of our era. The Millennium Development Goals made poverty history for hundreds of millions of people. Now we are poised to continue the job while reaching higher, broader and deeper. The new framework does not just add goals. It weaves the goals together, with human rights, the rule of law and women’s empowerment as crucial parts of an integrated whole. The global goals are universal. You, the world’s leaders, have committed to leave no one behind — and to reach those farthest behind, first. We can build on the momentum this December in Paris with a robust agreement on climate change. Remarkable changes are under way to reduce harmful greenhouse emissions. I have seen and visited vast solar power installations bringing a new energy future into being. There is wind in the sails of climate action. Yet it is clear that the national targets submitted by the member states will not be enough. We face a choice: either raise ambition — or risk raising temperatures above the 2-degree Celsius threshold, which science tells us we must not cross. Reaching our sustainable development goals means organizing ourselves better. Let there be no more walls or boxes; no more ministries or agencies working at cross-purposes. Let us move from silos to synergy, supported by data, long-term planning and a will to do things differently. Financing will be a key test. I welcome the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the renewed pledge by developed countries to invest 0.7 per cent of gross national
Address to the Seventieth General Assembly, New York, 28 September 2015
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income in official development assistance. Aid works — but few countries have met this target. I salute those that have, and urge others to follow their example. Climate finance will be crucial. I urge developed countries to meet the agreed goal of $100 billion per year by 2020. We must also get the Green Climate Fund up and running. The world continues to squander trillions in wasteful military spending. Why is it easier to find the money to destroy people and planet than it is to protect them? Succeeding generations depend on us to finally get our priorities right. Suffering today is at heights not seen in a generation. One hundred million people require immediate humanitarian assistance. At least 60 million people have been forced to flee their homes or their countries. The United Nations has asked for nearly $20 billion to meet this year’s needs – six times the level of a decade ago. UN humanitarian agencies and our partners are braving difficult conditions to reach people. Member States have been generous, but demands continue to dwarf funding. The World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016 in Istanbul is a critical moment to reaffirm solidarity and explore how to better build resilience and address emergencies. But the global humanitarian system is not broken; it is broke. We are not receiving enough money to save enough lives. We have about half of what we need to help the people of Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen – and just a third for Syria. Our response plan for Ukraine is just 39 per cent funded. And the appeal for Gambia, where one in four children suffers from stunting, has been met with silence. Numbers this low raise suffering to new highs. People need emergency assistance, but what they want even more is lasting solutions. They may appreciate a tent, but they deserve to go home. Our aim is not just to keep people alive, but to give them a life — a decent life. Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey are generously hosting several million Syrian and Iraqi refugees. Countries across the developing world continue to host and receive large numbers of refugees despite their own limited means. People are on the move as never before, in the Americas and the Sahel, in the Mediterranean and Andaman Seas. These flows raise complex issues, and rouse strong passions. Certain touchstones must guide our response: international law, human rights, basic compassion. All countries need to do more to shoulder their responsibilities. I commend those in Europe that are upholding the Union’s values and providing asylum. At the same time, I urge Europe to do more. After the Second World War, it was Europeans seeking the world’s assistance. I will convene a High-level meeting on September 30, the day after tomorrow, aimed at promoting a comprehensive approach to the refugee and migration crisis. We must crack down on traffickers and address the pressures being faced by countries of destination. We must combat discrimination. In the 21st century, we should not be building fences or walls. But above all, we must look at root causes in countries of origin. Syrians are leaving their country and their homes because of oppression, extremism, destruction and fear. Four years of diplomatic paralysis by the Security Council and others have allowed the crisis to spin out of control. The responsibility for ending the con-
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flict lies first and foremost with the Syrian warring parties. They are the ones turning their country to ruins. But it is not enough to look only within Syria for a solution. The battle is also being driven by regional powers and rivalries. Weapons and money flowing into the country are fuelling the fire. My Special Envoy is doing everything he can to forge the basis for a peaceful settlement. It is time now for others, primarily the Security Council and key regional actors, to step forward. Five countries in particular hold the key: the Russian Federation, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey. But as long as one side will not compromise with the other, it is futile to expect change on the ground. Innocent Syrians pay the price of more barrel bombs and terrorism. There must be no impunity for atrocious crimes. Our commitment to justice should lead us to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court.
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We are living through a time of severe test — but also one of great opportunity. Today, we are more connected than ever, better informed than ever, and have better tools than ever. The recipes for positive change are on the table; the ingredients for success are in our hands.
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In Yemen, 21 million people — 80 per cent of the population — need humanitarian assistance. All sides are showing disregard for human life – but most of the casualties are being caused by air-strikes. I call for an end to the bombings, which are also destroying Yemeni cities, infrastructure and heritage. Here, too, the proxy battles of others are driving the fighting. I once again urge the parties to return to the table, negotiate in good faith and resolve this crisis through dialogue facilitated by my Special Envoy. Let me be clear: There is no military solution to this conflict. We must also guard against the dangerous drift in the Middle East Peace Process. With settlements expanding and incitement and provocations on the rise, it is essential for Israelis and Palestinians to re-engage – and for the international community to pressure the parties to do so. The world can no longer wait for leaders to finally choose a path to peace. Da’esh, Boko Haram and Al-Shabab remain major threats, especially to the women and girls who have been systematically targeted. The world must unite against the blatant brutality of these groups. We must also counter the exclusion and hopelessness on which extremists feed. Moreover, States must never violate human rights in the fight against terror; such abuses only perpetuate the cycle. Early next year, I will present to the General Assembly a comprehensive plan of action on how to counter violent extremism and terrorism. I commend the landmark nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the P5+1 countries. Dialogue and patient diplomacy have paid dividends. I
Address to the Seventieth General Assembly, New York, 28 September 2015
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hope this spirit of solidarity among the Permanent Members of the Security Council can be demonstrated in other conflict areas, such as Syria, Yemen and Ukraine. Let us build on the recent agreements in South Sudan, finalize the agreement in Libya, and spare those countries further suffering.
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ow is the time for renewed dialogue to address continuing tension on the Korean peninsula. I call on the parties to refrain from taking any action that may increase mistrust, and urge them to instead promote reconciliation and efforts towards a peaceful, de-nuclearized peninsula. I am ready to support inter-Korean cooperation. We also need to step up our work for the well-being of the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I am deeply troubled by growing restrictions on media freedoms and civil society across the world. It is not a crime for journalists, human rights defenders and others to exercise their basic rights. We must preserve the space for civil society and the press to do their vital work without fear of attack and imprisonment. Democratic backsliding is a threat in too many places, as leaders seek to stay in office beyond their mandated limits. We see rallies and petitions being engineered to look like the spontaneous will of the people. Those manufactured groundswells of support only lay the groundwork for instability. I urge leaders to abide by the constitutional limits on their terms. Collectively, these crises have stretched to the limits our vital tools for conflict resolution and humanitarian response. Earlier this month, I put forward my vision for strengthening UN peace operations, building on the recommendations of an independent panel. Our peacekeeping and political missions need enhanced capabilities and clear objectives. We need a renewed commitment to prevention, stronger regional partnerships, and sustained engagement on peacebuilding. And we must unlock the potential of women to advance peace, as envisaged in Security Council resolution 1325. I hope the General Assembly will take early action as a signal of its commitment to this effort. People today, and succeeding generations, need us to make the most of this rare opportunity for comprehensive progress. Founded in a fractured world, the United Nations brought hope that collective action could avoid another global catastrophe. Over the past 70 years, we have helped to liberate millions of people from colonialism and supported the successful struggle against apartheid. We have defeated deadly diseases, defended human rights and deepened the rule of law. This and more we have done – but that is far from enough. We are living through a time of severe test — but also one of great opportunity. Today, we are more connected than ever, better informed than ever, and have better tools than ever. The recipes for positive change are on the table; the ingredients for success are in our hands. We continue to reform the United Nations — although we know we must do much more, both managerially and politically. We can draw strength from the empowerment of women — but we still need to step it up for gender equality on the way to Planet 50/50. I am inspired by the world’s young people, who make up half the world’s population — and whose voices
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we must integrate more fully in decision-making everywhere. And I am impressed with the way we, all of us, can unite behind vital causes — like the 2030 Development Agenda. One year ago, when we gathered for the general debate, the Ebola crisis in West Africa was claiming lives daily. Families were being devastated. Fear was rife. Forecasts suggested frightening losses in the months ahead. Today, thanks to collective action by communities and their governments and others all around the world, cases of Ebola have declined dramatically. The outbreak is not over, and we must remain vigilant. But the response is working, with lessons pointing to a safer future for all. When we stand together, there is no limit to what we can achieve. Three days ago, young people from many nations stood together in the balcony of this Hall. They asked for one thing above all: change. There is nothing we can say to the world’s children that can convince them the world needs to be the way it is. That means we must do everything we can to close the gap between the world as it is, and the world as it should be. That is the mission of the United Nations. Let’s work together to make this world better for all, where everybody can live with dignity and prosperity. I thank you for your leadership.
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Address to the Sixty-ninth General Assembly NEW YORK, 24 SEPTEMBER 2014
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t is a great honour to welcome you to this renovated General Assembly Hall. This great Hall is home to “we the peoples�. It has been restored, renewed and reinvented for the 21st century. I thank all of you for making it possible. The Capital Master Plan was not an easy project. But you, the Member States, embraced the vision. You made the investment. Now we see the wonderful results: a state-of-theart space in which we shall work together to improve the state of the world. In the name of all peoples and all nations, I am now proud to officially declare this General Assembly Hall open for business. Every year at this time, hope fills this hall: the hope embodied in the Charter of the United Nations; the hopes of leaders who speak from this podium; the hopes of people across the world who hear those promises. This year, the horizon of hope is darkened. Our hearts are made very heavy by unspeakable acts and the deaths of innocents. Cold War ghosts have returned to haunt our times. We have seen so much of the Arab Spring go violently wrong. Not since the end of the Second World War have there been so many refugees, displaced people and asylum seekers. Never before has the United Nations been asked to reach so many people with emergency food assistance and other life-saving supplies. Diplomacy is on the defensive, undermined by those who believe in violence. Diversity is under assault by extremists who insist that their way is the only way. Disarmament is viewed as a distant dream, sabotaged by profiteers of perpetual warfare. It may seem as if the world is falling apart, as crises pile up and disease spreads. But leadership is precisely about finding the seeds of hope and nurturing them into something bigger. That is our duty. That is my call to you today. It has been a terrible year for the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. From barrel bombs to beheadings, from the deliberate starvation of civilians to the assault on hospitals, UN shelters and aid convoys, human rights and the rule of law are under attack. After the latest tragedy in Gaza, Palestinians and Israelis seem more polarized than ever. If we do not save the two-state solution, we will be left in a state of permanent hostilities.
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The situation in and around Ukraine remains volatile. In South Sudan, a struggle for political power has killed thousands of people and exposed millions to the threat of famine. The Central African Republic is fractured and traumatized. Mali and the Sahel continue to suffer from insurgency, terrorism, the illicit drug trade and organized crime. In Somalia, a coalition of African States confronts the terrorist group Al-Shabab. In Nigeria, Boko Haram’s murderous onslaught gains strength, with shocking impacts on women and girls. In Iraq and Syria, we see new depths of barbarity with each passing day, and devastating spill-over effects across the region. As Muslim leaders around the world have repeatedly said, there is nothing Islamic about the terrorist organizations wreaking havoc in the region. These extremist groups are a clear threat to international peace and security that requires a multi-faceted international response. We need decisive action to stop atrocity crimes and frank discussions on what created the threat in the first place. The people of the region have been forced to walk on the broken shards of bad governance and bad decisions that failed to respect international law and basic human rights. Across the world, the fragility of States and institutions has never been more apparent. Some have been hollowed out by corruption; others have pursued policies of exclusion that drive the victims towards anger, despair and violence. States must uphold their responsibility to govern – and govern for all their peoples. Even where there is no overt warfare, violence still mars lives. Men prey on women across the globe, from battlefields to streets, from public spaces to the privacy of the home. Migrants face increasingly perilous journeys — and closed doors upon arrival. In many countries seen as models of integration, divisive politics are on the rise. People are very good at seeing prejudice in others, but less so in themselves. The trends that bring people together – instant communications, free trade and ease of travel – are also being exploited by forces that keep them apart. The world’s “fasten seat belt” light is illuminated. Turbulence is testing the multilateral system, national institutions and people’s lives. Human rights provide one touchstone for our response. The Human Rights Up Front initiative aims to place human rights at the centre of our thinking and our efforts in the field. The protection of nearly 100,000 people at UN bases throughout South Sudan has been an early milestone of this new approach. The international community needs to be similarly sensitized to the value of human rights as an early warning mechanism. I urge Member States to fulfill their responsibilities to their populations. States also need to be open to discussing their own vulnerabilities. Let us recall that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights not only proclaims a set of freedoms; it also warns that people will not stand idle if they are not protected. We need to do far more to anticipate problems and reach early political consensus. To better meet the challenges before us, I have called for a review of United Nations peace operations and will appoint a High-level Review Panel in the coming weeks.
Address to the Sixty-ninth General Assembly, New York, 24 September 2014
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The unity of the Security Council is crucial. When the Security Council acts as one, we see results, such as the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme; agreement on a peacekeeping operation for the Central African Republic; timely support for the peace framework in the Great Lakes region of Africa. By contrast, continued disunity over Syria has resulted in grave human suffering and loss of credibility for the Council and our institution. The General Assembly must also uphold its responsibilities and play its rightful role. We must not let the smoke from today’s fires blind us to longer-term challenges and opportunities. Hope may be hard to discern, but it is there. In clinics, classrooms and other places far from the spotlight, the development agenda is making remarkable progress. Global poverty, child mortality and maternal deaths have been cut in half. More remains to be done, but these and other gains show the power of the Millennium Development Goals and what we can do when we work together. Today an inspiring global conversation is taking place on an agenda for the next 15 years. Earlier this month, small island developing states added their voices with the adoption of the Samoa Pathway, a far-reaching plan for addressing their unique vulnerabilities. Two days ago in this Hall, we heard the appeals of the world’s indigenous peoples for an end to marginalization. That same day, world leaders reaffirmed the importance of continuing to implement the ground-breaking consensus of the Cairo conference on population and development.
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Diplomacy is on the defensive, undermined by those who believe in violence. Diversity is under assault by extremists who insist that their way is the only way. Disarmament is viewed as a distant dream, sabotaged by profiteers of perpetual warfare.
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The conversation for the future we want has been one of the most inclusive efforts in United Nations history. More than five million people have now voted in the My World survey. I encourage millions more to log on and chime in. What is emerging from our dialogue is remarkable in its vision: a universal agenda, applying to all countries; and a determination not to reduce but eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, and to put all countries and communities on the path of truly sustainable development. The Open Working Group of the General Assembly has placed before us a proposed set of Sustainable Development Goals that will help us to complete the unfinished business of the MDGs, overcome inequalities, protect the planet and build the future we want. At the end of the year, at your request, I will provide a synthesis report that will set the stage as Member States begin their negotiations.
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Transformation is our goal. I can think of no better place to start than with opening doors and shattering ceilings for women and girls. Stereotypes continue to be deeply entrenched. Look at any crisis — from poverty to disaster to disease to illiteracy — and you will see women and girls suffering the most. We cannot fulfil 100 per cent of the world’s potential by excluding 50 per cent of the world’s people.
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limate action is integral to all our hopes. Three days ago in the streets of our host city, New York, I joined hundreds of thousands of people in marching for a cleaner, greener future. They sent a powerful message to the leaders — of their impatience but also of opportunity. Yesterday’s Climate Summit was a landmark event. We saw a great coming together of countries, capital, CEOs and citizens. Multi-stakeholder coalitions took unprecedented action to reduce emissions, build resilience, and finance the transformation of our economies and societies. We must convert this momentum into a meaningful, universal climate agreement in Lima this December and in Paris next year. As one of the banners in the march said, we have a duty to “do what must be done”. Funding is crucial for the credibility of the climate and post-2015 development efforts. Now is the time to more properly match global wealth with global need. All resources, public and private, domestic and international, need to be tapped. When budgets are cut to the bone, people bleed. When resources are devoted to ever more sophisticated arms instead of ever greater human potential, we are all less secure. Leadership is also about getting our priorities straight, our policies right, and our investments working for people. The next 15 months will be a defining period for global prosperity and stability. I urge you to keep your ambitions high. The outbreak of Ebola in West Africa is an unprecedented crisis. That is why I have established an unprecedented health operation — the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response — to mobilize all the resources needed to reinforce the work being done by the countries and communities affected. The mission combines the expertise of the World Health Organization with the logistical capacities of the United Nations. UNMEER personnel arrived in Ghana two days ago to establish the Mission’s headquarters. The international community is rallying to assist local health workers. Now we need a twenty-fold surge in care, tracking, transport and equipment. Food security is a growing concern, as food prices have gone up and food systems are in danger of breaking down. We must also fight the virus of fear and misinformation. Bans on travel or transport will not keep Ebola from getting out, but will keep medical personnel and supplies from getting in. We need to isolate people affected by Ebola – but not the nations struggling to cope with it. With leadership and solidarity, we can help the people of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone bring the outbreak to an end and regain the path to a better future. The world recently marked the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. Like so many conflicts, that war started less from grand design than from small problems badly handled. After the Second World War, the founding of the United Nations was a feat of global resolve. The post-war planners were driven
Address to the Sixty-ninth General Assembly, New York, 24 September 2014
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not only by the idea of “never again”, but by a vision of what the world could be if we “unite our strength”. Today, we face a profusion of mounting challenges. People are crying out for protection from greed and inequality. The United Nations must answer that call. We are a century removed from the First World War, and have 70 years of experience with the United Nations. Yet the world is still not as peaceful as it could and as it should be. Today we face far more man-made crises than natural calamities. We may not control Mother Nature, but who else but us is responsible for securing peace and justice in our world? War. Poverty. Ignorance. Crises caused by people can be stopped by people. I do not think we can yet feel comfortable about the world our generation is leaving to our children. Still, I have hope. I draw it from our Charter, our enduring guide in times of dramatic challenge and change. I am continually inspired by the staff, peacekeepers, humanitarian workers, human rights defenders and others who bring our document, this Charter, to life. Just as we have renovated this great Hall for a new age, I look to you, Excellencies, Distinguished Heads of State and Government, to rebuild leadership and restore unity of purpose. We can tackle any challenge – and we will, as united nations.
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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discusses health issues with youth in Durban, South Africa, on the opening day of the AIDS 2016 conference, 18 July 2016. UN PHOTO/ Rick Bajornas
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Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms AMISOM
African Union Mission in Somalia
ASEAN
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
AU
African Union
CARICOM
Caribbean Community
CERF
Central Emergency Response Fund
ECOWAS
Economic Community of West African States
ESCAP
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
ESCWA
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
g7+
Group of fragile and conflict-affected countries
G-8
Group of Eight, a forum of eight of the largest world’s economies
G-20
Group of Twenty, a forum of twenty major economies
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency
ICC
International Criminal Court
IFAD
International Fund for Agricultural Development
IMF
International Monetary Fund
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
MDGs
Millennium Development Goals
MINUSTAH United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
NGO/NGOs Non-Governmental Organization(s) OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
P5+1
Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and United States) plus Germany; grouping formed for diplomatic efforts related to Iran’s nuclear programme
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R2P
Responsibility to Protect
Rio+20
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio de Janeiro, 2012
SDGs
Sustainable Development Goals
START
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
SUN
Scaling Up Nutrition initiative
TFG
Transitional Federal Government (Somalia)
UN
United Nations
UNAIDS
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
UNAMA
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNFCCC
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNHCR
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF
United Nations Children’s Fund
UNIFIL
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
UNRWA
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
UNSCO
Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
UNSMIL
United Nations Support Mission in Libya
UNSMIS
United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria
WFP
World Food Programme
At a time of crisis and change, the United Nations continues to work across the world to serve “we the peoples”. This collection of speeches by Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, spans his decade-long tenure and documents the world Organization’s wideranging efforts to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights for all.
16-00099
ISBN 978-92-1-101347-4