Director-General's remarks at the Session on Multilateral Diplomacy and the Role of the United Nations at Geneva

Indian Foreign Service Officers: Session on Multilateral Diplomacy
and the Role of the United Nations at Geneva

Wednesday, 25 June 2025, at 2.00 p.m.
Director-General’s office, Palais des Nations
 

Ambassador Chauhan [Deputy Permanent Representative],
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the Palais des Nations, at the heart of International Geneva. I wish to warmly thank the Permanent Mission of India for bringing you here today and for facilitating this exchange.

India plays a significant role in multilateral affairs across various domains. As one of the largest contributors to UN Peacekeeping Missions, Indian personnel have served in 49 UN peacekeeping missions since 1948, which is more than any other country of the world.  India actively participates in all the main bodies of the United Nations, including as an elected member to the Security Council (most recently in 2021–2022) and the Economic and Social Council (its next term will start in 2026). Here in Geneva, India plays an active role in the sessions of the Conference on Disarmament, the Human Rights Council and other intergovernmental bodies.

Besides its active engagement in the UN’s system, India is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement. Your country played a pivotal role in shaping NAM’s principles, advocating for sovereignty, independence and non-interference in global affairs. Today, NAM serves as an important platform to champion the interests of developing nations, support South-South cooperation, promote neutrality and foster economic, technical, and cultural exchange among its 120 members. NAM also works closely with the United Nations to advance global peace, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation, ensuring that the voices of developing countries are heard in international decision-making.

Today, I would like to share with you some thoughts about the evolving landscape of multilateralism, the role of International Geneva, and the pathways ahead as the United Nations approaches its 80th anniversary.  

I.    80 years achievements of the United Nations

This year, we mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations – an institution born from the ashes of the Second World War. The Charter of the United Nations remains the foundation of a rules-based global order grounded in multilateralism, international law, and friendly relations among States.

Reflecting on the moment of the Charter’s adoption, it is remarkable to consider how far the international community has progressed. Over the past eight decades, we have made significant advances: promoting human rights, eradicating diseases such as smallpox, reducing global poverty, and expanding access to education for millions.

When we discuss the multilateral system, we often overlook its achievements and focus on current challenges: numerous crises, the rise of nationalism, unilateralism, and great powers acting without regard for the interests of others.

Yet, the UN system has achieved tremendous results throughout these 80 years. The world would be a much worse place without the United Nations. There would have been more wars, more conflicts, many more humanitarian catastrophes, and we would lack the resources and instruments to address humanitarian challenges.

II.    Challenges and ongoing efforts

History reminds us, however, that progress is neither linear nor assured. The United Nations has continuously adapted to address new and complex challenges – from decolonization in the mid-twentieth century to combating terrorism and responding to global health crises in recent decades.

Today, we confront a crisis of trust, a rise in unilateralism, and increasingly interconnected global risks. Issues such as the climate emergency, ongoing conflicts, cyber threats, disinformation, and the erosion of democratic norms transcend borders and require cooperative, inclusive, and law-based solutions.

The Palais des Nations, constructed between the late 1920s and early 1930s, stands as a testament to the enduring vision of our predecessors. Built not for royalty, but for nations, it is the second largest palace in Europe after Versailles.

Our forebears, emerging from the devastation of war and pandemic, invested in this institution, created the League of Nations, and built this remarkable Palace despite limited resources. Why? Because they believed in the future of the multilateral system. They believed that this system should have proper governance and institutions, and that all Member States should invest in it.

Today, as you may observe, the Palais is undergoing its first major renovation since its construction. This restoration is symbolic: while we preserve our heritage and the values that define us, we must also modernize our institutions to meet the needs of the twenty-first century. As the Secretary-General has stated, “We cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with systems built for our grandparents.” We must adapt the United Nations to ensure it remains fit for purpose, while upholding its founding principles.

In this context, the “UN80 initiative”, launched by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres this year, aims to adapt the UN system to the modern realities. These efforts seek to ensure that the UN remains relevant, cost-effective and responsive to the needs of its Member States and the global community. It builds on ongoing efforts, which aim to update the UN’s structures, priorities and operations for the 21st century.

III.    Adapting to new realities

Today, the global community is more fragmented and divided than at any time since the end of the Second World War.

We desperately need a just and sustained peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN charter and international law. We also urgently need de-escalation of the Middle East conflict and peace for the Palestinian people. And around the world, from the Sahel to Libya and Sudan, from the Great Lakes to the Horn of Africa, from Yemen to Myanmar, we need concerted efforts to strengthen regional organizations and for global powers to pressure the parties to war to come to the peace table and to pursue their goals through negotiations.

Our success to overcome these multiple challenges depends on our ability to adapt to ongoing changes. Many of the challenges we face today – climate change, geopolitical tensions, growing inequalities, and the rapid evolution of technology – are intensifying.

Revolutions in science and technology have historically changed the distribution of power. The First Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain, making it the leading economic power of its era. The Second Industrial Revolution, driven by electricity, mass production, and new communication technologies, further reshaped global economic dynamics, while the Third Industrial Revolution introduced digitalization and the rise of information technology. Now, the Fourth Industrial Revolution marks an era of connectivity, advanced analytics, and automation, where it is essential to ensure that the benefits of new scientific and technological advancements are shared fairly among all nations. If we fail to do so, the inequalities will only continue to grow — posing a significant risk.

The digital divide remains stark: while progress has been made, one third of humanity still lacks access to the Internet, a fundamental tool for education and participation in modern society.

However, there is a positive side. Five years ago, half of humanity lacked Internet access, so we have made progress. That is why the United Nations is working to ensure universal digital access, recognizing its centrality to sustainable development.

IV.    A vision for the future: the Pact for the Future

Last year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the “Pact for the Future” – a visionary and inclusive agenda to reshape global cooperation for a fairer, more sustainable world. The Pact is the most wide-ranging international agreement in many years. It covers a number of issues, including peace and security, sustainable development, digital cooperation, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance.

The Pact aims, above all, to ensure that international institutions can deliver in the face of a world that has changed dramatically since they were created. For example, the Pact includes the most progressive and concrete commitment to UN Security Council reform since the 1960s, with plans to improve the effectiveness and representativeness of the Council, including by redressing the historical under-representation of Africa as a priority.

The Pact also includes: an agreement to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space, including a clear commitment to prevent an arms race in outer space; steps to avoid the weaponization and misuse of new technologies, such as lethal autonomous weapons; a path to reform the international financial architecture so that it better represents and serves developing countries; and a commitment to more meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in the decisions that shape their lives, especially at the global level.

There are also two annexes to the Pact: a Global Digital Compact, which is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance, and the first-ever Declaration on Future Generations, which contains concrete steps to take account of future generations in our decision-making.

Furthermore, the entire Pact is designed to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. On climate change specifically, it confirms the need to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and to transition away from fossil fuels in the energy system, to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The true test now lies in implementation, which will require the continued engagement of governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector.

V.    Sustainable Development beyond 2030

I would like to elaborate separately on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs represent our shared blueprint for a better future. Yet, as we approach 2030, it is clear that achieving these goals is only part of the task. Sustainable Development does not end in the year 2030. It needs to be mainstreamed in all we do. It should be embedded in the very fabric of our social and economic systems, extending far beyond any single deadline.

Here at UNOG, we have a dedicated team within my Office called the Beyond Lab – formerly known as the SDG Lab. We renamed it exactly to concentrate on the horizon of beyond 2030 to fostering this long-term vision and supporting Member States in shaping a sustainable future.

VI.    International Geneva: a unique ecosystem

You are meeting today in International Geneva, a unique ecosystem that brings together 187 Permanent Missions, hundreds of NGOs, academia, and the private sector. Geneva is not just a place; it is one of the operational centers of the multilateral diplomacy, where dialogue is transformed into policy, and policy into global solutions.

Housed at the Palais des Nations, UN Geneva serves as the representative office of the UN Secretary-General. Its core functions focus on the provision of services to support multilateral diplomacy. UN Geneva plays a leading role in fostering and enabling collaboration with and among Member States and supporting intergovernmental processes. Many high-level delegations gather at UN Geneva every year to participate in bilateral exchanges, meetings, and conferences. Among them are meetings of the Human Rights Council, the Conference on Disarmament, the annual session of the International Labour Conference and of the World Health Assembly.  Last year, UNOG hosted and serviced more than 8,000 meetings, which makes us one of the busiest UN duty stations in the world in terms of conference management.

Geneva is also an important venue for international disarmament diplomacy. It is home to the Conference on Disarmament, the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, which comprises 65 Member States. Here at the Palais des Nations, we also support a range of multilateral disarmament agreements and disarmament-related conferences, such as the Review Conferences of the Biological Weapons Convention, sessions of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and the Preparatory Committee of the Review Conferences of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In addition to these multilateral forums, Member States also use international venues as a mean to promote their culture and values. Culture is an important diplomatic instrument to reduce barriers and promote mutual respect and understanding among nations. This is why cultural diplomacy is one of our priorities at the UN Office at Geneva and we support Member States in promoting cultural diversity through exhibitions, concerts and other cultural activities. For example, the Permanent Mission of India annually organizes the International Yoga Day which was celebrated last Saturday at the Palais des Nations.  With the joint efforts of several Permanent Missions, UNOG also celebrates another important International Day for India each year — the Day of Vesak, acknowledging the profound contributions Buddhism has made — and continues to make — to the spiritual fabric of humanity.

While it is often considered the center of the history of multilateralism, Geneva is also the center of its memory. The historical archives of the League of Nations, over 15 million pages listed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, are kept here, at the Palais des Nations. In 2022, we completed a major project to digitize the entire original archives of the League of Nations which are now available for everyone, free of charge. They bear witness to the commitment of our predecessors to the cause of peace and international cooperation.

Thanks to its multicultural diversity, Geneva became an incredible centre of knowledge and innovation in various fields, and an ideal location to reinforce and develop synergies on new and emerging topics on the global agenda.

International Geneva is traditionally strong on peace initiatives and is often regarded as a ‘city of choice’ for mediators and special envoys because it provides a neutral, discreet and secure space for dialogue. Many peace talks, conflict prevention and mediation efforts take place at the Palais des Nations. We host and facilitate several UN-led peace processes, including on Syria, Libya, Cyprus, Georgia, Yemen and Sudan.

This is a place where multilateralism is very much alive. To ensure it continues to serve the world, we must make it inclusive – not only involving Member States, but also civil society, the private sector, academia, and young people, with truly efficient decision-making processes. Its success in the 21st century will depend, in large part, on how well we include all these voices. We still have a long road ahead.

As young diplomats, you will part of that transformation. The world is watching how we respond, not only to crises, but to opportunities.

Thank you for your attention. I will be glad to answer some of your questions.