Director-General's remarks at the GCSP Swiss Diplomat Course "Challenges and Opportunities for Multilateralism"

Meeting with the participants of the GCSP Swiss Diplomat Course
“Challenges and Opportunities for Multilateralism”

Monday, 11 May 2026, at 3.00 p.m.
Concordia 5, Palais des Nations

Dear colleagues,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Palais des Nations.

Let me thank the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and your moderators Ms. Anca Munteanu and Ms. Hajer Abid for bringing together this new cohort of diplomats here in Geneva.

I understand that earlier today you met Ambassador Thomas Gurber. This is a fitting introduction to your programme and a reflection of the central role of Switzerland – not only as a host State, but as a facilitator of dialogue, mediation and multilateral cooperation.

State of multilateralism

Over the past decades, multilateral institutions have been the backbone of global efforts to maintain peace and security, advance sustainable development and uphold human rights. They have enabled collective responses to climate change, health crises, financial instability and now the digital revolution.

Yet, today, multilateralism is under significant strain. As the UN Secretary-General warned, we are living in a world where the “law of power is prevailing over the power of law”.

Around the world, we see a growing gap between increasing global connectivity and declining political consensus.

International law is being challenged, cooperation is eroding and multilateral institutions are under assault on many fronts.

Geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts are provoking dangerous cycles of action and reaction, compounded by deep divisions.

Economic inequalities within and between countries continue to widen, creating fertile ground for polarization and distrust. These inequalities fuel social frustration and undermine confidence in international cooperation.

Climate change reminds us that our actions towards the planet inevitably provoke consequences – already severe ones – in the form of extreme weather, rising seas and environmental disruption.

Meanwhile, power is increasingly concentrating in a small number of large technology ecosystems that shape markets, information flows and even political processes.

Rapid technological change brings enormous promise but also risks from cyber threats to misinformation undermining democratic institutions. Artificial intelligence brings vast opportunities, but without effective governance and respect for human agency, its rapid expansion risks generating not innovation but instability.

These developments are testing the resilience of multilateralism. Some question whether our institutions are still fit for purpose. But this is not a moment to retreat. It is a moment to renew it.

As the UN Secretary-General has stressed, we must “rebuild trust and restore solidarity” as well as to “rescue a multilateralism based on the UN Charter and international law”.

Why does multilateralism matter?

Today’s challenges do not respect borders. No country, no matter how powerful, can tackle them alone.

Multilateralism offers:

•    A platform for dialogue where diverse voices can be heard, and consensus can be built.
•    A mechanism for shared responsibility and burden-sharing in addressing global problems.
•    A foundation of law and norms that guide state behavior and protect the most vulnerable.
•    Opportunities for innovation and partnership across governments, civil society, and the private sector.

Multilateralism is not an abstract concept, it is a practical toolbox for building bridges across divides, fostering peace and advancing sustainable development.

Renewal, not retreat

Encouragingly, there are also signs of renewal. In 2024, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future at the Summit of the Future – a forward-looking agreement to deliver a better present and safeguard the future. The Pact and its annexes – the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations – set out commitments to reform peace and security, make global financial governance fairer, harness digital technologies responsibly and embed long-term thinking in today’s decision-making. The Pact is not a quick fix, but it represents a shared commitment - by Member States and beyond - to rebuild trust and deliver results.

The year 2025 marked the first full year of its implementation. The General Assembly has launched follow-up dialogues on means of implementation, monitoring and review to ensure that the Pact moves from words on paper to tangible change by 2028. The United Nations system is also mobilizing to support implementation. This includes: 

-    Coordinating follow-up through a high-level steering committee, chaired by the UN Secretary-General;
-    Driving progress through six UN-wide working groups and two task teams, focused on key thematic priorities;
-    Supporting implementation at regional level, through the UN Regional Economic Commissions, and at country level, through Resident Coordinators and Country Teams;
-    Providing strategic guidance, data, coordination and communications via a dedicated team for Pact implementation within the Executive Office of the Secretary-General.

UN80 Initiative

Last year, the United Nations marked its 80th anniversary – a moment to celebrate achievements, but above all to renew and adapt. Born from the ashes of war, the UN was founded on the values of peace, equality, and collective responsibility. Those values remain our compass as we confront very different threats, from climate breakdown to unregulated technologies.

The UN80 initiative is the system’s transformation blueprint. It focuses not on changing what the UN does, but how it works – to be more agile, coherent and impactful. The UN80 Action Plan shared with the Member States at the end of 2025, brings together three major workstreams into a single framework “under one roof”, translating them into 31 work packages with clear responsibilities and timelines. A new Steering Committee chaired by the Secretary-General, together with a UN80 Task Force, is driving this change so that every mandate and every dollar deliver stronger results.

Key priorities include:

•    Modern, inclusive decision-making;
•    A stronger voice for the Global South;
•    And deeper engagement between citizens and international institutions.

Ultimately, UN80 is about one thing: restoring credibility through delivery.

The role of Geneva

Geneva is one of the world’s leading hubs of diplomacy and multilateral cooperation. From humanitarian action and human rights to disarmament, digital cooperation, trade and health, Geneva brings together a diverse range of actors with one common goal: solving global challenges through collective action.

Some 40 UN entities, 188 UN Member States and hundreds of NGOs and academic partners make Geneva a unique ecosystem where global decisions are debated, shaped, and implemented.

In my role as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, I represent the Secretary-General and work to ensure coherence across this system – bringing together Member States, UN entities and partners.

This means facilitating dialogue, supporting negotiations and ensuring that Geneva continues to serve as a platform for cooperation, even in times of division.

Switzerland plays a unique role in enabling this ecosystem. As a host state of UNOG and a vast community of international organizations, NGOs and diplomatic missions, Switzerland has long demonstrated an exceptional commitment to multilateralism, dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution. Beyond providing infrastructure and security, Switzerland contributes something even more valuable: an environment of trust, predictability and inclusiveness that allows diplomacy to function effectively.

Through its longstanding policy of neutrality, its active engagement in mediation and good offices, and its steadfast support for international humanitarian law and human rights, Switzerland has consistently helped create conditions where dialogue remains possible. At a time when polarization and mistrust are challenging international cooperation, the Swiss commitment to bridge-building and consensus-building is more important than ever.

Conclusion

Let me conclude with a simple observation: connectivity is a fact; cooperation is a choice. And multilateralism is how we make that choice.

Here in Geneva, we convene, connect and deliver. And through your work that mission will continue.

Thank you.