Director-General's remarks at the Meeting with Fellows of the United Nations President of the General Assembly Fellowship Programme

Meeting with the 2025 President of the General Assembly Fellows

Tuesday, 1 July 2025, at 11.00 a.m.
Director-General’s office, S Building, Office 160

Dear Fellows,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the United Nations Office at Geneva - right in the heart of International Geneva. I’m delighted to meet with you and have this opportunity to share some thoughts on the state of our world, the role of the United Nations, and the importance of multilateralism at a time of profound change and uncertainty.

I am also very eager to hear from you. As emerging diplomats representing Belize, Libya, Nepal, the Solomon Islands and Tanzania, you each bring valuable perspectives, rooted in your countries’ experiences and aspirations.

Multilateralism has always been at the heart of the United Nations. It is built on the simple but powerful belief that the biggest challenges we face - whether they concern peace and security, sustainable development, or human rights - cannot be solved by any one country acting alone. They require cooperation, dialogue and solidarity.

And when we look back at the past decades, we see just how much has been achieved when nations choose to come together: from reducing poverty and advancing human rights, to setting rules for arms control and achieving the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change.

These are powerful reminders that multilateralism works - and that it delivers.

Yet today, we face significant challenges.

Around the world, we see a resurgence of fragmentation and narrow nationalism. Geopolitical rivalries are intensifying. Trust is in short supply - both among states and between institutions and the people they serve. Inequalities continue to deepen, and millions are still waiting for the means to achieve their development goals. Complex, transboundary crises - from climate emergencies to pandemics and displacement - are unfolding against this difficult backdrop.

At the same time, there is growing pressure on our multilateral system to evolve. To be more inclusive. To better reflect today’s global realities. And to give stronger voice to countries of the Global South - including your own.

The good news is that we are not starting from scratch. We have a foundation. We have institutions. We have shared values. And we have momentum.

Last year, Member States adopted the Pact for the Future, a landmark political declaration that reflects the aspirations of our global community. It calls for meaningful reforms - from revitalizing the Security Council, to reshaping the global financial system, to strengthening our capacity to govern new technologies, such as artificial intelligence. It also includes a Declaration on Future Generations, which urges us to put long-term thinking and intergenerational justice at the center of policymaking, and the Global Digital Compact, a robust framework for digital cooperation.

The Pact is not just a document. It is a call to action - and a collective commitment to renew the multilateral system so that it can better serve all people, everywhere.

This year, as we mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, we are not only celebrating our past - we are actively shaping our future.

The UN80 initiative is a key part of that effort. It builds on the Secretary-General’s vision of a “UN 2.0”: a modern, more agile, more inclusive organization. It is about asking honest questions - and having honest conversations - about how we can work better, how we can simplify where needed, and how we can ensure that our resources are directed where they are most needed.

Let me be clear: this is not about reducing ambition. It is about aligning our structures with today’s realities and ensuring that we are equipped to address challenges.

Here in Geneva, we are taking that responsibility seriously. The Palais des Nations - where you are sitting today - is itself undergoing transformation. Originally built nearly a century ago to house the League of Nations, it now stands at the center of multilateral diplomacy. As part of the Strategic Heritage Plan, we are modernizing this historic building. This is not just a renovation project. It is a symbol - of our commitment to preserve the legacy of multilateralism while adapting our institutions for the 21st century.

Geneva itself is a unique ecosystem. It is home to over 40 UN entities, 187 permanent missions, hundreds of NGOs and academic institutions. It is where humanitarian, health, development and human rights work come together.

We see this in Geneva’s central role in peace processes in Syria, Libya, and Sudan. In its contributions to global health, climate resilience and food security. And in its everyday function as a platform for inclusion - where civil society, young people, and the private sector help shape the multilateral agenda.

We are also embracing digital innovation. The pandemic accelerated our transition to hybrid diplomacy. Today, we are working to ensure that technology is not just a tool - but a force for inclusion, transparency, and more effective global cooperation. But we must remain vigilant: technology can also widen inequalities if not used responsibly. Bridging the digital divide remains a key priority - and a prerequisite for sustainable development.

The SDGs - our shared blueprint for a better world - are another essential pillar. With only five years left until 2030, progress remains uneven. We know that many countries are leading the way in areas like renewable energy, water management, and education. But we also know that the road ahead will require even deeper efforts - and a renewed sense of shared responsibility.

That’s why we are shifting our approach to look beyond 2030. At UN Geneva, our Beyond Lab - formerly the SDG Lab - reflects this evolution. Our aim is to support long-term strategies for sustainability that are embedded in all aspects of society, from governance to the economy to local communities.

Let me return to the core of multilateralism: people. Multilateralism cannot succeed if it does not reflect the hopes, the needs and the rights of the people it is meant to serve. This is where you come in.

You are part of a new generation that is reimagining diplomacy - one that is more open, more connected and more responsive. You carry with you not only the voices of your countries, but also the aspirations of youth, of communities too often left unheard, and of future generations.

Engage, question, challenge us, build partnerships, forge solidarity and always remember that cooperation is not weakness - it is strength. It is how we build peace, how we advance justice, and how we create a fairer world for all.

Multilateralism has never been easy. But it has always been essential. And today, it is more vital than ever.

I thank you, and I look forward to your questions.