Director-General's remarks at the Opening ceremony of India's International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN)

Opening ceremony of India's International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) Geneva Conference
Monday, 19 October 2026 at 9.30 a.m.
Palais des Nations, Room XI

Dear students,

Welcome to the Palais des Nations, home of the United Nations Office in Geneva, also called UNOG.

When you hear the word palais, you might think of kings, queens and royal courts. But while palais means “palace” in French, this is a palace of a very different kind. It was not built for royalty. It is a palace for people, a place where representatives from all nations come together to discuss, negotiate, and work for peace, human rights, and international cooperation.

Every year, thousands of meetings take place here in Geneva on topics ranging from human rights and health to trade, disarmament and artificial intelligence. Behind each of these discussions lies a simple but powerful idea: that dialogue is always better than division, and cooperation is always stronger than confrontation.

At the United Nations, communication is at the heart of everything we do. Every agreement, every resolution, and every breakthrough begins with people talking to one another. Listening to different perspectives is crucial to finding common ground. This is why the work you are doing through IIMUN is so valuable. Model United Nations is an opportunity for young people to develop the skills in diplomacy, negotiation and public speaking, skills that are used every day in this building.

But the conversations that shape our societies are no longer confined to conference rooms and negotiating tables. They increasingly unfold online, across digital platforms that connect billions of people around the world. Understanding how these technological changes affect dialogue, cooperation and decision-making is therefore one of the defining challenges of your generation.

Technology Shifts

We live in a world that is increasingly fragmented and polarized, where people with different views can sometimes retreat into separate spaces and stop engaging with one another altogether. Technology has transformed the way we communicate and is playing a growing role in shaping our collective future.

Digital platforms allow us to connect instantly across continents, share knowledge at unprecedented speed, and mobilize action on issues that affect us all. They have the power to bring people, communities, and nations closer together. Artificial intelligence is accelerating this transformation by opening remarkable possibilities in fields ranging from healthcare and education to scientific research and sustainable development.

Yet these same technologies also present significant challenges. Social media can create echo chambers that reinforce existing beliefs and deepen divisions. Artificial intelligence, if not developed and used responsibly, can amplify bias, spread misinformation, blur the line between reality and fiction, and even be used in ways that threaten privacy, security and human rights. As AI becomes more powerful, we must ensure that it remains guided by human values and serves the common good.

Young people understand these opportunities and challenges particularly well, because you navigate digital spaces every day and will inherit a future in which AI is an integral part of society. The task for your generation is not only to harness technology as a tool for innovation and progress, but also to shape how it is governed, ensuring that it becomes a force for understanding, cooperation, solidarity and inclusion rather than division, distrust and exclusion.

That also means ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from progress. The advancement of women and girls is one of the clearest examples of this principle. When women participate fully in education, leadership, economic life and decision-making, societies are stronger, more prosperous and more resilient. Advancing gender equality is therefore not only a matter of fairness, but also a prerequisite for sustainable development and lasting peace.

The role of Geneva

The questions of how we govern technology, foster inclusion and strengthen international cooperation cannot be answered by any country acting alone. They require dialogue, partnership and collective action.

This is precisely where Geneva plays a unique role.

Geneva remains one of the world’s principal centres for multilateral diplomacy. Today it brings together over 40 UN entities, 187 UN Member States and hundreds of non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and other partners.

As a hub for diplomacy, humanitarian action, human rights, health, trade and digital governance, it is where multilateral solutions are debated, tested, and delivered. For instance, Geneva recently hosted the first ever UN high-level dialogue on AI governance (6-7 July) alongside the AI for good summit, to address the major questions that AI raises for humanity.

Yet addressing these questions is not only the responsibility of governments, diplomats and experts. The voices of young people are equally essential, because the decisions being made today will shape the world you will inherit tomorrow.

This growing recognition of the importance of youth participation is reflected across the United Nations system.

First Youth townhall

Looking to the future, the first-ever United Nations Youth Townhall will take place from 8 to 10 December 2026 in Heidelberg, Germany. Convened by the United Nations Youth Office and led by Assistant Secretary-General Felipe Paullier, it will bring together more than 1,000 young people and representatives of governments, civil society, the private sector and the United Nations.

This Townhall offers an important opportunity for meaningful youth participation. Its discussions will address sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights, as well as education, technology, mental health and economic opportunities.

Most importantly, it reflects a growing understanding that young people are not simply the leaders of tomorrow. You are stakeholders today, with perspectives, ideas and solutions that can help shape a better future.

Before I conclude, let me leave you with two personal thoughts:

•    First, looking around the room today, I am particularly pleased to see so many young women among you. As the first woman to serve as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, I am proud of the progress that has been made, but I am also conscious that there is still work to do. Gender parity is not simply about numbers. It is about ensuring that talent, ambition, and leadership can flourish regardless of gender. International organizations, governments, businesses, and civil society are stronger when they benefit from the perspectives and contributions of everyone.

•    My second reflection concerns careers and leadership more broadly. One thing I have learned is that there is no single path to success, and careers rarely follow a straight line. I started out as a journalist before moving into diplomacy and international organizations. Each experience taught me something new and opened doors I had never expected.

You might not have everything figured out yet. Do not worry. Stay curious, keep learning, and be open to challenging yourself. Your own journey may take you places you have yet to imagine. And never underestimate the impact that one committed individual can have.

I hope some of you will one day return to the Palais des Nations not as visitors, but as diplomats, experts and leaders working to build a more peaceful and prosperous world.

Thank you for being here, and for the energy, ideas and commitment you bring to building a better future.
With the remaining time we have together, I would be happy to answer a few of your questions.