Director-General's message on the occasion of the Opening Ceremony of the Geneva Peace Week

Geneva Peace Week 2025
Peace session “80 Years of the UN Multilateralism:
Reinforcing a Timeless Framework for Global Peace”

Wednesday, 15 October 2025, at 9.00 a.m.
Conference Center C1, Maison de la Paix

Theme: “Peace in Action”

Excellencies, 
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour to address you today at this peace session on “80 Years of UN Multilateralism: Reinforcing a Timeless Framework for Global Peace”, held as part of the 2025 Geneva Peace Week.

Let me begin by thanking the leading organizer of Geneva Peace Week – the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform – as well as our co-organizer of this session – the Permanent Mission of Switzerland – for making this event possible. I also wish to acknowledge our distinguished panelists, and all of you joining this important discussion.

While I regret not being able to join you in person, I am pleased to share this moment of reflection – on both the legacy and the future of the United Nations.

This year marks a significant milestone. In less than 2 weeks, we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. This is not only a moment to commemorate the Organization’s achievements, but also an opportunity to renew our shared commitment to the principles that inspired its founding after the devastation of the Second World War: peace, security, human rights and development for all.

Over the past eight decades, the UN’s journey has evolved alongside a changing world – yet it has remained true to its founding purpose: to prevent conflict, foster dialogue and promote cooperation. From peacekeeping and human rights treaties to humanitarian coordination and climate initiatives, the UN has shown its unique ability to convene, to mediate and to act - where national and regional efforts alone are not enough.

But the strength of multilateralism is never automatic. It must be built patiently, through dialogue, trust and compromise. The UN, in essence, embodies the belief that despite our differences, nations can and must work together for the common good.

Today, this belief is being tested. We face mounting geopolitical tensions and complex transnational challenges - from climate change and pandemics to cyber threats, forced displacement and widening inequalities. No country, no matter how powerful, can face these challenges alone. The need for effective, inclusive and adaptive multilateralism has never been more evident.

In this spirit, today’s session examines how we can strengthen a multilateral system that delivers for all in a rapidly evolving world.

The discussion will look at three interconnected key themes.

First, the UN’s transformative legacy. Over the past 80 years, multilateral cooperation has produced tangible progress – stabilizing conflicts, advancing justice and human rights, and lifting millions from poverty.

But the UN’s legacy is not just historical. It is an active, living framework that continues to shape our present and will define our future. Consider the Sustainable Development Goals – which integrate peace, justice and development – or the global health responses that have mobilized countries, scientists and organizations in unprecedented ways.

Second, reform and innovation. The UN is not static – it evolves to meet new realities. We are integrating new actors – from civil society to regional organizations and the private sector – into our work. We are modernizing systems, improving transparency, and leveraging digital technologies to strengthen global coordination and decision-making.

Yet, reform is an ongoing process. To keep the UN credible and effective, we must address structural barriers, ensure that the voices of all stakeholders are heard and remain vigilant against emerging risks – from new conflicts to threats to the very fabric of multilateral governance.

Third, actionable strategies for the future. The Pact for the Future charts a renewed path for global cooperation. Alongside with the UN80 initiative, it calls upon all of us to strengthen prevention, solidarity and inclusion, so that multilateralism remains relevant and resilient for generations to come.

These commitments take shape through places and communities that embody the spirit of cooperation. And nowhere is that spirit more vibrant than here in International Geneva. Home to the United Nations Office and several UN entities as well as a dynamic network of research institutions, humanitarian organizations, and diplomatic missions, Geneva provides the infrastructure, expertise, and environment that enable multilateral solutions to flourish. From negotiating treaties to shaping innovative programs, the city continues to embody peace in action.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As we commemorate 80 years of the United Nations, let us honor the lessons of the past, seize the opportunities of the present, and act with courage and conviction to build a future guided by cooperation, dialogue and solidarity.

Thank you.