YouSaid · the spoken record

Alexander De Croo

lines on the record: 44
first: 2021-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Let us also remember the progress that we have made as a common humankind and. when we look back on our achievements, know that they were always the result of hard work and of collaboration. Now more than ever, we need the United Nations and the world to come together to secure progress that works for everyone.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We celebrate its seventy-fifth birthday this year. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains the spinal cord of all human rights treaties and instruments. In fact, the rights defined in the treaty are much older than 75 years. The West African Mandinka nation, in what is nowadays Mali, had a Constitution as early as the year 1200. It spoke of the sanctity of human life, women’s rights and the right to an education, food security and even self-expression. When the freed slaves of Haiti, at the start of the nineteenth century, finally had the freedom to choose their own destiny, they defined living in dignity as living in liberty and equality. Let us therefore remember such stories and recognize the true universality of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In fact, what the Wagner Group and Putin are doing to Africa is exactly the same as in Ukraine — preventing Africa from flourishing, denying African countries their sovereignty and. ultimately, as in Ukraine, colonizing. Putin and the Wagner Group want to turn the clock back. They want to restore the old world order, as it was dominated by colonial Powers. The decolonization and emancipation of African. Asian and South American countries are the most important achievements of our post-World War order. We should protect that legacy and shield it from new forms of imperialism. Each of us has a choice to make as to whose side to pick — the side of the colonizer or the side of the victim. When we make those choices, the best guiding principle that I can think of is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Our track record in the Sahel should be a reason for humility, but it should not lead to indifference. The only way forward is to restore the rule of law. Without it. self-government will never be possible. Without the rule of law. the Sahel will always be a potential playground for foreign bullies, wherever they come from. It must be said that the clear and current danger is coming from a permanent member of the Security Council — from Russia, which decided to throw all international rules overboard and to invade its neighbour; from Russia, which is executing its opponents. Russia created the Wagner Group to bring death and destruction to Africa, plundering that continent, while increasing the price of grain for the most vulnerable.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Fixing migration also means creating legal channels to Europe through education and talent programmes to strengthen societies in the home countries, turning a lose-lose situation into a win-win one so that young Africans can pursue the African dream and not have to risk their lives at sea for the European dream or the American dream. To empower people also means holding the powerful to account. Unfortunately, we live in a world in which more and more strongmen come to power. Take the Sahel region, faced with a major security crisis and gripped by a perfect storm of terrorism, poverty and climate change. That triple threat is undermining societies in Burkina Faso. Mali and the Niger. We need to stop the territorial and institutional disintegration of the Sahel.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“during the Belgian EU presidency, we hope to conclude a new European migration pact — a pact that makes sure that every EU country does its part of the work, enforcing solidarity, standardizing and fast- tracking procedures and working on common European readmission and return policies, and. last but not least, a pact to strengthen our common borders. But a new EU migration pact is only part of the answer. We should also work on one of the biggest root causes of migration, and that is poverty and the lack of economic opportunities. In that regard too. as with climate change, partnerships are the answer — partnerships between Europe and the countries of transit and origin and partnerships that build solid, inclusive institutions to create equal rights and equal opportunities for all. not just for a small ruling class.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“That increased irregular migration deprives the South of its most important economic resource and its most vital potential — young people. At the same time, the host countries in Europe are faced with an influx that they can barely handle. We are facing an uphill battle to accommodate all migrants and integrate them into our society. The heart of the problem is that migration, as we know it today, depends on sheer luck. The current model gives all the control and power to human smugglers. They decide on life or death. They decide on who enters a country and who does not. That is simply unacceptable, unsustainable and immoral. It is a lose-lose situation for everyone involved. We need to rebuild the current migration model. That is why.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Ireland and the United Kingdom, we are turning the North Sea into a big green power plant for Europe. By 2030. we will reach 120 gigawatts of wind energy at sea — the equivalent of more than 50 nuclear plants and enough to provide more than 100 million households with clean, affordable power. We are making progress on the nuclear front as well. Belgium has reached an agreement with its nuclear operator to prolong the lifespan of its two biggest power plants. We will remain a nuclear nation, and we will seek renewed close cooperation with other nuclear nations because, to achieve climate neutrality, we will need both renewables and nuclear. It is vital to win the fight against climate change, since it is the single-biggest disruptor of our societies today. It causes young people to flee their home country en masse.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“All are needed to build our net zero future. That new industrial deal will be one of the major priorities of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). starting on 1 January 2024. But. to make that industrial deal a success, we should look beyond Europe. We need partnerships, especially between Europe and Africa. The foundation stones are there. Belgium has partnered with countries such as Namibia. Morocco and Egypt to accelerate the green transition in wind, in solar and in hydrogen. Investments are pouring in. creating local employment, building up local expertise and soon exporting clean molecules from the shores of Africa to our North Sea ports. We work at home as well. Together with Germany. France, the Netherlands. Luxembourg. Denmark. Norway.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We should therefore stop listening to the alarmists who proclaim that all is lost and that we are on a road to nowhere. How can we expect public opinion to rally behind the climate cause with such blatant defeatism? We should not despair; we should organize. We should speed up the green transition instead of talking ourselves down and. in order to do that, we need to include our industry through a new industrial deal. We will not build a climate paradise on an industrial wasteland. We need our industry for its innovation capacity to come up with tomorrow’s climate solutions. That is why Europe not only should be a continent of industrial innovation, but also should remain a continent of industrial production — clean technology, for sure, but also green chemistry, green steel production and green construction sites.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Canada and Hawaii, floods in Libya and Hong Kong and long periods of drought and water stress in my own country. But. in that regard too. let us look at the trends rather than the events. Let us look at our recent climate track record, and we will see that there is reason for grounded optimism. A record-breaking €340 billion has been invested in renewable energy globally this year. Prices of renewables keep on going down year after year. Many climate analysts believe that carbon emissions will peak as soon as 2025. and will keep going down afterwards, provided that we keep up the investment pace in renewables. The Executive Director of the International Energy Agency called it the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era. He said that it shows that our climate policies work.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Some people, including here in this Hall, are pessimistic about the state of the world today. I beg to differ. There are good reasons for optimism. Since the start of the new millennium, we have made tremendous progress in the Sustainable Development Goals. Today there is more universal access to education than ever before. Eighty-five per cent of young children worldwide are in primary education. Since the start of the century, an additional 2 billion people have had access to safe drinking water. It shows that if we put our minds to it. and if promises are followed by investments, we can make global progress. Of course, the picture is not rosy across the board. Our changing climate is reason for concern. This year we have witnessed some extreme climate events — forest fires in Greece. Spain.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We will also protect our own people, who are struggling to heat their homes and pay their bills. And we will work hand in hand with the Global South. That is our mission today. For millions of people all over the world, the United Nations remains a beacon of hope, not least for the younger generations. Let us respond to their call and act. People are counting on us.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“But is also happening also in Europe, where Putin is financing his puppets to carry out his agenda of division, mistrust and unrest, organizing disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks and illegal interference in free elections. It should be clear — we will not back down on democratic principles and individual rights. We will not allow Russian trojan horses to undermine our democracies with disinformation and fear. When the fight for democracy is to be fought, we will and we shall stand up. A founding Member of the United Nations, a permanent member of the Security Council, is waging a hybrid war on the international community. We cannot standby. We cannot look away. We must protect the people of Ukraine. We must do everything we can to help Ukraine win this war, and we will.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“There will never be sustainable stability, let alone peace, when women are forced to take the back seat. Not only human rights are under pressure; democracy itself is targeted. The Russian bombs and missiles directed towards the people of Ukraine are also aimed at causing conflicts in other countries. Just recently, it was exposed that Russia has spent $300 million to influence foreign officials; to replace their free will with Russia’s will; their own interests with Russia’s interests. This is a new form of colonization. In Africa, for example, ever more countries are becoming targets and victims, such as in the Sahel or in Central Africa. I want to make it clear to our partners that we will remain on their side.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Despite all the promises, Afghan women and girls have been systematically excluded from public life over the past year. Girls are no longer allowed to go to school. They are forced to get married at an age when children should still be playing with their friends. Their mothers no longer allowed to go to work. But as one young Afghan woman wrote, “I am heartbroken, but hopeful”. When this woman, whose rights are being crushed, does not give up then we too must keep fighting, for going to school is not a privilege; it is a right of each and every child, of boys and girls. The Transforming Education Summit was a clear reminder that we must continue to fight for accessibility and quality of education for all, just as we must keep fighting for the right of women to equally participate in all domains of decision-making and public life.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“This brings me to my final point, a fight close to my heart — the fight for human rights and liberal democracy. On the eve of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we see human rights under increasing pressure. It is for that very reason that Belgium is running for a seat in the Human Rights Council for 2023-2025. Our candidacy reflects our commitment to multilateralism and our support for the international order based on the rule of law and on respect for human rights, without distinction. A stronger focus on human rights is urgently needed. Let us take for example, women’s rights. After years of steady progress, we are fighting an uphill battle again. I am sickened to see the fate of women and girls in Afghanistan. What we all feared has become true.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We cannot let one autocrat’s warmongering distract us from our common agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals — an agenda that has not become less relevant, but quite the opposite. Our generation faces a gigantic task, but I remain confident that with we will succeed. To destroy progress, you only need one man. That is what we have learned this year. But to achieve progress, you need many hands. Never before, has cooperation — international cooperation — been so important. Regardless of all the obstacles, of all the pain and struggle, we have today perhaps the greatest opportunity humankind has ever had to create an inclusive community in which every citizen has a say and a stake — in which progress is attainable for all. Let us embrace this opportunity instead of destroying it with bombs and hatred.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Belgium brings innovative solutions and expertise to the table with universities and research centres that are world leading and that will help us to change and to adapt. It is this spirit, this can-do mentality, that we will take to twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Last year in this Hall, I spoke about the deadly floods in my country (see A/76/PV.13). This year, along with many other countries, Belgium again suffered the effects of climate change and global warming, with persistent drought that endangered drinking water and destroyed crops. War in Europe should not make us look away from the big challenges of our time — first and foremost, climate change.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Belgium is one of the world leaders in offshore capacity and, with other European partners, we are investing to transform the North Sea into Europe’s biggest green power plant, quadrupling wind power in the North Sea. We are building a hydrogen hub in the heart of Europe for the import and transit of green hydrogen, and we are reaching out to partners in Africa and the Middle East to team up. Energy transition is a common challenge that needs common answers, from the North and the South. And we keep investing in nuclear energy, safer than today with less waste than today. If we want to bolster our energy independence and deliver on the promises of a green and sustainable world, we will need all of these.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“After all we have done to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, once again we stand ready to protect our people. We are not leaving anyone behind. But that is only part of the answer. We should also be honest. We live in wartime and Governments by themselves will not be able to absorb the full weight of this war. I know that this is a tough message, but it is the only honest one. We will have to bear the weight of this war together, in solidarity. Equally important is the action we take. We need to disconnect from unreliable energy suppliers. We must strengthen our energy independence, diversify energy supplies and transition faster to locally produced green and fossil-free energy. And that is what we are doing.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“If we are to keep our promise and achieve zero hunger by 203 0 — our second Sustainable Development Goal — we must design sustainable and resilient food systems, systems that combine the traditional knowledge of local farmers with the scientific knowledge produced by research, and innovation. Along with this food crisis, the Russian war is also causing a deep energy crisis with global fallout. People, also in Belgium, have difficulty paying their bills, small businesses are forced to pause because of spiking energy prices, and workers are losing their jobs. How should we deal with this? First, we must continue to support our families and businesses. That is why the Belgian Government is releasing unprecedented support plans.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I would also like to commend the positive role played by the African Union, whose leadership and mediation were decisive in the conclusion of the agreement. We European countries have spared no effort in addressing this food crisis. We have maintained food exports. We are helping Ukraine through solidarity corridors, and we are providing emergency aid to the most vulnerable in the most affected regions. Belgium has considerably increased its humanitarian budget in recent years and will continue to work hand in hand with its humanitarian partners to meet the most urgent needs. Yes, this food crisis forces us to look into the structural weaknesses of our agri-food systems.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“They all deserve truth, justice and reparation. This war is not just about Ukraine. It sows instability, famine and poverty all over the world. We have all seen the images of blocked Ukrainian ports, bombed grain silos and even looted Ukrainian grain. Those images speak for themselves of a chaos sown by Russia, and by Russia alone, that endangers the lives of hundreds of millions of people in Africa, Asia and Latin America — as if the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic were not enough. In the midst of this chaos, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed in July in Istanbul, appeared as a beacon of hope. It showed the convening power of the United Nations, and I want to especially thank its Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Tiirkiye for making that agreement possible.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We should be clear — this war will not go without consequences for those who are waging it. There will never be peace without accountability. That is why Belgium has always supported the International Criminal Court (ICC) and that is why we support the ICC in fully investigating and prosecuting all serious crimes committed in Ukraine. There is no room for impunity — not for the butchers of Bucha and definitely not for the leaders in Moscow who are calling the shots and bear the ultimate responsibility. I specifically want to highlight the importance of the fight against sexual violence, one of the most destructive weapons of war, punishable under international law. Women who are exposed to acts of sexual violence suffer irreparable damage. And let us not forget that boys and men, too, are victims.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“It was the late Mikhail Gorbachev who said: “The victor is not the one who wins battles in a war, but the one who makes peace.” To win this peace, we must place the principles of the United Nations Charter at the forefront again — the principles of territorial integrity and national sovereignty. Indeed, if today the world is less stable and less secure, it is because of the sheer scandal that one of the founding Members of this United Nations has trampled on these principles and unleashed a war that reminds us of Europe’s darkest hours. The statements of the past days and the threat to launch a nuclear war against an independent country have demonstrated Russia’s ruthlessness once again. It is reminiscent of medieval barbarism, much more than of Russian greatness.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The mass graves and torture chambers in Izyum are the latest signs of the utter brutality of this unnecessary and illegal war — all gross violations of everything the United Nations stands for. Faced with this Russian aggression and, indeed, war crimes, the United Nations is challenged to fulfil its calling. Everyone in this Hall, the representatives of every single country, will be asked one day: “What did you do to stop this? What did you do to protect the people of Ukraine? Did you look away, or did you act?” In this conflict, there is no room for neutrality.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“They tortured her and most likely raped her.” These are haunting and horrifying words; and sadly, this is only one of thousands of stories that mark that we are living in one of the darkest moments since the birth of the United Nations. Out of the destruction and devastation of the Second World War, the United Nations emerged “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”, as the Preamble of the Charter of the United Nations begins. Never again war in Europe — that was the mission. Never again were schools to be bombed on the European continent. Never again were hospitals to be hit. Never again were cities to be cut off from food and medicine. Today we are witnessing all of these in Ukraine.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I want to begin with the story of Karina, 22-years-old. Eight years ago, Karina — a teenager — was forced to flee Donetsk when Russia invaded eastern Ukraine. In spring this year, the family was once again forced to flee, but this time, Karina — now in her early twenties — did not follow her parents. For the first few days, she stayed in touch by phone, but soon things went quiet. After the Russian barbarians retreated from Bucha, Karina’s horrible fate was revealed. Her body was found, and her stepfather shared with The Kyiv Independent what had happened to her: “There were cuts and lacerations. There was a piece of flesh torn off from her ribs. Half of her nails were torn off. Her leg was shot.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“These global vulnerabilities threaten the very fabric of our societies, our ways of life. They can be addressed only by a collective answer based on a dynamic multilateralism. No one is safe until everyone is safe. That has become our guiding principle in fighting the pandemic. It is the present-day translation of Dag Hammarskjold’s reminder that the weakness of one is the weakness of all. No one is safe until everyone is safe. Let that also be our common objective when it comes to climate, security and human rights. Let that guideline inspire our actions every day.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In doing so, we will shape a society that lives up to the promise of the fundamental equality of all human beings. The universality of human rights is the cornerstone of the modern international order. It is an essential obligation for all States. That universality is questioned all too often. More than ever, we have to reaffirm that human rights are not a favour. They are an obligation everywhere, for everyone. Too many women and girls still fall victim to human rights violations. Same-sex relationships are still considered a criminal offence in too many countries. Belgium will continue to be a voice for LGBTQI people. We will not let our guard down. For all those reasons, Belgium aspires to become a member of the Human Rights Council for the term from 2023 to 2025.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Afghan women and girls are already bearing the brunt of that attitude. They are being tear-gassed, beaten, dismissed and locked up at home. We will continue to monitor their rights. They must be able to go to school, to work and to live their lives in freedom. Societies where women are respected and equally represented, where they thrive and can become teachers, society leaders or chief executive officers, are stronger and more stable societies. Twenty years ago, Belgium played a crucial part in the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The fight against racism is of paramount importance to my Government. Racism, anti-Semitism and all other forms of discrimination and intolerance are unacceptable. We need to challenge and end racial injustice.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“I see a key role for the United Nations in remaining close to the people of Afghanistan in order to provide humanitarian assistance, but even more important, to prevent the country from imploding. If we turn our backs on the Afghan people it will come at a high cost. A population plunged into extreme poverty will fall victim to extreme ideologies or will do anything it can to leave the country. Those three vulnerabilities — health, climate and security — are a threat to human rights and their universality. For Belgium, peace, security and development are not possible without a profound respect for human rights. In every crisis and in every war, women and girls suffer first and suffer most. We are concerned about the appointment of a Taliban Government that does not reflect the political, religious and ethnic diversity of Afghanistan.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Failure to prevent conflict often results in a failure to protect human dignity, with people losing everything. My country is a major humanitarian donor. Belgium’s budget for humanitarian aid last year was €200 million. During our Security Council tenure, we attached great importance to issues such as humanitarian access to Syria. Similarly, we will continue to help the Afghan people with humanitarian aid. Belgium will do its part, in line with its commitment announced last week in Geneva. The world cannot turn its back on the Afghan people. Yes, humanitarian assistance is necessary and needed to save lives, but tents and food alone will not be enough.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Twenty years ago, the attacks of 11 September not only changed this city, they changed the world. Five years ago, my country was also attacked by terrorists. Like France, we are bringing terrorists to justice, but we have not yet defeated terrorism. Terrorists continue to claim innocent lives, as they did recently at Kabul airport. Belgium is one of the founding members of the Global Coalition against Da’esh. We participate actively in the fight against terrorism with military deployment as well as stabilization and reconstruction efforts through the United Nations Development Programme. Throughout the Sahel, our bilateral cooperation encompasses both defence and development. But the fact is that security is not sufficient to ensure stability, and we cannot close our eyes to the humanitarian situations that worsen these problems.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We will increase investments in renewable energy, and we have a clear goal of becoming one of the most significant hubs for clean hydrogen supplies. Our common mission in Glasgow is crystal clear. We need to do whatever it takes to limit global warming to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change target of 1.5°C. Building the resilience of the most fragile countries will be an important part of that effort. That is why we must deliver on our financing commitment of $100 billion and why Belgium plans to increase its contribution to international climate finance. It is quite literally a matter of life and death. If we fail to act on the climate crisis, not only will we lose more lives, but global tensions, instability and insecurity will increase. That brings me to the third vulnerability, our international security.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“This makes the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Glasgow, the most important meeting of recent years. With the European Green Deal, the European Union intends to be climate neutral by 2050 and to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. We hope that more countries will follow Europe’s lead. This transition to sustainability is costly, but it is also a major economic opportunity. It triggers innovation and drives new growth. It is the future our young people demand. That is why Belgium will double its wind-energy capacities in the North Sea and will remain one of the global leaders in offshore wind-energy production.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth assessment report, published last month, says unequivocally that the increase in carbon-dioxide concentration and global temperature is unprecedented. Every region of the world is now witnessing the adverse effects of climate change sooner than expected. This summer, Europe and my country were hit hard by extreme weather conditions. Forty-one of our citizens lost their lives in the worst floods our country has ever seen. We were in shock. In the face of the brutality of the forces of nature, many of us felt very small. We will rebuild, but it will not be enough. We cannot sit back and wait for the next flood, heat wave or extreme drought to kill again. We must act, and we must act now.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Economies have been pushed into recession, and fragile countries have been struck harder than others. Yet giving up is not an option. As the Secretary-General said in his report on Our Common Agenda, we must usher in a new era of universal social protection. No one country can cope with these unprecedented challenges on its own. That is why Team Europe is pooling efforts and resources to assist the most vulnerable countries. Belgium is proud to be part of that collective European effort. So let us not lose courage. We must build back. But we are faced with an important choice, even an opportunity. Do we continue with business as usual or do we do things differently? That brings me to a second vulnerability that requires our attention, the climate crisis and the urgent need to put sustainability at the heart of all our efforts.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“As we speak, a private Belgian company is working with partners in Senegal to start local vaccine production there. We must also prepare for the next pandemic, even if the present one is far from over. A new pandemic treaty will enable us to be better prepared, build resilient health systems and increase access to decent health care and quality medicines. In addition, we need a transformed World Health Organization that is fit for purpose to lead those efforts. The coronavirus has taken the lives of nearly 5 million people, and it has also had a devastating impact on our 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has halted and even reversed many of the recent positive developments. Extreme poverty is on the rise again for the first time this century.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“As Hammarskjold said, “The weakness of one is the weakness of all.” As long as the virus continues to circulate, the risk of new variants is there and no one will be safe. The COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility is the best mechanism for strengthening vaccination solidarity and closing the global vaccination gap. Belgium has already donated 1.5 million doses, and by the end of the year we will have donated a total of 4 million vaccines. With close to €3 billion pledged to COVAX, the European Union is one of its major donors, but we must do more. We must also boost local vaccine production through technology transfers and the sharing of knowledge. That is one of Team Europe’s objectives. At least €1 billion will be invested to that end.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the health-care workers in Belgium and elsewhere who continue to battle that deadly virus. Belgium is among the top vaccinated countries in the world, with 85 per cent of our adult population fully vaccinated. But we are also a leading exporter of vaccines, accounting for two thirds of all European exports. We are one of the world’s vaccine powerhouses, and we acted like one by keeping trade lanes open and exporting more than 530 million vaccines to the rest of the world without ever imposing an export ban. If we are to overcome the pandemic, vaccine solidarity is a crucial condition since no one will be safe until everyone is safe. It is therefore unacceptable that today less than 4 per cent of Africa’s population is fully vaccinated.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“No, we cannot. Let me quote the late former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, who was murdered exactly 60 years ago last week. “The weakness of one is the weakness of all, and the strength of one...is indirectly the strength of all.” That is why Belgium remains strongly committed to multilateralism and to an international order based on the rule of law — the founding principle of our United Nations. Only through common action will we build common strength. Only through multilateralism will we provide long-term answers to today’s complex crises. Which vulnerabilities, then, require our common action? I see three. The first is COVID-19. We need to bring the pandemic to an end. It is now almost two years since our lives were turned upside down by an unprecedented health crisis.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“How encouraging it is to see the General Assembly meet in person again. When I stepped into this solemn Hall, I felt a sense of relief. But while we all yearn to get back to normal, is that sense of relief justified? What is the “normal” that we can actually hope for? Can we feel relieved when the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is still all around us and too many people are not vaccinated? Can we be relieved when climate change is becoming a matter of life and death for a growing number of people? Is there room for relief when human rights are being challenged in so many places? All over the world, people who are perceived as different are confronted with hate speech, hate crimes, discrimination and abuse. Can we really feel relief when the new normal for women and girls in Afghanistan is to go home, keep silent and stay inside?”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)