YouSaid · the spoken record

Paul Kagame

lines on the record: 120
first: 2006-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 18
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

“We continue to remain grateful to all those who have accompanied us on our journey as we plan to commemorate the genocide against the Tutsi for the thirtieth time in April 2024. In conclusion. I look forward to welcoming leaders to the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, which Rwanda will host in June 2024.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“That is what we all claim to want, even as we too frequently fall short. In that spirit, allow me to commend the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), led by Achim Steiner, for the Timbuktoo initiative to strengthen the African start-up innovation ecosystem. This week, the International Telecommunication Union, led by Doreen Bogdan-Martin, together with UNDP, unveiled a major new initiative on inclusive digital public infrastructure. Rwanda is very happy to be associated with those efforts, which reflect the United Nations at its best. For Rwanda, the source of our solidarity comes from our commitment to never allowing a repetition of the tragedy that was inflicted on us nearly 30 years ago.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“But to have lasting effect, they need to pave the way for multilateral engagement and internal political progress. No matter the number of troops deployed, the mindset should be to get results that serve the interests of the people on the ground. Paying lip service to peace and getting lost in the process and formalities serve only to confirm the selective attention of some in the international community. We still have a long way to go. Africa urgently needs to be fully represented in entities where decisions concerning our future are made. Just as urgently. Africa must be fully prepared to speak with one voice. Ultimately, a more effective development cooperation framework must give equal weight to everyone’s needs and priorities. That is what builds fair and equal partnerships and a more just and peaceful world.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Rwanda remains committed to working with partners, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to contribute to a durable solution. That decision is informed by our experience, knowing first-hand the pain of losing everything and not having a place to call home. That is part of our promise to leave no one behind. We continue to need a more effective forum to manage global crises. That is why the United Nations was created in the first place. However, that does not absolve any country or region of the responsibility to address the governance shortfalls that are the root causes of instability. In that regard. I welcome the Secretary-General’s report on a New Agenda for Peace. Bilateral interventions, to which Rwanda contributes actively in various places, can provide a rapid response to a crisis situation.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Africa and small island developing States, many of which are represented in the Commonwealth, want to work with partners and be part of the solution. That is an important outcome of the recent Africa Climate Summit, held in Nairobi under the leadership of President William Ruto. However, we must not only cool down our climate, but we must also cool down our conflicts. Today there is no sign of ongoing conflicts ending anytime soon. We do not even see hope, from those with the most influence, that an end is in sight. Innocent lives are left alone to carry the burden of this instability. That is a profound injustice. The migration crisis is a case in point. Every year, migrants and refugees undertake dangerous journeys in search of a better future.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“At the same time, developing countries face exaggerated currency and political risk premiums that are simply unjustified. We need serious cooperation to address this issue. In developing countries, we also have a responsibility to be accountable for the quality of our financial governance and the management of our natural resources. Increasing access to finance also requires reform of our global financial institutions. In that regard, we welcome the proposals of the Bridgetown Initiative, as well as the Paris Summit for a New Global Financing Pact. Rwanda also supports the second replenishment of the Green Climate Fund to create the fiscal space for vulnerable nations to tackle climate change.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“This year the World Health Organization declared that the coronavirus disease pandemic is no longer a global health emergency. Recovery is well under way. Unfortunately, the starting line was not the same for all of us across different regions. This year’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit once again raised the alarm about the slow pace of SDG implementation, and I commend the Secretary-General for the sharp focus he is bringing to that issue. Developing countries are constrained by a debt crisis, including higher costs of borrowing. That is causing economic disparities to widen and slowing down our collective progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The primary cause of this crisis is high interest rates in developed economies in order to correct for years of quantitative easing.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Regional and bilateral initiatives have been proved to make a big difference, whether in the Central African Republic or the successful engagement to contain violent extremism in northern Mozambique, conducted by Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community. If that approach were tried properly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as proposed by the Nairobi process, it would make a difference. However, to be sustainable, such efforts require consistent financial support from the international community. A great deal is at stake, and time is not on our side. We cannot anticipate or prevent every crisis, but we can be better prepared to react quickly and effectively when needed, especially if we work together.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The future is digital, and transformation is happening now, as evidenced by the ongoing work of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development and the Smart Africa secretariat. High- quality digital jobs are a practical response to the underlying drivers of irregular migration by closing the human-capital investment gap that separates high- and low-income countries. To ensure that the benefits are equally shared, we must continue to invest equitably in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence. In the area of peacebuilding and counter-terrorism, regional initiatives can complement the important work of the United Nations.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The future of billions of children and young people across the world depends on overcoming the challenges of inclusion and quality of instruction, particularly as we recover from the pandemic. Away from the headlines, the United Nations and other multilateral institutions retain the ability to set an agenda around which we can all rally. At the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, leaders adopted an ambitious programme of action, including special instruments on living lands, urbanization and child-care protection and reform. We also agreed to prioritize public-private partnerships to create digital jobs for young people across the Commonwealth.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I hope that all countries will respond strongly and sustain their commitments at the seventh Global Fund replenishment meeting, to chaired by President Biden later today. Africa is doing its part, but it must do more. For sustainability, external funding must go hand in hand with increased domestic financing for health. That is a priority, which the African Union is tracking on an annual basis, and which I am honoured to lead on behalf of the organization. We are also working with partners to bring end- to-end vaccine manufacturing to our continent, notably through collaboration with BioNTech and strong support from the European Union. That is critical to increasing Africa’s resilience against future pandemics. I commend the Secretary-General for convening the Transforming Education Summit earlier this week.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“That has exposed neighbouring States, notably Rwanda, to cross-border attacks that are entirely preventable. There is an urgent need to find the political will to finally address the root causes of instability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The blame game does not solve the problems. Such challenges are not insurmountable, and solutions can be found. That would ultimately be much less costly in terms of both money and human lives. Despite shortcomings, there are examples to demonstrate that international cooperation can successfully address the issues that matter to all of us. Global health is a case in point. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has helped save countless lives, in Africa and beyond, while also strengthening health systems.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The Secretary-General’s landmark report Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) has only increased in value since it was launched a year ago. The world is in a state of turbulence, with intersecting crises growing in scale and severity, including climate change, food price inflation, conflict and uncontrolled migration. Those challenges all require multilateral cooperation and efforts. Yet the perception that the international system is no longer up to the task has only deepened, particularly where the interests of powerful members are at stake. In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, recent setbacks have served to highlight that the security situation is fundamentally no different than it was 20 years ago, when the largest and most expensive United Nations peacekeeping mission was first deployed.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The Secretary-General is right to warn of a possible breakdown in the multilateral system, in the face of the Covid pandemic, worsening conflict, the climate emergency, and chronic poverty. This would have disastrous consequences for all of us, and the risk should be taken seriously. The Secretary-General’s Action Plan merits our full support, particularly the need for a global vaccination plan, a renewal of trust between governments and citizens, more focus on the needs of youth, and a rejuvenated commitment to fact- based reasoning and science. Whether we are able to convene physically for the 77th General Assembly in 2022, or for the Secretary-General’s proposed Summit of the Future, depends on the actions we all take in the coming months. With determination and focus, it can be achieved. Thank you for your kind attention.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“That commitment must put climate change mitigation at the centre of our efforts. The severity of weather-related disasters is increasing year-by-year. We cannot afford for the result of COP-26 in November to be inconclusive or divisive. We also need to re-emphasize the importance of citizen-centred governance and accountability. This not only guarantees well-being and material progress, but also security, stability, and confidence in the future. The extremist ideologies that drive terrorism and genocide must be named, identified early, and dismantled, without ambiguity or hesitation. On that, we cannot afford to play politics. I wish to conclude with a strong endorsement of the Secretary-General’s report on Our Common Agenda.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We must harness this positive momentum to build long-term pandemic resilience, where it is needed most. The cooperation at the G-7 and G-20 to issue new Special Drawing Rights is another positive example. A further voluntary reallocation of new SDRs to countries that need them most, will help create the fiscal space required for a faster and more equitable recovery from the pandemic. Nevertheless, the world is seriously off-track with the Sustainable Development Goals, as highlighted during today’s Food Systems Summit. In fairness, we were behind schedule with the SDGs even before the pandemic hit. But there is now increased attention to figuring out how to refocus our efforts, and catch up. We need to convert this sense of urgency into a durable political commitment to achieving the SDGs.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“• Excellency, Abdulla Shahid, President of the General Assembly • Excellency, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres • Excellencies, Heads of State and Government • Distinguished Delegates Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the international system like never before. However, alongside unfortunate examples of inequality, we have also seen evidence of the spirit of global solidarity and fairness, exemplifying the best values of our organisation. The COVAX mechanism, despite its limitations, is one such case. Without this system, Africa’s vaccine deficit would be even more severe. But we can and must do more, to speed up vaccine distribution in Africa. Doing so benefits the entire world. The positive steps from various partners and companies toward building local vaccine manufacturing capacity is also very welcome.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Or did we come together to once again secure global progress on a foundation of cooperation and mutual respect? The choice is ours. I thank you.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“What is required is action that builds public trust in the equal dignity of all citizens, as demonstrated in the treatment of those who have historically been most marginalised, and who continue to suffer mistreatment disproportionately. Success depends on strengthening institutions, both national and international, including the work of scientists, innovators, and creators. That is not just a question of funding. It is about the positive human values that citizens and governments invest in those institutions, and for which they must be accountable. Our descendants will look back and judge how this generation responded to these challenges, especially the leaders. Did the collective accomplishment of three generations over 75 years in building a stronger international order disintegrate into recrimination and resentment?”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The African Union is championing this agenda among its Member States, with emphasis on not just spending more, but spending better. The goal is for Africa to leverage its own resources to reinforce the impact of global health partnerships, such as the Global Fund and Gavi. In the coming decades, prosperity will be closely linked to digital literacy and access to high-speed connectivity. The Secretary-General’s roadmap for digital cooperation is compelling and farsighted, building on the work of the Broadband Commission and other initiatives. The global movement for racial justice and equality is not a passing phenomenon.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The pandemic has disrupted growth and revenue collection around the world, most likely for several years to come. These milestones on gender, climate, and development demonstrate the achievements of multilateral action, while also reminding us how much remains to be done. I commend the exceptional work being done by the World Health Organization, led by Dr Tedros Adhanom. We will continue to work to reinforce the W.H.O. and make it more effective. The creation of the Access to Covid Tools Accelerator, including the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility, is of critical importance for Africa. Ensuring equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics will speed up the end of the pandemic for everyone. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of resilient national health systems and strong domestic health financing.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Five years ago, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change was signed. Implementing this framework will slow the pace of global warming and give our economies time to adapt to new technologies. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, adopted four years ago, will play a major role by reducing the consumption of hydrofluorocarbons. Just over half of Member States have ratified the Kigali Amendment, which is now in force, and I call upon the remainder to ratify as soon as possible. Five years ago, the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted, to define our ambitions for integrated global development. Ten years remain before 2030, but let’s not deceive ourselves about how difficult it will be to meet the targets on time. Most countries, especially in Africa, were already off-track before 2020.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“• Excellency, Volkan Bozkir, President of the General Assembly • Excellency, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations • Excellencies, Heads of State and Government • Distinguished Delegates The 75th anniversary of the United Nations falls at a moment of uncommon peril for our people and our planet. The Covid pandemic has claimed nearly one million lives and pushed hundreds of millions into unexpected hardship. It is not a time for doubt or hesitation. We have the tools to meet this test and prevail. We mark other important anniversaries this year. Twenty-five years ago, the World Conference on Women in Beijing charted a transformative agenda on gender equality, which continues to guide us. The empowerment of women has made all of us safer and wealthier. But true gender equality has still not been attained in any country.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Rwanda stands ready to do its part, including by guaranteeing the rights and opportunities of women and girls. I therefore take this opportunity to invite Members to Kigali in November for the Global Gender Summit.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It is essential for Africa and the rest of the international community to work closely together on peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts with mutual respect. In the coming weeks, Rwanda is preparing to receive and protect a number of refugees and asylum-seekers from detention camps in Libya. The support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the African Union is greatly appreciated. We call on every Member of the United Nations to uphold their legal obligations in a spirit of solidarity. Those partnerships are a clear sign that we can cooperate to address complex problems. Africa itself is also a source of solutions. There is no doubt that the challenge of global inequality can be addressed only by working together.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Closer cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations is streamlining the implementation and measurement process and that good partnership will continue to grow stronger. All around us we see the urgency of fulfilling our commitments to slow the pace of global warming and adapt our infrastructure to a changing climate. One key lesson of yesterday’s Climate Action Summit was that innovative technologies and approaches are allowing us to act without slowing economic growth. Perhaps the most effective action that countries can take is to ratify and fully implement the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Security and sustainability are the prerequisites for rapid progress towards a more equitable and prosperous world.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Next July, for example, trading will commence under the African Continental Free Trade Area — the largest of its kind in the world. However, Africa continues to lag behind other regions on the Sustainable Development Goals despite the fact that our continent is home to several of the fastest growing economies in the world. Growth must be fully inclusive so that inequality within countries continues to diminish. The fundamentals needed to unlock that transformation are already in place. With a concerted push involving our partners, including in the private sector, it is indeed possible to make up for lost time and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In Rwanda, more than 90 per cent of the population have insurance coverage, which has contributed to significant improvements in health outcomes, showing that it is possible for countries at every income level to make health care affordable and accessible for all. We must also commit to replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. Those are not things that should or can be done on Africa’s behalf. The Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are also Africa’s goals. Africa has the means and the responsibility to fulfil them, which is why the African Union continues to strengthen its capabilities and effectiveness.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The international community stands at a crossroads. The decade starting in 2020 will either be remembered in history as a turning point or as the moment when multilateralism lost its way. Fortunately, the path forward is clear. Never before have we had such well-defined road maps for joint action on development, climate change and global health. I therefore congratulate the Secretary-General and his team, as well as the President of the General Assembly, for the relevance of this week’s high-level events. The transformational potential of universal health coverage is now at the top of the global health agenda, thanks to the outstanding leadership of the World Health Organization and many other stakeholders.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Addressing that imbalance in the very foundation of our system is what will give shape to a revival of multilateral cooperation and renew the legitimacy of the international institutions that are so crucial to our planet’s future. In the years ahead, we look forward to deepening the important partnership between Africa and the United Nations and to advancing our shared agenda of peace and security, gender equality and women’s empowerment, environmental protection and shared prosperity.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That once again reflects the fact that the dividend of a more focused and functional Africa benefits everyone. In that wider context of even stronger partnership between our institutions, it is important for the African Union’s diplomatic representation here at the United Nations to be accorded the status and weight enjoyed by other regional bodies. The theme for this year’s general debate is “Making the United Nations relevant to all people”. That requires a commitment to achieving real multilateralism where it has too often been lacking. The current two-track system of global governance is unsustainable. A few get to be the ones to define the norms by which others shall be judged. But standards that do not apply to everyone equally are not universal.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Africa and the world should come together and do what needs to be done to harmonize overlapping initiatives and ensure that agreements are respected. Peace and security are the foundation of economic and social well-being. Yesterday we happily marked the centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth with the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit. In that spirit, we are already set to embark upon a new chapter, with cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations on stable funding for African-Union-mandated peace-support operations. The draft resolution to be introduced by Africa’s three Security Council members has the full backing of the African Union. That step will also align with the Secretary-General’s new Action for Peacekeeping initiative.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“More effective consultation and leadership is reducing the need for external mediation, and that is how it should be. The momentous developments in the Horn of Africa — in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and even Somalia — are the most remarkable. The region’s leaders deserve our full support as they set aside decades of mistrust and work towards a comprehensive settlement. It is important for the Security Council to collaborate closely with the African Union to accompany that process of normalization. In Zimbabwe as well, the next stages on the country’s path of progress warrant steady encouragement from the international community. However, there are other situations in Africa — notably in the Central African Republic, Libya, the Sahel and South Sudan — where serious problems remain unresolved, despite so much potential.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Contributions to the fund that helps pay for African Union peace support operations are at the highest level since its establishment, in 1993. And earlier this year, the historic agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area was signed, which was the culmination of decades of effort. Once that is in force, Africa’s place in the global economic and trade architecture will be redefined. Economies of scale and higher levels of intra-African trade will help our continent attain the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We will also see new possibilities for public-private partnership with Africa’s growing private sector. This year also provided examples of regional security affairs and key political transitions being handled in a peaceful and forward- looking manner.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The trend on our continent is towards closer and more productive cooperation, both through the African Union and our regional economic communities. The evident decline of old certainties and authorities is not bringing turbulence to Africa, as would have been the case in a previous era. On the contrary, the effect has been to focus Africa’s attention on the urgent need to get our house in order and fundamentally change how we do business. That is why the African Union initiated a major financial and institutional reform more than three years ago. We are already seeing practical results. New financial discipline has produced an African Union budget that is 12 per cent lower than last year’s. The share of funding supplied by member States has also increased substantially.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“As we gather in this Hall and work together to make the United Nations more relevant to all people, the positive developments in Africa over the past year merit this body’s attention. Let me start with a paradox. In no other region is the sense of transnational solidarity and unity as deeply felt as in Africa. The idea that our respective national identities stand in contradiction to pan-Africanism is unheard of in our context. And yet, despite that unique civic endowment, Africa has too often stood out for division and dysfunction in practice. That left Africa unable to articulate and advance its common interests. We ceded responsibility for our future to others not by force but by default. But times are changing rapidly, and therefore the management of Africa’s global position must also change.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Our world is facing difficult challenges, but no more than in the past. Working together in a constructive spirit, we can ensure for our children the future they deserve.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We also share the common objective of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063 targets, and of continuing to enhance women’s empowerment. Closer collaboration will help us bridge the growing digital divide through universal broadband access, which can connect our people to networks of knowledge and prosperity. Canada and Rwanda, together with other stakeholders, are working to raise awareness of the tremendous impact we can have right away by ratifying and implementing the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. This is among the most important actions that a country can take in directly tackling climate change and reaffirming its commitment to the Paris Agreement. Fewer than 15 additional ratifications are needed in order for the Kigali Amendment to come into force in 2019.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Institutional reform is not a one-off event like applying a fresh coat of paint. The essence of reform is a mindset of constantly striving to improve performance and delivery and holding ourselves responsible for shortcomings and results. In that sense, the reform spirit that has started to take root in both the United Nations and the African Union is encouraging, and Rwanda is happy to be associated with both. This positive momentum is also positioning the United Nations and the African Union to work more closely together. Concrete steps can be taken on both sides to improve the quality of coordination and consultation. The African Union and the United Nations are already good partners in peacekeeping, and Rwanda is happy and proud to have forces serving under both flags. But we can do much more and do it better.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Those steps go to the heart of the matter, which is the deficit of trust and accountability in the international system. To be truly effective in delivering a decent life for all, the United Nations must treat all the people it serves with impartiality and respect, and it must be a good steward of the funds entrusted to it. Abuse and waste are therefore not a mere public-relations problem but an existential challenge that must be tackled head- on. The Secretary-General deserves our full support in his efforts to make the United Nations not only effective but transformational. We have the tools and the mandates to address the global challenges of our day, from climate change to peacebuilding to human equality and development. Where we fall short is in getting things done.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Every year, the United Nations channels billions of dollars in humanitarian assistance. It also sets the global agenda on key policy issues from development to women’s rights, while providing a platform for major international agreements. Those are signs of an Organization that is both relevant and, in many cases, effective. And yet there is a sense that the United Nations is not meeting our needs and expectations. In that context, I would like to commend the Secretary-General, and to congratulate the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, on the two important initiatives that the Secretary-General championed this week — his initiative on United Nations reform and his response to sexual exploitation and abuse.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The issue must be addressed with consistency and compassion at all times. It cannot become a crisis only when the wealthier countries begin to be affected. Rwanda will continue to play its part. We have gotten many things right, but there is no doubt that we could be achieving even more. If we keep the people whom we are fighting for at the front of our minds and build on lessons learned, there is no reason why we cannot achieve everything that we have committed ourselves to. In closing, I would like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has been a champion of technology and a strong advocate for sustainable development, as well as for other matters that have needed fair treatment. Even in the most difficult situations, he has been a voice of reason, and we wish him well.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The nearly 30-year-old Montreal Protocol is already one of the most successful international agreements in history, and it now affords us the opportunity to take a significant step forward in implementing the one-year-old Paris Agreement. I urge all Member States to join with us to pass that important measure. The world is changing for the better, as the ground is being levelled by technology. The way we relate to each other in the international community also has to change. The preservation of international peace and security depends on maintaining a shared vision of the outcomes that we want for our world and the values that guide our cooperation. That accounts for the continued relevance and durability of the United Nations. Our collective responsibility for the rights and welfare of refugees and migrants should be seen in that light.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Such perspectives will inform the work of the new Sustainable Development Goal Centre for Africa, which Rwanda is pleased to host with the support of our partners. There has to be real continuity between the various frameworks that have guided and will now guide our collective action. Those agreements are not slogans or fashions, but hard-won statements of global consensus about the world that we wish to leave to our children. Let us implement them with the speed and seriousness that they deserve. There are encouraging signs of progress on the horizon. Next month, more than a thousand delegates will gather in Kigali to consider a ground-breaking amendment to the Montreal Protocol on the Ozone Layer that would phase out hydrofluorocarbons, a major type of greenhouse gas.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“That means being inclusive — especially of women, because if they are not able to reach their potential, then none of us are. I am proud to be a HeForShe and urge others to support this important campaign. We have also learned the lesson that technology has to be part of the strategy for achieving all the global goals. Everyone in the world needs to have access to high-speed Internet, as the Secretary-General’s Broadband Commission has advocated. Rwanda is pleased to be associated with that effort, and I commend the International Telecommunication Union and UNESCO for the good work that they have done and continue to do. We have also seen the importance of forging meaningful partnerships with the private sector so as to improve the speed and scale of the delivery of Internet services.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“During the past year, the international community concluded landmark agreements on sustainable development and climate change and renewed its commitment to work together to combat violent extremism. Those are the most serious matters before the international community today, and our joint efforts offer the prospect of transforming our world as a whole, not just a part of it. After all, the progress of every country is closely linked to the progress of every other country, and we all have a role to play. Now is the time for implementation. We can stay on course if we keep a few things in mind. First, we must always remember that the ultimate purpose of our efforts is to transform the lives of real people by enhancing their well-being, safety and access to opportunity. Secondly, we must build on what we have learned so far.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We have made good commitments; now we must make good on them. Building a community with a shared purpose that is capable of doing so starts with recognition of our equality.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“In other cases, multilateral institutions are used to gain credibility for biased attacks on countries even while scrutiny of the powerful is considered unnecessary. When matters of principle become associated with domination and disdain, the basis for joint action in the multilateral system is compromised. We have nothing to fear from high standards. The only stability worth having is one based on good policies that deliver real results for citizens and facilitate peaceful change. Human dignity and even survival are implied in that. No country or system has a monopoly on wisdom, much less a claim to moral superiority. Our task is to settle the future, not the past. Change is coming, and it is necessary. No one can manage it alone, and the Sustainable Development Goals rightly recognize our mutual interdependence.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The internal character of national systems counts for everything. It cannot be bypassed. Political legitimacy is not a legal abstraction. It is an objective reality that can be measured, for example, in terms of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as in terms of indicators of public opinion. We face serious challenges that we must confront together as an international community. We cannot afford to undermine the most responsible and capable members by applying standards to some countries that are not applied to others, and even by imposing inappropriate ones. To take just one example, international refugee law has barely been a factor in the current crisis, as if the purpose all along was more to keep refugees encamped far from developed countries than to protect the rights of people fleeing persecution.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“For the generation to come, responding to those challenges will put the United Nations at the centre of global affairs as never before. Cooperation is the only way forward. And yet the new consensus on sustainable development is incomplete, because it lacks a shared definition of the political legitimacy required to sustain that international order. That divergence of visions is rooted in history. When world powers created the United Nations 70 years ago, independence for the colonized peoples of Africa and Asia was not on the agenda. We were still seen as people who needed to be looked after. Those moral hierarchies and prejudices are still with us, contributing to the mismanagement of political change and corroding the trust on which effective multilateral cooperation depends.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)