Latest news with #PhilémonYang
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
‘Justice Is Long Overdue': Guterres Calls For Reparations For Enslavement And Colonialism
'Africa is a continent of boundless energy and possibility. But for too long, the colossal injustices inflicted by enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism have been left unacknowledged and unaddressed,' he said. The United Nations has repeatedly said that slavery and the transatlantic slave trade constituted crimes against humanity, and the Secretary-General has repeatedly called for redress for these injustices. Speaking to the Africa Dialogue Series — which is focused on the theme of justice through reparations — the Secretary-General noted that the movement for reparatory justice is gaining momentum around the world as reflected by the declaration of the Second Decade for People of African Descent, which runs through 2035. The last decade, which ended in 2024, yielded tangible results, with over 30 Member States revising laws to better tackle racial discrimination. However, the Secretary-General noted that much work remains. 'We point to the poisoned legacies of enslavement and colonialism, not to sow division but to heal them,' he said. 'Long shadow of colonialism' Mr. Guterres underlined the entrenched nature of racism and exploitative systems, saying that these systems have disadvantaged African countries and people of African descent beyond the end of colonialism and enslavement. 'Decolonization did not free African countries, or people of African descent, from the structures and prejudices that made those projects possible,' he said. In fact, when the United Nations was founded and many of the global structures established, some African countries were still colonies. 'When African countries gained their independence, they inherited a system built to serve others — not them,' the Secretary-General said. The President of the General Assembly, Philémon Yang, underlined the importance of teaching this history through national curricula and monuments such as The Ark of Return at UN Headquarters. 'Knowledge of our true history can serve as a powerful compass in our onward march towards progress,' he said. The Ark of Return, the Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, located at the Visitors' Plaza of UN Headquarters in New York. Transforming 'poisoned legacies' To address the inequities of this system, the Secretary-General called upon the global community to take action on international financial systems which are burdening developing economies in Africa and the Caribbean. Specifically, he emphasized the importance of restructuring debt systems which are 'suffocating' these countries' economies. Previous UN reports have noted that some poor countries spend more on debt repayments than they do on health, education and infrastructure combined Mr. Guterres also called for massive investments into clean energy infrastructure in Africa which has been deeply impacted by climate change. 'African countries did not cause the climate crisis. Yet the effects of our heating planet are wreaking havoc across the continent,' he said. He also reiterated his call for the establishment of a permanent Security Council position for an African Member State. Mr. Yang, the General Assembly President, underlined the urgency of the Secretary-General's remarks, urging member states to act imminently. 'Now is the moment to turn recommendations into rights, apologies into action and aspirations into accountability.'
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Diplomats Prepare Ground For June Conference On Two-State Solution For Israel And Palestine
23 May 2025 The preparatory session brought together UN Member States to align expectations and finalise arrangements for eight thematic roundtables that will help shape the conference's outcome. General Assembly President Philémon Yang urged countries to seize the crucial opportunity to finally make progress. 'The horrors we have witnessed in Gaza for over nineteen months should spur us to urgent action to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The devastating cycles of death, destruction, and displacement cannot be allowed to continue,' he said. 'This conflict cannot be resolved through permanent war, nor through endless occupation or annexation. It will only end when Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in their own sovereign, independent States, in peace, security, and dignity,' he added. General Assembly President Yang addresses the preparatory meeting. Concrete outcomes needed Co-chairs France and Saudi Arabia emphasised the need for the June conference to go beyond reaffirming principles and achieve concrete results on the ground. 'We must urgently move from words to deeds. We must move from ending the war in Gaza to ending the conflict itself,' said Anne-Claire Legendre, Middle East and North Africa advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron. 'Faced with the facts on the ground, the prospects of a Palestinian State must be maintained. Irreversible steps and concrete measures for the implementation thereof are necessary.' Alongside, she reiterated calls for a lasting ceasefire, an immediate influx of humanitarian aid and the release of hostages. Historic moment Manal bint Hassan Radwan, head of the Saudi Arabian negotiating team, called the moment 'historic,' stating that the preparatory meeting must 'chart a course for action, not reflection.' 'Civilians continue to pay the price of a war that must end immediately. The escalation in the West Bank is equally alarming. Despair grows deeper by the day,' she said. 'This is precisely why we must speak not only of ending the war, but of ending a conflict that has lasted nearly eight decades,' she continued, adding efforts to end fighting and secure release of hostages and detainees must be 'anchored in a credible and irreversible political plan that addresses the root cause of the conflict and offers a real path to peace, dignity and mutual security.' Outcome document The General Assembly decided to convene the conference in its resolution ES-10/24. Further details were outlined in resolution 79/81. As outlined in General Assembly resolution 79/81, the Conference will produce an action-oriented outcome document entitled 'Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution'. The aim is to chart a clear and irreversible pathway toward a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in accordance with UN resolutions. About the Conference The conference will include a plenary session with statements from the President of the General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, and the co-chairs, followed by interventions from Member States and observers. According to a concept note from the co-chairs, the conference will also feature eight thematic roundtables, each focused on critical dimensions of the two-State solution. The working groups include security arrangements for both Israelis and Palestinians, the economic viability of a Palestinian State, and humanitarian action and reconstruction.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
UN Warns Of $4 Trillion Shortfall Threatening Global Development Goals
28 April 2025 Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres, General Assembly President Philémon Yang and Economic and Social Council President Bob Rae stressed the need for more resources and a global financial overhaul. Without an effective response, they stressed, the world risks falling even further behind on ending poverty, fighting climate change, and building new sustainable economies. They were addressing the ECOSOC annual forum on financing for development, which follows last week's World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings where global growth, trade tensions and the rising debt burden in developing countries were front and centre. Everyone loses in a trade war ' This year's ECOSOC Forum comes at a pivotal time,' Mr. Guterres told delegates, warning that global cooperation itself is under threat. He pointed to rising trade tensions as a major risk, noting that while fair trade is a clear example of the benefits of international collaboration, the surge in trade barriers poses a 'clear and present danger' to the global economy – as seen in recent downgrades to global growth forecasts by the IMF, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and UN economists. ' In a trade war, everybody loses – especially the most vulnerable countries and people, who are hit the hardest,' he said. We must shift into overdrive Mr. Guterres highlighted how many donors are pulling back from aid commitments while soaring borrowing costs drain public investments, putting the SDGs 'dramatically off track.' ' With just five years to reach the SDGs, we need to shift into overdrive,' he stressed, urging countries to deliver bold outcomes at the upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, in Seville. 'Against this turbulent background, we cannot let our financing for development ambitions get swept away.' Crushing debt burdens ECOSOC President Bob Rae echoed these concerns, emphasising that over three billion people live in countries where governments spend more on interest payments than on health or education. 'We desperately need a more affordable debt architecture – it's that simple,' he said, calling for urgent reforms that would allow countries a fair chance to repay what they owe while investing in their futures. He also sounded the alarm over rising trade barriers – citing recent moves by major economies, like the United States, to impose new tariffs. ' Trade is not a four-letter word,' Mr. Rae said, ' it is a positive way for countries to exchange goods and services and emerge from poverty.' He urged countries not to see trade as a zero-sum game – where there are only winners and losers – and embrace fair, open trading systems as a path to shared prosperity. Calls for reform General Assembly President Philémon Yang underscored the consequences of rising debts and shrinking fiscal space. In more than 50 developing countries, governments now spend over 10 percent of their revenues on debt servicing – and in 17 of them, over 20 percent – a clear warning sign of default, according to UN economists. 'Our inability to reform the international financial architecture is severely restricting capital access,' Mr. Yang warned, stressing that closing the financing gap – now estimated at over $4 trillion annually – is critical to achieving the SDGs. ' Time is of the essence. Let us use this ECOSOC Forum to bridge divides, build trust, and lay the foundation for success. ' Looking ahead to Seville As negotiations continue towards an agreed outcome in Seville, Secretary-General Guterres highlighted three priority areas – tackling unsustainable debt, strengthening multilateral development banks and unlocking new streams of sustainable finance. He called for mobilizing more domestic resources, innovative financing solutions, better controls on illicit financial flows and stronger partnerships with the private sector. ECOSOC President Rae added that the conversation must move beyond declarations to concrete, measurable action. ' We need innovation, creativity and partnerships that deliver lasting and transformative impact,' he said. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development – to be held from 30 June to 3 July in Seville, Spain – represents a critical opportunity to rebuild the global financial system to unleash the investments urgently needed to achieve the SDGs.
