Dennis Francis (General Assembly President) Briefing…

Distinguished Delegates,

Thank you for joining today's briefing – as we usher in the New Year and continue the critically important work of the General Assembly during the resumed part of the 78th session.

Over the past four months, Member States have worked collaboratively with my Presidency – with unwavering commitment to address the myriad global challenges of our time.

I truly appreciate the depth of support and cooperation extended to me and my team, to ensure that we effectively serve the collective interests of the membership – and we look forward to your continued constructive engagement.

Today's briefing is an opportunity to both reflect on the progress to date and the associated challenges – with a view to casting our renewed vision towards a future world that is more peaceful, more prosperous, more progressive, and more sustainable place for all.

This includes acknowledging successes – such as the milestone Political Declaration of the 2023 SDG Summit, as well as other pioneering political declarations on Universal Health Care; Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response; and Tuberculosis.

But our reflections must also not ignore or overlook the challenges and setbacks, including the dire consequences of escalating violence in the Gaza Strip and other affected areas; continued aggression in Ukraine; and the violent outbreaks in Sudan; the internal strife in Haiti; and several other situations of concern elsewhere that affect international peace and security.

It is without any doubt that the horrific escalation of violence in the Middle East has been particularly challenging – adding to other pre-existing situations, and further eroding trust between and among nations.

It has triggered an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, and heightened security concerns for both Israelis, Palestinians, and the citizens of neighbouring countries – thus bringing us much closer to the reality of a regional conflagration, as many of you have already observed in different contexts.

Dear Colleagues, amid these stark developments, we must not only ask ourselves but act on the vexing questions of: How do we reignite mutual trust and solidarity? How can we cooperate more effectively to deliver on our 2030 aspirations? In fact, what will unite the Nations?

While multilateralism remains our best chance for confronting today's converging challenges, we will not progress at the pace or scale required without fine-tuning some of the tools within our multilateral toolbox.

To this end, we must set our sights squarely on the Summit of the Future – the pivotal event of 2024 – where world leaders are expected to gather here in New York and forge a new global consensus on how to better deliver for people and planet.

As President of the General Assembly, I have prioritized this process, and from now until September, preparations for the Summit will be front and center – as this can and must be a unique opportunity to supercharge SDG implementation.

We must seize every opportunity to adapt our systems for good governance and the efficient delivery of global public goods.

Importantly, we cannot miss this opportunity to initiate a meaningful dialogue with relevant stakeholders with a view to fixing – once and for all – the international financial architecture, in order to bring it into better alignment with contemporary global realities, particularly as they reflect the perverse contradictions of global development.

I, therefore, encourage all Member States and other stakeholders to use the Summit of the Future to focus on priority areas and high-impact governance innovations. This will help to facilitate implementation of existing commitments, as well as enhance solidarity towards our shared future.

I, however, want to emphasize that the Summit must be seen as a process and not an event. It marks only the first step in a long journey we collectively embarked on to re-think and reinvigorate global cooperation by 2030 and beyond.

On this point, I should like to underscore the following: while the Summit's outcome will reflect the perspectives of world leaders, it must, as a matter of necessity be easily understood by the global public, both in the South and in the North. Public support for, and buy-in of, "the Pact" will not be possible if the text as written does not lend itself to such comprehension by ordinary people everywhere, as its success lies in its reach, its recognition, and its inclusive results.

This starts with effective engagement throughout the process; and as the saying goes: If people can't weigh in, they don't buy in.

I, therefore, commend and thank the Summit of the Future's co-facilitators – the Permanent Representatives of Namibia and Germany – for their continued hard work to build on the previous intergovernmental negotiations to ensure inclusivity, transparency, and efficiency of the process, and in so doing, promoting confidence among Member States.

I also look forward to the outcomes of the parallel intergovernmental negotiations on the Declaration of Future Generationsand the Global Digital Compact – led by the Permanent Representatives of Jamaica and the Netherlands on the one hand, and Sweden and Zambia on the other, as highly motivated co-facilitators – and I similarly call upon all Member States to fully engage individually and within their respective groups with the co-facilitators in these demanding processes.

In my interaction with stakeholders, I have repeatedly assured them of our concerted efforts to advance a multistakeholder approach, including engaging with youth, civil society organizations, and indigenous peoples around the world – and I reiterate my pledge to infuse this approach for all mandated processes this year.

Dear Colleagues,

To chart a clearer course ahead, it is critical that we glean wisdom from the stories written in the ink of antecedents.

As we take stock of the last year, I am reminded of the words of the late Mahatma Gandhi, that: "There is no way to peace, peace is the way".

Perhaps I should read that again, "There is no way to peace, peace is the way".

Indeed, peace must always be the foundation and indeed the ultimate goal of our collective efforts – and this must be our single most important priority in 2024; it is, most certainly, the bedrock upon which everything we do will rest.

It is, therefore, crucial that we be inspired by these visionary words of Gandhi and demonstrate both our political will and our ability to make this world a more peaceful and secure one. 

While the Security Council holds primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the General Assembly has invoked its remedial powers under the Charter and stepped in to express the will of the global community and to act in the name of We the Peoples.

For instance – in the face of a clear Security Council deadlock – the General Assembly, at its resumed 10th emergency special session on the situation in Gaza, has been active, approving resolutions that demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and unhindered access for humanitarian aid.

I call yet again for immediate implementation of those and other relevant resolutions and decisions of the Assembly – if we are to see meaningful progress on the ground, and primarily to save many more innocent lives from being lost. Surely, a military solution is not possible in the Middle East conflict.

Under the Veto Initiative and through my regular coordination meetings with the Secretary-General, ECOSOC and the Security Council Presidents, I have explicitly underscored the critical importance of fostering accountability and ensuring robust cooperation between all UN Principal Organs to achieve UN system-wide coherence.

I am convinced that that there is sufficient room to co-exist, and that by strengthening the role of each individual Organ, we can fortify and improve the United Nations system as a whole – thus living up to our fundamental UN Charterresponsibilities and demonstrating to the world at large that we have both the capacity and the commitment to work together in pursuance of global peace and security.

In this regard, my full appreciation goes to the co-facilitators and co-chairs – the Permanent Representatives of Saint Luciaand Romania, Guinea and Latvia, Austria and Kuwait for effectively leading the ongoing intergovernmental processes on the revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly, strengthening of ECOSOC and High Level Political Forum, and the Security Council Reform – your efforts and commitment are invaluable and I encourage you to maintain and build upon your respective approaches.

By end of year, I had announced additional co-facilitators, and I will soon make additional announcements based on existing and/or new mandates. I call on all Members States to extend similar full cooperation to all of them.

I remain steadfastly committed to collaborating closely with all my counterparts – from within the UN system and from across the Membership. The informal briefing on Haiti, with the Presidents of the Security Council and ECOSOC, and with involvement of the Special Representative of Secretary-General, is one among other strong examples of our collective ability and responsibility to collaborate toward a better future for all.

Excellencies, Dear Colleagues,

Such enhanced coordination is needed now more than ever.

Global conflicts have, once more, heightened the specter of a scary nuclear Armageddon – an undesirable scenario devoid of winners and only fraught with losers. The risks of conflicts widening into regional wars are growing more real by the day.

At the same time, and as we continue to fight human caused wars, our planet is ablaze with wildfires, scorched by increasingly high temperatures, submerged by rising seas, and parched by drought.

These cataclysmic challenges will not wait for us to settle our issues.

And once more it is the people who are paying the price for triggers they did not pull.

On the conflict side, we must heighten our push for universal respect for international law, including humanitarian and human rights law – and the reformation of a rules-based multilateral system that meaningfully prioritizes cooperation and is anchored on mutual respect, dialogue and diplomacy.

On the environmental side and building on recent outcomes at COP28 we need concrete action and demonstrable efforts to tackle the climate crisis and to address the multiple, interconnected environmental emergencies we face; and if we wait any longer, things are getting uncontrollably worse.

This is why I hosted high-level summits on sea-level rise and climate mobility; it is why I travelled all the way to the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting; and why I attended COP28 – to champion the plight of those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and its related effects, and to lend my full support to the unheeded calls for meaningful climate action.

This afternoon, I will count on the kind cooperation of the General Assembly to consider and adopt the draft decision I have tabled to convene a high-level plenary meeting in September of 2024 – to shine a spotlight on the urgent need to address the existential threats posed by climate change-induced sea-level rise.

I am fully committed to seeing this initiative through in the interests of Small Island Developing States – and I count on everyone's engagement and support in this regard. 

I sincerely urge Member States to build on your collective successes, to address challenges, and to help advance the critical solutions we need to move our world in the right direction.

As previously announced, I am also looking forward, with anticipation, to convening an inaugural Sustainability Week, from April 15 to 19, 2024.

The Week will be anchored on mandated events on sustainable tourism, transport, infrastructure, and the Global Stocktake on Energy. It will also include a signature event on debt sustainability – a matter that I know is of the utmost concern especially to countries in the Global South, and it is intended to bring into sharper focus the vulnerabilities of countries in special situations.

Taken together, the Week's back-to-back events will offer a broad platform for the Member States and other stakeholders to follow up on these mandates and to help drive progress on the SDGs.

In the weeks to come, I will be relying upon the sound advice of the reconstituted Advisory Board on LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS to support the preparations for Sustainability Week – as well as to effectively engage in upcoming global and regional initiatives, such as the Fourth International Conference on SIDS in Antigua and Barbuda in April, and the Third UN Conference on LLDCs, in Kigali in June.

As mandated, I will also convene an informal dialogue on commodity markets in April, to explore strategies for economic and export diversification, particularly for commodity dependent developing countries – with the aim of sharing experiences.

As indicated, I will soon appoint two co-facilitators to consider the final report of the High-Level Panel on the Development of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index for Small Island Developing States, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolution 78/232.

As per the plan shared by the co-facilitators, I am delighted to report that we are also on the road to the mandated High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance – where leaders will commit to new and clear targets to address this development challenge.

I urge all Member States and stakeholders to work collaboratively with the co-facilitators – the Permanent Representatives of Barbados and Malta – to ensure the investment, innovation, and cooperation we need is galvanized to support transformative and impactful solutions.

Beyond this, we aim to tackle questions of recurring extreme weather, through a joint thematic event with ECOSOC, on the impacts of the 2023/2024 El Niño phenomenon – and a suitable date will be announced soon.

And it is also my intention to convene a commemorative event on 29 April, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and its landmark Programme of Action.

Excellencies, Dear Colleagues,

It is worth re-emphasizing that our multilateral system is only as strong as we are faithful in upholding its principles of dialogue and consultation, trust and international cooperation, inclusion, and solidarity.

I am committed to inclusive decision-making – not only through my engagement with you, the Member States – but with all stakeholders, as showcased by the Civil Society Townhall I convened in November; the "ASK the PGA" platform on my official website; and ongoing direct engagements with the young people.

It is my priority to ensure that the doors of the UN – digital, physical, and informational – remain open to allpersons, especially those who are differently abled, and I will maintain my focus on accessibility issues as we advance our work.

Throughout my official travel – to the Republic of Korea, Haiti, Qatar, to the Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands, and at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates – I have endeavoured to meaningfully engage with the youth, academia, and civil society, and to promote a human-centric approach to everything we do at the United Nations.

I will continue these efforts, through upcoming engagements – with a view to stimulating greater interest in the work of the General Assembly and fostering a more inclusive and effective multilateralism that showcases the diverse strengths of our 8 billion constituents.

In New York, the upcoming Joint UN-IPU Parliamentary Hearing on 8-9 February, as well as mandated High-Level Events on the "Role of the Ombudsman" and on "Crime Prevention and Sustainable Development through Sports" will offer yet other important opportunities for such inclusive engagement.

I urge you all to be present at these events – and to engage actively.

While 2023 was marked by strife, it was not altogether without either hope or optimism.

The 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – a landmark achievement that remains the bedrock of our United Nations – was one such occasion, where we recognized the fundamental freedoms intrinsic to all of us

During the morning Gayap Dialoguewhich I convened on 7 December on the question of how we can realize the promise of the Universal Declaration amid cascading global crises, I was encouraged by the candid reflections – and I urge you all to build upon the sentiments reflected in the dialogue summary, which I have shared.

In today's heightened state of conflict, let us remember that human rights are the canary in the coalmine – a crucial indicator of the broader health and well-being of our societies, often alerting us to grievances that require urgent attention.

For my part, I am also tirelessly working to mainstream gender equalitythroughout all our deliberations – benefitting from the good counsel of my Special Advisor on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment.

I am delighted that the recent launch of the second phase of the gender equality and prevention of sexual harassment training – for Permanent Missions across all UNHQ locations – has reignited our firm commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable workplaces. I much appreciate the support of my Advisory Board on Gender Equality.

Through my participation in the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, I sought to spark dialogue, keep a bright global spotlight on this pervasive scourge – and create real change.

Last but not least, I continue to receive enquiries as to what can be done by this General Assembly to galvanize more attention on the human rights of women and girls of Afghanistan – and I have indicated that, as President, I stand ready to work with all the Member States and other stakeholders to ensure that this matter remains on our radar, especially the plight of Afghan girls who are deniedaccess to education.

Looking ahead – and alongside the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, on 25 March– I will convene a morning Gayap Dialogue on the issue of reparatory justice, to encourage open and constructive dialogue on this matter that can no longer be set aside.

With the same focus on progress, I welcome the Assembly's request for the Secretary-General to report on steps to effectuate the call for a secondInternational Decade of People of African Descent.

I further look forward to facilitating effective preparations for the mandated commemorative event on the 10thanniversary of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples.

We simply must advance the issues we have committed to undertaking.

For your ease of reference, a comprehensive list of mandates is posted on the website of the Office of the President of the General Assembly and will be updated regularly.

Excellencies, Dear Colleagues,

Let me close by underscoring that we have enormous untapped capacity to effect transformational and impactful change – if we properly leverage our collective strength and the convening power of this august house, our General Assembly.

But it is no exaggeration that realizing all that we have set ourselves to accomplish – for the benefit of "We the Peoples" – will benefit more from enhanced solidarity, unity, and robust international cooperation through a stronger multilateral system.

As President of the General Assembly, I will continue to engage with all of you and all stakeholders – seeking to further enhance our approaches as we work together in the months ahead to deliver more effectively on the promise of peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainabilityfor all.

It would be remiss on my part to conclude these briefings without acknowledging the tireless dedication and professionalism of my team.

I would like to thank my Chef de Cabinet, Ambassador Kelapile, for his remarkable support; and the entire OPGA Cabinet for their diligent work throughout what was a very intense first part of the session.

Together with my team, we all eagerly anticipate your continued collaboration for the success of the remainder of the 78thsession.

I thank you".