Ban Ki-moon: this United Nations Day comes at "a time of transition"

In the midst of a shift in UN leadership, historic agreements to deliver on climate and sustainable development, as well as multiple humanitarian crises around the world, United Nations Day 2016 comes at a turbulent time in world affairs. In his annual message, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the global public to give their "full backing" to his successor António Guterres.

Having campaigned for a transparent, merit-based leadership contest, UNA-UK is marking this UN Day by urging the next UN Secretary-General to strengthen the Organisation, which is increasingly required to do more with fewer resources. 

In evidence to a recent House of Lords inquiry and in the latest issue of our magazine, UNA-UK set out a list of key priorities for the next Secretary-General, mindful that he, like his predecessors, will need to manouevre within the constraints of UN politics and processes.

UNA-UK's priorities include setting an ambitious but realistic vision that sees the UN focus on areas where it can make a unique contribution - notably resuming a central role in peace and security - while pushing for an international accountability mechanism to address sexual abuse by peacekeepers. 

Delivering on these priorities requires increasing the UN's engagement with civil society and the public, to ensure that the Organisation better represents the interests of world's seven billion people, not just the major powers. Responding directly to a question from UNA-UK's 1 for 7 Billion campaign, Mr Guterres' has assured the General Assembly that "dialogue and cooperation with civil society will... be a central aspect of the activities of the UN" under his watch.

UNA-UK is in the process of compiling a 'People's Agenda' for the next UN leader, which will set out the views of our 1 for 7 Billion campaign's 750 NGO partners and 200 million supporters, focusing on meaningful civil society engagement with the UN.

Read UNA-UK's full list of priorities for the next Secretary-General

UN Secretary-General's full message for UN Day can be found below.

Help change the UN for the better

UNA-UK works to transform the United Nations to improve the lives of those who need it the most. But we need your help - we don't have corporate sponsors and we get no core funding from government or the UN itself. This United Nations Day, we invite you to stand with us, and be part of our work by donating today.    

This year’s observance of United Nations Day occurs at a time of transition for the world and for the United Nations.

Humanity has entered the era of sustainability, with a global commitment to fulfil the great promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  In this, the Organization’s seventy-first year, we have 17 goals to propel us towards a better future for all on a healthy planet.

The world is also moving at long last beyond the mindset which viewed the burning of fossil fuels as the path to prosperity.  At a time of record heat, Member States have embraced the Paris Agreement on climate change in record time.  This landmark measure will enter into force on 4 November.  Across that historic threshold lies our best chance for greener, cleaner, low-carbon growth.

The United Nations is also in transition, from its eighth Secretary-General to the ninth.  I have been honoured to serve “we the peoples” for the past 10 years.  Together, we have put in place some solid foundations for shared progress which we must build on by working even harder to empower women, engage youth and uphold human rights for all.

But, we have also suffered enormous heartbreak, including unresolved conflicts causing immense suffering throughout the troubled Middle East, South Sudan, the Sahel and beyond.  On these and other front lines of violence and disaster, courageous United Nations staff continue to rise to the occasion and respond to the plight of the vulnerable.

I thank people across the world for their support and urge all to give their full backing to Secretary-General-designate António Guterres in continuing our global mission of peace, sustainable development and human rights.

Photo copyright: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas