UN chief warns multilateralism is eroding, calls for bold action
Speaking at Methodist Central Hall in London, the site of the first UN General Assembly on January 10, 1946, Antonio Guterres encouraged delegates to be “bold enough to change.”
“Bold enough to find the courage of those who came to this Hall 80 years ago to forge a better world,” he said at the anniversary event, attended by over 1,000 delegates from around the globe, organized by the UN Association-UK.
Guterres highlighted the significance of the venue, noting that the inaugural General Assembly convened in the same hall just months after World War II ended. “To reach this Hall, delegates had to pass through a city scarred by war … and as those bombs fell, terrified civilians huddled here, in the basement of the Methodist Central Hall — one of the largest public air-raid shelters in London,” he said.
The UN chief recognized that the General Assembly’s work “may not always be straightforward or seamless,” but described it as “a mirror of our world, its divisions and its hopes. And it is the stage on which our shared story plays out.”
Looking back over the past decade, Guterres said, “The conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan have been vicious and cruel beyond measure; artificial intelligence has become ubiquitous almost overnight; and the pandemic poured accelerant on the fires of nationalism, stalling progress on development and climate action.”
He described 2025 as a “profoundly challenging” year for global cooperation and for the principles the UN upholds.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
