‘Global reflection of collective action’: UNGA President Yang kicks off General Debate
UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang, of Cameroon, has kicked off the General Debate portion of the gathering, in which world leaders will deliver often wide-ranging speeches.
“The general debate remains one of the world’s most inclusive, represented, representative and authoritative platforms for global reflection of collective action,” he said.
He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, warned of the continued threat of nuclear war, called for gender equality and support for human rights, reform of the international financial system, and support for the fast-growing population of Africa.
“Within this hall are the leaders and representatives of the world’s nations, the very people with the authority and responsibility to shape the cause of our shared future,” he said.
Brazil’s Lula begins speech with hat tip to Palestinian delegation
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva began his speech specifically addressing the Palestinian delegation and President Mahmoud Abbas who are “taking part in this opening session for the first time, albeit as an observer member”.
He then called for more international action, pointing out that even after the global COVID pandemic, worlds leaders have not boosted cooperation. He highlighted high global military spending, arguing that “these resources could have been used to finance the fight against hunger and climate change.”
Lula decries war in Gaza, Lebanon; calls for resolution in Ukraine
The Brazilian president, who has been critical of Israel, said that what began as “a terrorist action by fanatics against innocent Israeli civilians has become a collective punishment for the entire Palestinian people”.
“The right to defense has become the right to vengeance,” he said, adding he was also concerned about the escalation in Lebanon.
He referenced the soaring number of displaced people across the globe, fuelled by conflicts like the wars in Yemen and Sudan.
He took particularly time focusing on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in which Brazil has sought to take on the role of peace broker. “Creating conditions for resuming direct dialogue between the parties is crucial at this time,” he said.
‘Fed up with unfulfilled climate agreements’
Brazil is home to large swaths of the Amazon rainforest, and Lula entered office pledging to counter deforestation and climate change. He has faced many domestic barriers to the pledge.
“The planet is no longer waiting to demand payment for the next generation, and is fed up with unfulfilled climate agreements, and it’s tired of neglected carbon-reduction targets and financial aid to poor countries that does not arrive,” said Lula.
“My government does not outsource responsibility, nor does it abdicate its sovereignty. We have done already a lot, but we know that much more needs to be done.”
He appealed for countries to meet global climate pledges, while saying he would “not tolerate” environmental crimes and continued deforestation in Brazil.
Lula calls for fight against global inequality and UN reform
The Brazilian leader ended his speech by taking aim at global inequality, saying leaders must “no longer accept hunger, inequality, unemployment and violence in a globalised world”.
“It makes no sense to resort to false patriots and isolationists,” he said. He pointed to the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, a Brazilian-led task force set to launch in November, as one area of possible cooperation.
Lula also noted the United Nations is “about to turn 80” and yet “the United Nations Charter has never undergone comprehensive reform.”
“When the UN was founded we were 51 countries. We are now 193 countries. Several countries, mainly on the African continent, were under colonial rule when the UN was founded and had no say over its goals and functioning.
“There is no gender balance in the highest positions, the position of secretary-general has never been held by a woman,” Lula noted.
