Global problems demand global solutions

Ban Ki Moon

The world is changing in the United Nations’ favour — as more people and governments understand that multilateralism is the only path in our interdependent and globalizing world. Global problems demand global solutions — and going it alone is not a viable option. Whether we are speaking of peace and security, development, or human rights, demands on our Organization are growing every day.

I am determined to ensure that we make progress on the pressing issues of our time, step by step, building on achievements along the way, working with member states and civil society. That means strengthening the UN’s ability to play its role to the fullest extent in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

And it means invigorating our efforts for disarmament and non- proliferation. At the same time, we must redouble our efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in Africa. I will seek to mobilize political will and hold leaders to their commitments on aid, trade and debt relief.

I will continue to do all I can to galvanize global and decisive action on climate change. The UN is the natural forum for building consensus on this pressing issue, as we saw in the high-level event held a month ago on the margins of the General Assembly.

The many leaders who attended sent a clear message to the Bali negotiations in December under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: this is no longer business as usual, and we must build momentum across industrialized and developing countries to ensure results. Protecting the climate for present and future generations is in the common interest of all.

If security and development are two pillars of the UN’s work, human rights is the third. I will work with member states and civil society to translate the concept of the Responsibility to Protect from word to deed, so as to ensure timely action when populations face genocide, ethnic cleansing or crimes against humanity. Looking to the coming year, and beyond, we can foresee a daunting array of challenges to come.

They are problems that respect no borders - that no country, big or small, rich or poor, can resolve on its own. More than ever, we live in an era of collective action. Often it seems as though everybody wants the UN to do everything.

We cannot deliver everything, of course. But that cannot be an excuse for doing nothing. Hence the theme A Stronger United Nations for a Better World. Our changing world needs a stronger UN.

We must become more proactive in responding to crises. Well-planned and executed preventive diplomacy can save many lives and forestall many tragedies - a core Charter responsibility of the UN. I will leave no stone unturned to end the tragedy in Darfur. The government of Sudan must live up to its pledge to join comprehensive peace talks and implement a ceasefire.

Peace in the Middle East is vital to the stability of the region and the world. We know what is required: an end to violence, an end to occupation, the creation of a Palestinian State at peace with itself and Israel, and a comprehensive regional peace between Israel and the Arab world.

We at the UN must take the long view, in politics as in life. Even as we deal with the here and now, we must think about tomorrow.

This year marks the midpoint for our Millennium Development Goals. We have had successes. Around the world, unprecedented numbers of people are lifting themselves out of poverty.

Yet the rising tide of globalisation has not lifted all boats. The Asian Miracle has shown that successful development owes much to smart choices and rigorous execution.

For our part, we must try to make our multilateral development programs more effective and coherent, to better integrate our efforts in health, education, agriculture and infrastructure so as to deliver better results.

For their part, donor nations must do more to deliver on their promises of aid, debt relief and market access. Open, fair and non-discriminatory trading and financial systems are critical to the future of every developing country, in Africa and elsewhere.

I am humbled, often, by the scale of the challenges before us. So much is expected of us. Delivering on those hopes, faithfully and effectively, will require great effort and discipline.

Transforming the way the UN does business - shifting our focus to emphasize results rather than bureaucratic process - will take patience, perseverance and courage. The pendulum of history is swinging in our favour.

Multilateralism is back. An increasingly interdependent world recognizes that the challenges of tomorrow are best dealt with through the UN.

We must transform the UN itself. We must adapt to meet new needs, and ensure the highest standards of ethics, integrity and accountability, so as to demonstrate that we are fully answerable to all member states and to people around the world.

We will be judged in the future on the actions we take today — on results. On this United Nations Day, let us rededicate ourselves to achieving them.

The writer is Secretary General of the United Nations.