UN Day 2020

·      Honorable Minister of International Affairs, Dr Lemogang Kwape,

·      Honourable Ministers and Senior Government Officials

·      Honourable Members of Digkosi

·      Honourable Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Heads of Agency

·      Special guests from NGOs, Civil Society, business community and Media

·      And all my wonderful colleagues from inside and outside the UN who have been working tirelessly to bring us safely to this event.

A warm welcome to you all.

My name is Zia Choudhury, and I am the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Botswana. We are 23 UN entities working together and with Government, NGOs, members of public, academia, businesses and indeed all people and institutions which seek to advance the development goals of Botswana  and all the people who live and work in this beautiful country.

Today we are commemorating the 75th anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter. In 1945, fifty-one countries came together in a historic moment to agree to promote peace, security, friendly relations and prosperity for all. It was historic, because it came at the end of one of the most devastating times in global history which say nations at war, millions of deaths, communities devastated, and economies collapsed.

From the devastation, 51 countries came together to create an ambitious and forward looking inter-governmental organisation that would work together in a spirit of cooperation and friendship. 75 years later, the United Nations now consists of 193 member states including Botswana in 1966.

Over the years, the United Nations have worked together to achieve many things. Over 70 Peacekeeping missions have worked to maintain peace and security. But many thousands of quiet and unpublished interactions where the UN provides member states and others to have a safe, neutral space to negotiate before conflict break out.

The Member States of the United Nations work together to develop international treaties, conventions, laws, regulations and guidance which promote and protect the fundamental rights of all human beings, and also to help facilitate trade and numerous other interactions we have to work and live together harmoniously. For example the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Child Rights Convention and the Convention for Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against  Women

The Agencies, funds and Programmes of the United Nations also work together on innumerable and diverse activities to protect rights and promote wellbeing. Let me just choose a few which have affected my own family in Bangladesh and India. The eradication of smallpox, vaccination of children, promotion of childhood education programmes, supporting national social safety net programmes, promotion of gender equality laws, protecting rights of refugees and migrants.

The United Nations has also faced many challenges as is expected when 193 member states work together. Sometimes I struggle to communicate with my own kids and siblings, despite our bonds. Imagine the challenges of trying to communicate and find joint solutions among the diverse nations of the world. But still, I take great courage that the 193 member states of the United Nations continue to believe in the spirit and intention of multilateral engagement. No matter how small or how large, how rich or poor, we are all inextricable linked and intertwined. Decisions and actions in one country will have impact on another. In a world where economies, productivity and health are so deeply linked, I believe we must continue to work together to find common solutions to common challenges.

COVID-19 demonstrated this need for working together more than ever. The member states of the United Nations worked together to share strategies, manage borders, conduct clinical tests, share PPE and equipment, support one another financially, and more.  Could any of us worked alone to manage this crises?

The Secretary General has repeated his call for nations to work together to achieve the goals of the United Nations. To promote Peace and Security. To promote and protect the Planet’s health and productivity. And to Promote prosperity for all. Underpinning all this is the Secretary General’s continued request that human rights underpin all that we do as Governments, businesses, communities and individuals.

Achieving Peace, Prosperity and a Healthy Planet is no small challenge, but member states, everyone her, have committed to strive towards the Sustainable development Goals. Over the next 10 years, Member States have committed to achieve the SDGs. This is the Decade of Action.

This is challenging, daunting even. But, with our collective strength and commitment, we can make huge strides. Just like eradication of smallpox, which took the United Nations and many member states Health Departments to work together, it can be done.

To achieve SDGs, we must LNOB. one of the first steps is to listen to what the people say, especially those whose voice is not often heard. With support from civil society and the blessing of the Government, we have asked over 4000 people in Botswana for their opinions on what is the Future They Want. My colleague and friend Olerato Keegope will share what they have said.

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

·        to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

·        to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

·        to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

·        to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS

·        to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and

·        to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and

·        to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and

·        to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS

Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.