Ban stresses ‘people power’ and partnerships at start of second term as UN chief
At the start of his second term as Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon has expressed his intention to develop ‘the strong power of partnerships’ in order to address the planet’s biggest challenges including climate change, global poverty, and the struggle to empower women and girls.
In an interview with the UN News Centre and UN Radio on the 4th of January, Mr. Ban emphasised that these goals can only be achieved through unity among member states and their citizens.
“Together, nothing is impossible,” He said. “If we strengthen these partnerships among governments, business communities, civil organisations and philanthropists, then I think all these powerful partnerships can bring us towards the right direction.”
While discussing priorities for his upcoming term, Mr. Ban defined five ‘generational opportunities’ that he identified for the UN. These include the need to promote sustainable development, prevent natural and man-made crises and disasters, make the world safer and more secure, help countries and peoples in transition, and encourage gender empowerment.
“We have to connect the dots among climate change, [the] food crisis, water scarcity, energy shortages and women’s empowerment and global health issues. These are all interconnected issues.”
Mr. Ban also stated that increased growth of worldwide ‘people power’ and globalisation have been the most significant developments since he took office in 2007.
“We have seen so many people – marginalised people, oppressed people – who have been yearning for democracy, their dignity and human rights. We have [a] heavy responsibility to help them in [their] transition to democracy.
“With the deepening of globalisation, we have seen so many things happening in the world. There are many good ideas and many people really wanted to be connected… We have to help this transition to materialise as soon as possible. Being united depends on us.”
During the interview the Secretary-General also emphasised the need to recognise and fulfil the expectations that global citizens invest in the UN. When discussing climate change, Mr. Ban reminisced about meeting a boy in the South Pacific island of Kiribati in 2011.
“He appealed to me to ‘Please help us address this climate change. Our homes and our way of life may be swept away overnight’,” Mr. Ban recalled, saying it is one of the reasons why climate change must remain at the top of the global agenda.
The Secretary-General also emphasised the need to keep modernising the UN in his second term to help the 193-member world body adapt to contemporary changes.
“Technology outpaces our current thinking, peoples’ ideas and our current way of working,” he noted. “We have to make our Organisation more nimble, more efficient and effective, and transparent and accountable.”