Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you co-facilitators for convening today’s informals and for your leadership of the process for the Summit of the Future.
At the outset, I would like to reiterate New Zealand’s firm belief that ‘Our Common Agenda’ provides an opportunity to consolidate and reinforce inclusive and effective multilateralism, and to enhance our capacity to address existing and emerging global challenges.
Further, the steps undertaken so far are supporting the acceleration of the implementation of the SDGs, by tackling the most urgent issues and by creating further momentum for a renewed commitment to the UN Charter and multilateralism.
The publication of the report of the High-level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism is a welcome development in the process toward our collective goal of strengthening multilateralism. Multilateralism that delivers for all and ensures an effective, efficient, relevant and accountable United Nations that is fit for purpose in the 21st century.
We thank the High-level Advisory Board and its Secretariat. We thank its Co-Chairs, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and His Excellency Stefan Löfven, for the considerable time and expertise invested into the drafting and delivery of the thoughtful report ‘A Breakthrough for People and Planet’.
Like others, New Zealand is currently studying the report’s findings and recommendations. We will provide detailed feedback at a later date, but for the purpose of today’s meeting, I would like to make four observations.
Firstly, at first blush, the six transformative shifts contained in the report represent a package that can help tackle the challenges facing us as an international community. We won’t all love everything contained in the report, but we acknowledge it as a thoughtful and comprehensive package or, at a minimum, a menu of options for us to consider.
Secondly, we acknowledge the application of the report beyond the Summit of the Future and Our Common Agenda processes. Thank you Co-Chairs for explaining how the report might help inform other processes, particularly the SDG Summit in September 2023.
Along with our Co-Chair elect of the SIDS Preparatory Committee, the Maldives, we will be reflecting on how we might draw on the report to inform the outcome for the 4th International Conference on SIDS in 2024. We also welcome the remarks of those co-facilitators of other processes as to how they are contemplating to draw on the report to inform their work.
Thirdly, while ultimately decisions at the UN are taken by Member States, the report has shown how we the UN can be better networked and supported in producing more effective outcomes for those we serve. We wish to specifically acknowledge the lengths the High-level Advisory Board went to listen to the ideas of young people and a wide range of individuals, groups, and organisations directly involved in driving change at the local and national levels.
Finally, New Zealand finds much to like in the ten constituent principles of effective multilateralism contained in the report ‘A Breakthrough for People and Planet’.
Co-facilitators,
To conclude, as a small state which benefits greatly from the international rules-based system, New Zealand remains committed to engaging constructively in all efforts which seek to build effective and inclusive global governance for today and the future.
I thank you co-facilitators.