President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih states the future depends on the collective commitment to unify the world despite the differences among people. He made the statement at the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
In his statement, President Solih noted that world leaders gathered twenty years ago in Durban, South Africa with a unified vision of creating a new world free from both racial discrimination and bigotry, the outcome of which was the adoption of the historic declaration. The president said solidarity, common understanding, and a shared recognition that everyone is intrinsically equal, are necessary preconditions to being in a position to confront the current global challenges.
Highlighting the devastating consequences of COVID-19, President Solih said vigilance is required to ensure that fear does not turn people against one another, since racism and intolerance thrive in instability and inequality. He said the whole-of-society approach aims to build a more cohesive society and seeks to strengthen and empower more resilient communities.
Furthermore, President Solih said the United Nations (UN) also recognise the rights of the victims of terrorism and civil war seeking safety and security in different parts of the world but that their journey to safety ends at a crossroads because of the cruelty of racism and racial discrimination. The president said the world must focus on alleviating debt burdens and providing technical assistance to vulnerable nations to ensure that they can continue to elevate their communities through inclusive sustainable development. He added the UN must ensure that they share economic prosperity and ensure no one, and no country is left behind.