Resident Coordinator's Speech on UN Day - Gita Sabharwal

Selamat Pagi

I am honored to address you as we celebrate the United Nations and its transformative partnerships with stakeholders in Indonesia, within ASEAN and across the world.

Let me thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its role in this celebration. Kemlu has positioned Indonesia on the global stage, which speaks to its ambition to lead on multilateralism.

Let me also thank the Ambassadors for joining us.

Your commitment to multilateralism is critical to making our world more prosperous, inclusive and fair for all.

To mark UN Day Indonesia is issuing a designated postage stamp testifying to the country’s partnership with the UN.   

This stamp highlights Indonesia’s unique cultural heritage, artistic creativity, diversity and commitment to the SDGs to leave no one behind.

I am sure it will be a valuable collectors’ item.

As you know, the UN is a product of hope.

Its mission remains vital in the face of geopolitical conflicts, climate crises, and rising inequalities.

As we celebrate the UN today, we also celebrate the power of its partnerships with Governments, private sector, civil society and communities.

The UN is only as effective as these partnerships and Indonesia is a good example of this.

Peacekeeping is one UN initiative that leverages multilateralism.

Indonesia has a long history of participating in peacekeeping missions with a stellar reputation.

It is the fifth largest contributor of UN peacekeepers with 2,200 troops deployed to conflict zones, including women.

However, multilateralism is not limited to Governments. It also involves the private sector and civil society so we can benefit from the skills, expertise and insights of all.

It’s this diversity of partnerships that defines the UN as it brings whole-of-government, whole-of-society and whole-of-UN approaches to bear on creating science-backed cutting-edge development solutions.

Young people are crucial to this process and I am glad to see many of them in the room today.

Their contributions as business leaders and innovators are invaluable and so is their ability to think outside the box.

By leveraging technologies, young people are bridging geographic and social divides. Indonesia is a leader in Asia with start-ups and unicorns led by young entrepreneurs.

Four out of five investors in capital markets are young people, generating wealth through ESG investments.

I have had the privilege of meeting several young innovators dedicated to sustainable development.

One youth-led initiative, in partnership with the private sector, has designed a community-based system for solar energy in Papua province.

Rather than link remote villages to the national grid at great expense, the solution will enable villagers to generate their own electricity 24/7 five times cheaper an investment.

The Pact of the Future sets a forward-looking agenda for the UN system.

I want to thank all of you for coming together and enabling this to happen.

Along with the Pact, Member States have also adopted the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.

These ground-breaking agreements will “open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities,” as the Secretary-General has stressed.

On our urgent to-do list is the need to improve respect for human rights, end discrimination in all its forms and ensure the dignity of girls and women.

Going forward, we need to raise ambition by Indonesia and other Member States to make the UN fit for purpose in today’s challenging geopolitical climate through a new global consensus.

It is thanks to each of you that the UN can live up to the ideals enshrined in its founding charter.

Terima kasih