New Zealand, at General Assembly, urges reformed UN to ‘do better’ to solve global problems

Craig John Hawke, Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations

25 September 2017 – The United Nations is crucial to tackling the plethora of problems confronting the world – from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) nuclear programme to global development and climate change – but it can and must do better, New Zealand told the General Assembly’s 72nd annual general debate today.

“The United Nations is unique in its ability to convene the world in order to tackle problems that require collective action,” the Head of Delegation Craig Hawke said. “Widely recognized rules, buttressed by an effective United Nations, are the best guarantors of our security and our economic well-being, particularly for small States.”

Guarantees are also the best means of ensuring decent treatment and decent conditions for the world’s citizens, thereby reducing conditions that lead to unrest, conflict and misery, he added. “But we all recognize that the United Nations can do better, and to do so must be more relevant, effective and fit for purpose,” he declared, noting that Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres’s reform agenda provides an opportunity to make this a reality.

“Important work lies ahead for us to reform the development and peace and security pillars. The United Nations needs to invest a much greater proportion of its resources and effort in preventing conflict, rather than focusing primarily on the consequences of conflict,” he concluded, calling for management reform.

“It is our sincere hope that reform can achieve our collective goal of better reflecting the ideals of the UN Charter and, ultimately, ensuring that the UN delivers better outcomes for our generation and those to come.”
Full statement available here

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