Resident Coordinator's speech: United Nations Day Malaysia 2024

YBhg. Dato' Ahmad Rozian Abdul Ghani, Deputy Secretary-General (Bilateral Affairs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Excellencies High Commissioners, Ambassadors, and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Under-Secretary-General Christian Saunders, 

Assistant-Secretary-General Najla Nassif Alma,

Distinguished senior Officials from Government 

Heads of Agencies and Colleagues from the United Nations in Malaysia,

Esteemed partners from civil society, foundations, academia, youth organisations, women’s organisations, the private sector and the media,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome, and thank you for joining us today to celebrate United Nations Day 2024. 

On behalf of the UN Country Team and all UN staff in Malaysia, I express our deep appreciation to the Government of Malaysia, represented today by Dato' Rozian Abdul Ghani, Deputy Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is wonderful to be gathering once again at this beautiful monument park. This setting, which everyone enjoyed so much last year, is a vivid reminder of our shared responsibility to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.

As we commemorate the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, it is important that we first pause to remember and honor over 200 UN colleagues who were killed since we met last year. Their commitment to the cause of peace, development, and human rights remains an inspiration to us all and their loss is felt deeply across our organization. 

I invite you now to join me in a moment of silence to honour their memory.

//Moment of silence//

Thank you. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Seventy-nine years ago, the United Nations was founded on enduring principles that have remained a guiding light, steering us through times of change and uncertainty. The UN Charter remains a powerful cornerstone of international law, binding us to principles and ideals that are as vital today as they were nearly eight decades ago.

Despite the many challenges and crises that we face today, including horrors that test the very principles of our organization, the UN remains steadfast, resilient, and determined. Around the world, the UN's blue flag flies as a powerful symbol of the primacy of international law and our shared commitment to peace, justice, and cooperation.

Our collective spirit of multilateralism was reaffirmed through the adoption of the Pact for the Future on 22 September 2024. This important agreement demonstrates that even amidst political tensions, consensus is still possible. Member States have reaffirmed that multilateralism is the only way forward, highlighting the need for 21st-century solutions to address 21st-century challenges. 

The annexed Declaration on Future Generations is a bold commitment to safeguard the rights and well-being of generations yet to come. 

The Global Digital Compact marks the first worldwide agreement on the importance of guardrails to technological progress, including through international regulation of artificial intelligence.

But the true value of the Pact and the consensus around it lies in its full and effective implementation.

I take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to the government of Malaysia for its steadfast cooperation with the UN and active engagement in the Summit of the Future. Since becoming a member of the United Nations in 1957, Malaysia has consistently demonstrated its commitment to multilateralism and global cooperation. Through its active engagement in sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping Malaysia has championed the principles of peace, stability, and shared prosperity.

Our admiration and heartfelt gratitude go to the 850 Malaysian men and women serving as peacekeepers with UNIFIL in Southern Lebanon. Their dedication to safeguarding peace and stability, in the face of daunting challenges, is a powerful testament to Malaysia's enduring support for global peacekeeping efforts.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The UN presence and work in Malaysia as a 20-agency country team is firmly aligned with Malaysia’s aspirations and the 2030 Agenda. While we acknowledge that progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is off track globally and regionally, we see great potential in Malaysia to achieve many of the targets. This will require last-mile efforts to focus on leaving no one behind, with a special emphasis on reducing all forms of inequalities and ensuring inclusive growth, while protecting the environment and taking bold climate action.

Over the past year, we have provided policy advice and technical assistance in areas such as social protection, education, health, environmental sustainability, and governance, in line with international standards and principles. We have dedicated special attention to the pledge to leave no one behind – notably through programmes on poverty eradication, social protection, women’s empowerment, spatial inequalities, and the protection of the most vulnerable, including undocumented and stateless persons, migrant workers, refugees, children, persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples.

We have recently launched the second call for proposals under the Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund. I take this opportunity to renew our appreciation to the Government of Malaysia and to Yayasan MY-SDG for their renewed trust and contribution to SDG acceleration nationally and locally.

Earlier this year, Malaysia completed its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and sixth report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. These processes highlighted both the significant progress made and the areas where more efforts are needed. This spirit of transparency and collaboration is vital as we work with Malaysia towards the fulfilment of human rights and gender equality.

Looking forward, our new Cooperation Framework presents a unique opportunity to strengthen the partnership between the UN and Malaysia. The Cooperation Framework will align its timeframe and outcomes with the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026-2030) and will act as a blueprint for the UN's support in the country’s ambitious pursuit of high-income and high-development status.

Distinguished guests, colleagues and friends, 

None of this would be possible without the dedication and hard work of the 1,280 UN personnel across agencies, funds, programmes, and global service centres here in Malaysia. I am proud of the professionalism, integrity, and empathy that our teams have consistently demonstrated. Your unwavering commitment to the values of the United Nations has made us a valued and trusted partner to the government and people of Malaysia. 

I would like to welcome and thank our special guests, UN Under-Secretary-General Mr. Christian Saunders and Assistant-Secretary-General Ms. Najla Nassif Palma who are working relentlessly to improve the UN system-wide approach to preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), minimize the risks and advance a victim-centred approach.

Our donors are essential to all our efforts. Your trust and partnership allow us to raise the ambition and respond at scale. Your contributions are making a tangible difference, enabling us to implement solutions that serve everyone.

We sincerely thank our non-governmental partners across sectors; your engagement adds meaning and credibility to our work, and together, we are making a significant impact.

Distinguished guests, colleagues and friends, 

As we commemorate UN Day under the theme “Our Common Future,” let us renew our collective resolve to address the pressing challenges of our time with unity, determination, and hope. 

In a world facing complex crises, our shared future depends on our ability to work together and build bridges across divides, guided by the values enshrined in the UN Charter and our firm belief that the UN remains humanity’s best hope for a more just, peaceful and sustainable world.

Thank you.