UN undeterred in facing challenges, Secretary-General tells future leaders
The United Nations must not be deterred by the threat of terrorism and the challenge of limited resources from trying to meet its responsibilities, such as curbing climate change, promoting peace and encouraging economic development around the world, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has told students.
The United Nations must not be deterred by the threat of terrorism and the challenge of limited resources from trying to meet its responsibilities, such as curbing climate change, promoting peace and encouraging economic development around the world, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has told students.
Addressing the Model UN Conference in New York yesterday, Mr. Ban said the world body often needs greater support – financial and political – to achieve its tasks, such as in the strife-torn Darfur region of Sudan, where the hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) has been deployed to try to quell the fighting and humanitarian suffering.
He added that last December’s terror attack in Algiers, Algeria, which claimed the lives of 17 staff members, illustrated that the UN is now under threat.
“But we are not deterred by these tough conditions,” the Secretary-General stated. “If anything, we are more determined than ever to press forward with our mission to promote peace, development and human rights.”
He appealed for enhanced resources, government backing from Member States and global support.
Mr. Ban also encouraged participants at the Model UN Conference to aim high and to blaze trails on a global scale.
“You have a higher sense of purpose that draws you to think beyond the borders of your own countries,” he told the students. “I want to encourage you continue on this path, and to dream big.”