New York – Outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in spite of the divisiveness on many key issues, people still need to come together to combat global challenges for the common good of humanity rather than run away from one another out of fear.
Ban, in his message to mark the International Human Solidarity Day, observed on Dec. 20, said global problems required collective solutions.
“As nations strive to uphold their promises and to meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, mutual support will be crucial.
“Global problems require collective solutions.
“At a time of divisiveness on many key global issues, from armed conflict to forced migration, people need to turn toward each other in common cause, not away from each other in fear.”
The UN scribe said the world has achieved significant progress in human development over the past two decades.
“The global poverty rate fell by more than half.
“People are living longer and healthier lives, and are better educated,” he said.
The secretary-general, however, regretted that in spite of these and other advances, prosperity has not been shared by all.
“Inequalities, extreme poverty, unemployment, social exclusion and environmental degradation continue to be prominent features of societies around the world.
“Discrimination and prejudice remain major barriers to building inclusive societies.
“Many vulnerable social groups find their situation worsening.
“The impacts of climate change will fall most heavily on those who did least to cause the problem.”
According to him, solidarity is essential to address these gaps in sustainable development.
He said ‘leaving no one behind, promoting prosperity and ensuring inclusiveness and equality’ are core principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by world leaders in September 2015, and of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change adopted in December of that same year.
“On International Human Solidarity Day, let us emphasise the role of human solidarity in building lives of dignity for all on a healthy planet.
“We must work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and secure the future we want,” he said.
The UN General Assembly, convinced that the promotion of the culture of solidarity and the spirit of sharing is important for combating poverty, proclaimed Dec. 20 each year as International Human Solidarity Day.
Through initiatives such as the establishment of the World Solidarity Fund to eradicate poverty and the proclamation of International Human Solidarity Day, the concept of solidarity was promoted as crucial in the fight against poverty and in the involvement of all relevant stakeholders.
