President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing the assembly at the Summit of the Future in New York, advocating for a united approach to global challenges. Image: @PresidencyZA (X)
(The Post News)- On Sunday, September 22, 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa delivered a compelling address at the High-Level Segment of the Summit of the Future, held during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Debate and High-Level Week (UNGA79). The Summit of the Future, a pivotal event at UNGA79, aims to adopt a “Pact for the Future” that will address contemporary and future challenges.
Leading the South African delegation, President Ramaphosa’s speech emphasized the urgent need for global consensus on pressing issues such as climate change, inequality, and international security. President Ramaphosa’s remarks highlighted the interconnections of global consensus on the causes of these challenges and to agree on actions to confront and overcome them. He called for the Summit to bridge the development divide and provide practical solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
President Ramaphosa focused on the need to reform global governance institutions, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and international financial institutions. He argued that the current structure of the UNSC is outdated and no longer fit to address modern-day challenges.
He also emphasized the importance of making these institutions more representative and inclusive of the diversity of views on the planet. He echoed the sentiments of the UN Secretary-General, describing the Summit of the Future as a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to forge global consensus and make progress on priorities such as the Sustainable Development Goals.
For South Africans and the broader African continent, the Summit represented a beacon of hope and a potential turning point. The Pact for the Future promised to address long-standing concerns of developing nations, advocating for a more representative and inclusive international system. This aligns with the UN 2030 Agenda and Africa’s Agenda 2063, aiming to accelerate collective efforts toward development, peace, security, and human rights.President Ramaphosa called for a renewed commitment to multilateralism and global cooperation to address the pressing challenges of the 21st century.
He urged world leaders to seize the opportunity presented by the Summit of the Future to make meaningful progress on global priorities and to ensure that the United Nations remains relevant for future generations.
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