Global leaders unite to address pressing world challenges

22 September 2024, 8:31 pm

By Annet Nakato

At a historic summit, world leaders convened to tackle the most pressing global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, and threats to peace and security. The summit culminated in a landmark agreement, the Pact for the Future, which outlines a roadmap for achieving sustainable development goals and fostering international cooperation.

The leaders emphasised the need for collective action and multilateral cooperation in addressing the complex challenges facing humanity. They acknowledged that the decisions made today will shape the future for generations to come and pledged to work together to protect human dignity and uphold human rights.

While addressing the summit, Philemon Yang, President of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, emphasised the importance of collective action in tackling global challenges. President Yang stated that the UN has been actively working towards gender equality and women’s empowerment through various resolutions and initiatives.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, emphasised the importance of eradicating poverty, addressing inequalities, and promoting peace, security, tolerance, and respect for diversity. Guterres also highlighted the historic opportunity presented by the summit to ensure that progress is shared equitably across all nations and communities.

The UN youth representative from Qatar, Ghanim Mohammed, emphasised the importance of inclusivity, acceptance, and hope for the future. He highlighted the need for society to embrace differences and promote inclusivity as a fundamental right.

He also stressed the importance of listening to the people and amplifying their voices through platforms like the summit, to ensure that the youth are prepared to take on leadership roles and drive meaningful change.

Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, highlighted the importance of global collaboration, stating that the summit is an opportunity to create international mechanisms that better reflect the realities of the 21st century.

Nabbanja stressed that achieving these goals requires a collective effort, urging nations to work together to address common challenges and promote global progress. The two-day conference brought together representatives from over 150 countries and experts from various fields to discuss and implement actionable solutions to global problems.