Speaking to world leaders at the General Assembly’s annual debate, President Lula lamented that the current global situation, including the UN’s apparent paralysis in acting, reflects a “weakening of our collective capacity for negotiation and dialogue.”
For example, he noted that the recently adopted UN Pact for the Future is limited in scope, although its proposed purpose is to set the course for multilateral relations in the years ahead.
“The limited scope is also an expression of the paradox of our times: we keep going around in circles between possible compromises that lead to insufficient results,” he argued.
Moreover, despite the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic, no comprehensive treaty on pandemics has been adopted by the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
He continued: “We live in a time of increasing anxiety, frustration, tension and fear” and criticized rising military budgets and conflicts, saying the use of force is becoming the norm, often without the backing of international law.
Mr Lula has strongly condemned the invasion of Ukraine and has sought to promote constructive dialogue with China through a proposed “six-point plan.”
The humanitarian crises in Gaza and the West Bank were also the main points of his speech. The Brazilian president described the situation as one of the greatest humanitarian crises in recent history and condemned what he saw as the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, pointing to the tragic loss of more than 40,000 lives, mostly women and children.
“The right to defense has become the right to revenge,” said President Lula, expressing concern over the current escalating situation in Lebanon.
Regarding climate change, President Lula warned that “we are doomed to interdependence on climate change,” stressing that future generations will bear the consequences of failed climate commitments.
He stressed Brazil’s commitment to environmental protection, saying deforestation in the Amazon has been reduced by 50 percent and should be completely eradicated by 2030.
Calling for reform of the global financial system, President Lula pointed out that low- and middle-income countries are often at a disadvantage, leading to a “reverse Marshall Plan” in which the poorest countries finance the richest.
He highlighted the stark contrast in lending rates between African countries and richer nations and urged greater representation of developing countries in institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Finally, he proposed a ‘comprehensive review’ of the UN Charter and called for urgent reforms within the Organization itself, advocating the Security Council to reconsider its exclusionary practices regarding permanent seats for Latin American and African countries.
He concluded by warning that the world cannot afford to wait for another tragedy before necessary changes in governance take place, stressing that the will of the majority must prevail over established power structures.
Click here to download the statement (in Portuguese).
