Mia Mottley told leaders at the annual general debate that the world has faced “polycrises” over the past four years.
“As a human family, we continue to grapple with the climate crisis. We are grappling with the legacy of the pandemic,” she said, adding that “we are now sadly confronted with multiple theaters of war and scenes of horror and famine arising from that war. , armed conflict, instead of pursuing the development of citizens of each country.”
Citing Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Sudan, Ms Mottley said the world “cannot afford the distraction of war”, saying that “if there was ever a time to pause and reset, it is now collectively, collectively as both an international community and individually, as leaders in each of our countries.”
She said it is the leaders’ job to “provide new opportunities and solutions to these crises that dampen economic growth, limit the aspirations of our people and dull our sense of the beauty and goodness that the world should offer ‘.
She added that this reset is what “all our citizens are demanding.”
Simply put, she said too many people “go to bed hungry.”
A failure to reset globally will “promote a crisis of confidence in the existing international order, which must become inclusive and responsive to all,” she said.
This global reset must focus on our rules and institutions, with the aim of ending discrimination and processes that create first- and second-class citizens depending on the country of origin, she continued.
Recalling that 2024 was the final year of the UN Decade, Ms Mottley said that while much has been achieved, Barbados and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) joined the growing chorus for the immediate declaration of a second decade to address the issue of reparations. for slavery and colonialism.
As wars continue to rage around the world, she says the UN plays an important role. “There are few areas where the world needs the United Nations to act more to secure the purposes of the Charter than in the area of peace and security,” she noted.
However, Ms Mottley added that the UN, and especially the Security Councilneeds reforms, highlighting that the current configuration of permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council “has no place in the 21st century.”
The Prime Minister of Barbados highlighted areas where she felt reason for optimism, including the adoption by world leaders of the Pact for the Future, a historic declaration outlining the commitment of countries around the world to sustainable development, peace and stronger global governance promote.
Ultimately, she said, “above all, we need a global reset of peace. There must be global peace. It can’t be that hard to work for peace.”