DECLARATION ON THE COMMEMORATION OF

THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS

We, the Heads of State and Government representing the peoples of the world, have gathered

on September 21, 2020, to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations. We do

so with a sense of awe and deep respect for the founders who created this Organization. There is no

humanity, was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Even in times of

great global challenges and tension, our Organization has catalyzed decolonization, promoted

freedom, shaped norms for international development, and worked to eradicate disease. The United

Nations has helped mitigate dozens of conflicts, saved hundreds of thousands of lives through

humanitarian action and provided millions of children with the education that every child deserves. It

has worked to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including the

equal rights of women and men. The Charter of the United Nations, which is the cornerstone of

international law, has declared the principle of sovereign equality of all States, respect of their

territorial integrity, political independence and the right to self-determination of peoples. It has

affirmed the principles of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and the resolution of

and respect, not least to those who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. Over the years,

more than one million women and men have served under the UN flag in more than 70 peacekeeping

operations. Every day, countries, citizens, private sector and civil society representatives use the

platform provided by the United Nations to make life better for all of humanity.

However, the United Nations has had its moments of disappointment. Our world is not yet the

world our founders envisaged 75 years ago. It is plagued by growing inequality, poverty, hunger,

armed conflicts, terrorism, insecurity, climate change, and pandemics. People in different corners of

the world are forced to make dangerous journeys in search of refuge and safety. The least developed

countries are falling behind, and we still have not achieved complete decolonization. All this calls for

multilateralism. As we meet, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to reverberate around our world. In a

matter of weeks, the pandemic manifested itself as the largest global challenge in the history of the

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United Nations. It has not only caused death and serious illness, but also global economic recession,

increased poverty, anxiety, and fear. It has put enormous pressure on our societies, economies, and

health systems. While none of us have been left untouched, people in vulnerable situations and the

most vulnerable countries have been the hardest hit. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us in the

most powerful way that we are closely interconnected and only as strong as our weakest link. Only by

three pillars of the United Nations – peace and security, development, and human rights – are equally

important, interrelated, and interdependent. We have come far in 75 years but much more remains to

be done. We have the tools and now we need to use them. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development is our roadmap and its implementation a necessity for our survival. Urgent efforts are

required. Therefore, we are not here to celebrate. We are here to take action. Guided by the purposes

and principles of the Charter, we are here to ensure the future we want, and the United Nations we

need.

* * *

We will leave no one behind. The next ten years, which have been designated as the Decade

of Action, will be the most critical of our generation. It is even more important as we build back better

principles. We are guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international human right

treaties and instruments and will ensure everyone’s human rights and fundamental freedoms.

We will protect our planet. Without more determined action we will continue to impoverish

our planet with less biodiversity and fewer natural resources. We will see more environmental threats

and climate related challenges, including natural disasters, drought, desertification, food shortages,

water scarcity, wildfires, sea-level rise, and depletion of the oceans. The time to act is now. Many

countries, not least small island developing states, least developed countries and landlocked

developing countries, are already among the most affected. We need to adapt to the circumstances and

take transformative measures. We have a historic opportunity to build back better and greener. We

reiterate the importance of abiding by the Charter, principles of international law, and relevant

resolutions of the Security Council. International arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament

agreements and their architectures need to be upheld. The United Nations must better address all

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forms and domains of threats. Terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism are serious

threats to international peace and security. The diplomatic toolbox of the Charter needs to be used to

its full potential, including preventive diplomacy and mediation. We call on the Secretary-General to

enhance this toolbox to prevent the outbreak, escalation and recurrence of hostilities on land, at sea, in

space and in cyberspace. We fully support and promote the Secretary-General’s initiative for a global

agreements we have entered into and the commitments we have made. We will continue to promote

respect for democracy and human rights, to enhance democratic governance and the rule of law by

strengthening transparent and accountable governance and independent judicial institutions.

We will place women and girls at the center. Conflicts will not be resolved, and sustainable

development not occur, without the equal and active participation of women at all levels. Human

rights can never be fully upheld unless they are also enjoyed by all women and girls. Persistent gender

inequalities and abuse, including sexual- and gender-based violence, have deprived us of a more just

and better world. We will accelerate action to achieve gender equality, women’s participation, and the

empowerment of women and girls in all domains.

We will build trust. Growing inequality within and among countries is jeopardizing our

efforts to ensure the future we want. Inequality leads to mistrust between countries, and to people’s

We will improve digital cooperation. Digital technologies have profoundly transformed

society. They offer unprecedented opportunities and new challenges. When improperly or maliciously

used, they can fuel divisions within and between countries, increase insecurity, undermine human

rights, and exacerbate inequality. Shaping a shared vision on digital cooperation and a digital future

that show the full potential for beneficial technology usage, and addressing digital trust and security,

must continue to be a priority as our world is now more than ever relying on digital tools for

connectivity and social-economic prosperity. Digital technologies have a potential to accelerate the

realization of the 2030 Agenda. We must ensure safe and affordable digital access for all. The United

Nations can provide a platform for all stakeholders to participate in such deliberations.

instil new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council and continue the work to

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revitalize the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council. The review of the

peacebuilding architecture has our full support.

We will ensure sustainable financing. Realizing our aspirations will require sustainable and

predictable funding of the Organization. We will pay our assessed contribution in full and on time.

We will boost partnerships. Today’s challenges require cooperation not only across borders

but also across the whole of society. We have to make the United Nations more inclusive and engage

with all relevant stakeholders, including regional and sub-regional organizations, non-governmental

organizations, civil society, the private sector, academia, and parliamentarians to ensure an effective

response to our common challenges.

We will listen to and work with youth. Youth is the missing piece for peace and

development. As we benefitted from the foresight of the founders of the United Nations, young people

today will have to live with the consequences of our action and inaction. For too long, the voices of

youth have been sidelined in discussions about their future. This has to change now through

meaningful engagement with youth.

We will be prepared. The COVID-19 pandemic caught us off-guard. It has served as a wake-

up call for improving our preparedness for not only health related crises but also other challenges and

crises. We need to strengthen international cooperation, coordination, and solidarity. It is important to

learn, share experiences and information to reduce risks and make our systems more resilient. While

What we agree today, will affect the sustainability of our planet as well as the welfare of

generations for decades to come. Through reinvigorated global action and by building on the progress

achieved in the last 75 years, we are determined to ensure the future we want. To achieve this, we will

mobilize resources, strengthen our efforts and show unprecedented political will and leadership. We

will work together with partners to strengthen coordination and global governance for the common

future of present and coming generations.