UNITED Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has called for a commitment to multilateralism to help protect and bolster the global economy as the Covid-19 pandemic has started to cause major setbacks and threaten the livelihoods of billions of people.
During his speech at the Ministerial Segment of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development hosted by the UN; Secretary General Guterres acknowledged that the world needs to change and end in-equality.
“From the awakening that this crisis is providing, we have a chance to create an inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism. And we can also break from the damaging assumptions and approaches of the past – from how we work to how we learn; where we live to what we consume – and take great leaps forward in doing so. And finally, in the decisions on financing that will be taken over the coming months, we have an opportunity to safeguard recent gains, protect the most vulnerable and move towards more inclusive, sustainable and resilient societies,” said Guterres.
He added that there is need for solid plans that protect society against the devastating effects of the covid-19 pandemic on economies and the sustainable development goals.
“Now we must rise to meet the moment. We all recognize that the world cannot go back to the previous so-called normal. We need concrete, bold and implementable solutions inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.
The statement by the UN Chief comes at a time the world is struggling with containing the spread of the deadly covid-19 pandemic which is threatening a second wave in Europe and America with rising numbers in Africa particularly South Africa.
