Lesotho, together with the United Nations Celebrate the 76^th Anniversary of the UN under the theme ‘Reimage, Rebalance, Restart: recovering together’ at the event held on Friday in Maseru.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Mrs. Matšepo Ramakoae said this year’s celebration centered on the theme ‘building back better’ which highlights the importance of recovering from disasters and building resilience against future disasters with the aim of reducing risks toward the people.
Mrs. Ramakoae remarked that this theme comes when the world is faced with the COVID-19 pandemic where millions of people lost their lives while many are terminally ill and others are struggling with the side effects.
She commended the UN which she said continues to work with the member states to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs even in the midst of the COVID-19,
She added that the 2021 theme, reminds the country of the importance of focusing on recovering and rebuilding resilience against future pandemics, further mentioning that the COVID-19 pandemic showed the world that the future is unpredictable and pandemics can force the world to completely be a standstill.
She said it is important to work together as a global community to tackle major challenges such as the effects of climate change, especially on vulnerable societies.
The Minister said the UN has been a close partner of Lesotho for a long time thus collaborating with the Ministry of Development Planning, adding that the UN has provided technical assistance to Lesotho in easing the implementation of the SDGs by aligning the national development with the international goals.
She further mentioned that in response to COVID-19, the UN assisted the country with health equipment that included Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and oxygen concentrators amongst others.
She, therefore, thanked the UN for its support towards Lesotho for so many years especially driving the development agenda in the challenging time of the pandemic.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Betty Wabunoha said the UN was established as a vehicle of hope for a world emerging from the shadows of terrible conflicts.
She said COVID-19, conflicts hunger, poverty and climate emergency reminded the nations that the world is not perfect, saying this makes it clear that solidarity is the only way forward.
She said the world needs to come together to tackle challenges and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that by ensuring that every person has access to the COVID-19 vaccine and also by ensuring and upholding the rights of people especially the poorest and most disadvantaged people.
She noted that seeking an end to the conflicts that scar the world together with making a bold climate commitment to save the planet will contribute towards the achievement of SDGs.
Ms. Wabunoha said peace, development, human rights and opportunity for vulnerable people are the values that have powered the UN charter for the past 76 years and they have no expiry date.
She stressed that amongst the UN achievement, the organisation has managed to help reduce tensions and helped to propel development, saying the integrity of the UN has been publicly reaffirmed.
She mentioned that the 76^th anniversary has come hand in hand with one of the biggest challenges humanities had to deal with thus the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the UN is working hard to stop the virus and ensure that people get the suitable vaccine in order to defeat this virus.
Ms. Wabunoha noted that last year, the organisation launched the Global Dialogue with the aim of gathering information on humanity’s hopes, fear and priorities for the future, adding the global dialogue has ended up in the adoption of progressive, saying hopefully, political declaration commits all member states to push harder to enhance cooperation among all countries during these trying times.
In conclusion, she congratulated the UN and Lesotho for the progress in transforming the Kingdom of Lesotho into a prosperous, peaceful and stable nation, noting however that they are aware that the country still has a long way to go to have ‘Lesotho we want’.
Also speaking, the Minister of Health, Mr. Semano Sekatle also thanked the UN for its support to Lesotho, saying the UN has helped the country to overcome the pandemic as it is currently at a one percent COVID-19 positivity rate.
As part of the celebration, students who participated in an art competition under the theme; ‘Reimage, Rebalance, Restart: Recovering Together’ received awards for winning the competition.
The United Nations Charter was ratified on 24 October 1945.
The ceremony was graced by the Minister of Education and Training, Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Health and other development partners.
By Staff Reporter: Noliwe Velaphe