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United Nations General Assembly: 109th Plenary meeting, Closing of the 78th session.

Watch the General Assembly: 109th Plenary meeting, Closing of the 78th session!

His Excellency, Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank the Permanent Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina for their invitation to this solemn gathering.

In April 1993, the United Nations Security Council declared Srebrenica a safe area.

Yet, in July 1995, this supposed sanctuary became the site of the largest massacre in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

Over 8,372 lives were lost, thousands were displaced – and entire families and communities were devastated.

Nearly three decades after this horrific chapter of History, survivors and their families continue to draw strength from their pursuit of justice and reconciliation.

Both the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice have recognized this massacre as an act of genocide.

The lessons of Srebrenica are clear: intolerance and bigotry – when allowed to flourish – culminate in atrocities beyond comprehension.

We must always remain vigilant and guard against rhetoric that dehumanizes, degrades, and discriminates against a particular group.

Because such rhetoric is always rooted in hate, and – left unchecked – always leads to unspeakable evil.

While it is essential to prosecute the remaining perpetrators of the Srebrenica genocide, we cannot accept any attempt to simply forget or deny the enormity of what transpired.

We simply cannot allow this to happen.

The United Nations General Assembly’s designation of 11 July as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica is therefore a timely act – to not only recognize the victims and their families; but also pay tribute to survivors who have tirelessly fought to keep the memory of Srebrenica alive and ensure that such atrocities never happen again.

Upholding this responsibility is fundamental to the mission of the United Nations.

Genocide denial will neither lead to justice nor peace, and every nation – regardless of its distance to Bosnia-Herzegovina, or its own history – has a responsibility to uphold international court decisions that bring justice to survivors and prevent genocide within its own borders.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, this commemoration is more relevant than ever – as divisive rhetoric and attempts to create divisions run wider, louder, and deeper than ever before, around the world.

It offers a chance for significant societal transformation.

From Europe to the Middle East, this period of global upheaval prompts essential questions about our way of life, our shared future – and how we treat one another.

As we approach the thirtieth anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in 2025, let us reflect on and learn from this darkest chapter in our history, to help prevent its tragic repetition.

This commitment demands that we acknowledge the profound suffering of survivors and the families of victims.

It requires unwavering opposition to any denial, distortion, or falsification of incontrovertible facts.

And above all, it calls on us to relentlessly pursue justice and truth – for that is the only path to fostering sustainable peace and genuine reconciliation.

Let us use this new International Day to honour those lost, educate [future] generations, unite communities, and combat hate in all its forms – I repeat: in all its forms..

This is essential to ensure that everyone – regardless of race, faith, or nationality – feels safe in their communities.

I leave you with the wise words of Maya Angelou, the famed African American writer:

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

To write a brighter future acknowledging the truth about the Srebrenica genocide is essential — not only as a matter of justice for its victims, but as a cornerstone for lasting peace.

I thank you.

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 77/27 of 1 December 2022, in which it reaffirmed that sport is an important enabler of sustainable development and recognized the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace, the promotion of tolerance and respect, and the empowerment of women and girls, young people, individuals and communities, and persons with disabilities, as well as to the achievement of physical and mental health, education and social inclusion objectives, Recalling also its resolutions on sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, in particular resolution 58/5 of 3 November 2003, in which it proclaimed 2005 the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, and resolutions 59/10 of 27 October 2004, 60/9 of 3 November 2005, 61/10 of 3 November 2006, 62/271 of 23 July 2008, 63/135 of 11 December 2008, 65/4 of 18 October 2010, 67/17 of 28 November 2012, 69/6 of 31 October 2014, 71/160 of 16 December 2016, 73/24 of 3 December 2018, 75/18 of 1 December 2020 and 76/259 of 8 April 2022, Recognizing the valuable contribution of sport in promoting education, sustainable development, peace, gender equality, cooperation, solidarity, fairness, social inclusion and health at the local, regional and international levels, and noting that, as declared in the 2005 World Summit Outcome, sports can contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding among peoples and nations, Recalling its resolution 67/296 of 23 August 2013, in which it proclaimed 6 April the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace,

Reaffirming its resolutions 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and 61/185 of 20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and anniversaries, Recognizing that major international sporting events should be organized in the spirit of peace, mutual understanding, international cooperation, friendship, and tolerance, and without discrimination, and that the unifying and conciliative nature of such events should be respected, Recognizing also the fundamental role of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association and the important role of regional and national football federations, as well as relevant associations, in promoting the game of football, Encouraging all Member States and relevant international and regional organizations to facilitate the participation of the athletes in sporting events and competitions, Recognizing that sports, the arts and physical activity have the power to change perceptions, prejudices and behaviors, as well as to inspire people, break down racial and political barriers, combat discrimination and defuse conflict, as reflected in the political declaration adopted at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit in 2018, Noting that sport, including sport for persons with disabilities, has a vital role in promoting peace, development and respect for human rights, Noting also that sport is a potential tool for raising public awareness on issues such as climate change and health through high-profile events, athletes and teams, Encouraging Member States involved in delivering mega sporting events to respect applicable laws and international principles, including the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework, as well as the fundamental values of Olympism and the International Olympic Movement and other international sport governing organizations, Acknowledging the global reach of football and its impact in various spheres, including commerce, peace and diplomacy, and recognizing that football creates a space for cooperation, Welcoming the Football for the Goals initiative, a platform for the global football community to engage with and advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals and build on sustainability practices, Recalling that the goal of establishing international days is to create special time and space everywhere around the world to educate the general public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity, and recognizing the global impact of designated international days as springboards for awareness-raising actions,

Commends countries that have hosted and will host significant international football events and encourages them to ensure that these events leave a lasting legacy for global peace, sportsmanship and fair play;

Emphasizes that sport, including sport for persons with disabilities, has an important role to play in the promotion of peace and development, respect for human rights, the fight against racism and racial discrimination, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, in particular football, given its universal popularity;

Encourages all Member States to support sport, including football, in its role as a tool to promote peace, development, the empowerment of women and girls, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, fostering social inclusion, intercultural dialogue and dialogue among civilizations;

Also encourages Member States to adopt policies and programmes for the promotion of sport and physical activities, including football, at the national and local levels as a means to enhance physical and mental health and well-being and to cultivate a sporting culture in society;

Decides to proclaim 25 May as World Football Day, as 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the first international football tournament in history with the representation of all regions as part of the 1924 Summer Olympic Games, held in Paris;

Invites all States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and observers of the General Assembly, as well as organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, other international and regional organizations, academia, civil society, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders to observe World Football Day in an appropriate manner and in accordance with national priorities, and to disseminate the advantages of football for all, including through educational and public awarenessraising activities;

Stresses that the cost of all activities that may arise from the implementation of the present resolution should be met through voluntary contributions;

Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders for appropriate observance.

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 78/281 - World Football Day

Seventy-eighth session Agenda item 11 - Sport for development and peace: building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal.

14th Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing for the purpose of strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons (20, 21, 22 and 24 May 2024).

Opening session

General discussion

The Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing was established by the General Assembly by resolution 65/182 on 21 December 2010. The working group will consider the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and identify possible gaps and how best to address them, including by considering, as appropriate, the feasibility of further instruments and measures.

- Provisional agenda for the 14th Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing:

1. Election of officers. 2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters. 3. Participation of national human rights institutions in the work of the Open ended Working Group on Ageing. 4. Participation of non-governmental organizations in the work of the Open ended Working Group on Ageing. 5. Measures to enhance the promotion and protection of the human rights and dignity of older persons. 6. Follow-up to resolution 78/177: measures to enhance the promotion and protection of the human rights and dignity of older persons: best practices, lessons learned, possible content for a multilateral legal instrument and identification of areas and issues where further protection and action are needed.

7. Other matters. 8. Adoption of the report.

Related Sites and Documents

OEWG on Ageing

Proposed organization of work

Watch the (Opening) 14th Open-ended Working Group on Ageing - General Assembly, 78th session

Held pursuant to General Assembly resolution A/RES/78/152 of 19 December 2023.

15:00: Panel discussion 1.

16:30: Panel discussion 2.

Watch the Joint event of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on the theme "El Niño 2023-2024: Actions for the safety, sustainability and resilience of people and the planet" - 78th session

Thematic Debate 2: Addressing energy's interlinkages and strengthening means of implementation and partnerships 

Closing segment

Energy is an essential ingredient for getting the world on track towards meeting the SDGs and the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change. SDG 7, which calls for access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, is inextricably linked to many other SDGs and its targets, including poverty eradication, food security, health, education, prosperity, gender equality, employment, transport, ocean, clean water and sanitation, as well as gender equality and the empowerment of women, youth and children.  

The global stocktaking will bring together high-level representatives from Member States and other leaders from all regions. The meeting will be open to the United Nations system, ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

The goal of the global stocktaking is to review progress achieved at the end of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, 2014-2024, and to raise ambition and accelerate action towards attaining SDG 7 by catalyzing innovative solutions, investments and multi-stakeholder partnerships. 

Watch the (Part 2) Global stocktaking marking the completion of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All to further accelerate the implementation of SDG 7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - General Assembly, Sustainability Week, 78th session.

The goal of the global stocktaking is to review progress achieved at the end of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, 2014-2024, and to raise ambition and accelerate action towards attaining SDG 7 by catalysing innovative solutions, investments and multi-stakeholder partnerships. 

Opening segment

Thematic Debate 1: Closing the energy access gap and transitioning to decarbonized energy systems 

Energy is an essential ingredient for getting the world on track towards meeting the SDGs and the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change. SDG 7, which calls for access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, is inextricably linked to many other SDGs and its targets, including poverty eradication, food security, health, education, prosperity, gender equality, employment, transport, ocean, clean water and sanitation, as well as gender equality and the empowerment of women, youth and children.  

The global stocktaking will bring together high-level representatives from Member States and other leaders from all regions. The meeting will be open to the United Nations system, ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.  

(Part 1) Global stocktaking marking the completion of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All to further accelerate the implementation of SDG 7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - General Assembly, Sustainability Week, 78th session.