STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE ON BEHALF OF THE SMALL STATES GROUP INFORMAL MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BRIEFING BY THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL ON THE UN80 INITIATIVE TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL CHAMBER 12 May 2025

Mr President, Mr Secretary-General,

1 Thank you for convening this important meeting. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing on his UN80 initiative. 

2 I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the Small States Group (SSG). The SSG is a cross-regional grouping of small states from different regions of the world, comprising developed and developing countries. We are a diverse group but as small states, we share a common interest in safeguarding and strengthening the United Nations and the multilateral system, founded on the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and based on respect for international law.  

3 The 80th anniversary of the UN represents a significant milestone for the international community. It is an opportunity for serious reflection on the future of the UN and the very idea of multilateral cooperation based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its members.   

4 The challenges facing the UN are real and serious; we are witnessing a period of geopolitical tension, economic fragmentation and rising nationalism. As small states, we believe that now is the moment to double down on multilateral cooperation to strengthen the UN system.  This is not a moment for pessimism or passivity, but a moment for leadership and action to re-energise and refresh the UN and the multilateral system.  In this regard, we wish to make three points on the UN80 initiative. 

5 First, the UN80 initiative must lead to a strengthening of the founding principles and purposes of the UN, as outlined in the Charter.  We are deeply concerned by the erosion of respect for international law and by efforts to reverse economic integration and globalisation. For small states, a strong and effective multilateral system, underpinned by respect for the UN Charter and international law, is not an option but an existential necessity. The UN80 process must therefore reinforce the UN’s role in the maintenance of peace and security.  We must strengthen the capacity of the UN in the areas of conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.  

6 Second, we welcome the Secretary-General’s efforts to enhance efficiency and accountability within the organisation and improve the delivery of mandates through the UN80 initiative.  There is much we can do to improve internal efficiencies, reduce overlapping mandates and restructure the UN system.  At the same time, UN80 has to be more than an accounting or budgetary exercise.  It is fundamentally an exercise to reset and reposition the UN to deliver results for all our people. In this regard, it is important to keep in perspective the need to adequately address all three pillars of our work, namely, peace and security, human rights and sustainable development.  This will require close and continued consultation between Member States and the UN80 Task Force. 

7 Third, the fundamental focus of the UN80 initiative must be better and quicker implementation of all agreements and mandates. As we review and reduce overlap in mandates, we must aim to strengthen the machinery and processes of the UN system to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Pact for the Future.  In this regard, there is strong synergy between the implementation of the UN80 reforms and the implementation of the Pact. In fact, if we are serious about implementing the SDGs and the Pact, we have no choice but to undertake deep and serious reforms.  The Pact for the Future provides the roadmap for us to deepen our cooperation and make the UN future ready. 

Mr President,

8 Let me conclude by saying that an inclusive and transparent UN80 process will help to build a strong and effective multilateral system; an inclusive process is also necessary to rebuild trust and confidence in the UN system.  As small states, we are committed to the success of this process.  We thank the Secretary- General for his leadership, and we stand ready to work with all members to make this process meaningful, substantive and action oriented.

. . . . .