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Event Recap & Video: H.E Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly

Daniel Naujoks - Thursday, December 14, 2023
 Events   Jobs & Career   IO/UNS Newsletter 

Event Recap: H.E Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly

On December 5th, SIPA had the honor of hosting His Excellency Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly for a talk on "Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity." If you missed the event, you can watch the recording here.

In front of 150 faculty and students and in conversation with Professor Daniel Naujoks, director of SIPA's International Organization and UN Studies specialization, President Francis spoke of the prevailing mistrust among UN member states, which has reshaped global geopolitics. Beyond military and economic power, he highlighted the importance of "prestige as power," noting the increasing competition for influence, particularly with the emergence of new powers in Asia and Latin America. He described the current global environment as challenging but stressed the importance of compromise in negotiations, emphasizing the incentive for participating rather than abstaining from international cooperation. He also shared the effectiveness of sometimes leaving the formal negotiation formats at the UN by encouraging informal discussion between state representatives to create trust and better relationships.

Addressing the public's lack of trust in the UN, President Francis acknowledged the damage to the Security Council's reputation in conflicts such as Ukraine and Gaza. However, he clarified that when the Security Council fails, it doesn't equate to the UN's failure as a whole. He stressed the importance of the General Assembly, which he described as a world parliament, and its focus on development, human rights, addressing violence against women and girls, and climate change.

In response to Professor Naujoks' question about the UN General Assembly's role in promoting peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability, President Francis spoke of the modern complexities of conflict, including engagements through social media in instances like Ukraine and Gaza. Stressing the necessity of cultivating peace for the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he addressed a frequent criticism of the UN's role as a mere 'talk shop.' He countered such critiques by reaffirming the importance of the UN as a talk shop: "while you are talking, you are not on the battlefield".

President Francis concluded by emphasizing the inseparability of peace and prosperity, highlighting the unsustainability of a world with a vast wealth gap. He urged for collective efforts to work towards peace and justice, emphasizing that it is morally and ethically imperative to treat everyone as equal for a stable global society.

After the main public talk, President Francis met with 25 of our students in a small group setting. In conversation with students, he advised the next generation of leaders on the importance of education, threats of misinformation and social media, youth empowerment, violence against women, as well as the role of the Caribbean on the international stage. After his talk, all participants felt reinvigorated in their belief in multilateral processes and the role intergovernmental processes at the United Nations have to play in bringing peace and prosperity.