Speech by UN Resident Coordinator Fiona McCluney during UN Day 2024 commemoration event in Albania

Thank you for being with us here today.  It is UN Day again and I am pleased to be joined this evening by the UN Country Team. With apologies for excessive use of acronyms,  I would like to specifically mention the agencies here: UNDP, UNICEF, UNWOMEN, UNFPA, ILO, FAO, UNEP, UNIDO, UNHCR, IOM and WHO thank you for joining me heads of agencies and many staff present, I represent us all, in welcoming partners to our now traditional UN Day Event to commemorate the birth of United Nations on this day in 1945. 

We have a full programme ahead but allow me at the outset to extend special thanks to the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs as co-host and organizer and to the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation for their support in curating the musical event as part of the International Cultural Weeks. A special thanks to all staff, who behind the scenes, have worked hard to pull it together.

It was exactly 79 years ago that world leaders gathered in San Francisco and agreed on the fundamental principles underpinning the United Nations and the work it should be charged with

•  to establish and maintain peace and
•  help create a better world for the next generations. 

24 October was the day the Charter of the United Nations came into effect [hold the charter and show to the audience]. A working document that continues to guide the organization today.

• At its core, the Charter embodies a determination to heal divisions, repair relationships, and build lasting peace. It urges us to expand opportunities for all and to ensure that no one is left behind.
• It calls for justice, equality, and empowerment, especially for women and girls, recognizing their vital role in our shared future.
• And it compels us to provide life-saving relief to those in need, affirming a commitment to humanity.

The world we live in today is one of deep divisions and turmoil.  The UN Charter remains a shared vision, created to, as the opening words cite, save succeeding generations from of scourge of war and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights.  Today, more than ever, these words and their aspiration warrant reflection. 

Across the world and in relation to ongoing conflicts the Secretary General makes his plea for peace based on the UN Charter, international law, and the resolutions of the United Nations.

Despite the context, I want to mark areas for hope:

Just a month ago in September, world leaders convened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the Summit of the Future. 

After months of negotiations co-facilitated by the Governments of Germany and Namibia, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future.  The Pact (along with its accompanying documents—the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations) draws together multi-lateral commitments already made in other fora on 

•  sustainable development and financing and 
• international peace and security 

but also addresses new issues of global concern regarding science technology, and innovation and an explicit recognition of our responsibility today to  youth and future generations. It includes:

• The first multilateral recommitment to nuclear disarmament in more than a decade, with a clear commitment to the goal of totally eliminating nuclear weapons.
• A commitment to improve how we measure human progress, going beyond GDP to capturing human and planetary wellbeing and sustainability.
• Pledges to give developing countries a greater say in how decisions are taken at international financial institutions and mobilize more financing from multilateral development banks to help developing countries.

A key area of focus in the Pact is the reform of intergovernmental organizations, including UN itself, calling for the introduction of increased efficiencies and early steps in the process Security Council reform. It also addresses the risks and governance of artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies while revitalizing global initiatives to combat poverty and inequality.

And, from its very name ‘The Pact of the Future” I take pride to see that we are placing future generations and engagement with youth into the spotlight. 

And it is a pleasure to have here our own Albanian UN youth delegates, Aldi and Marsela.  They participated at the UN Summit of the Future and the UN General Assembly through support by UNCT to the UN Youth Delegate Programme.   I’d like to invite Aldi and Marsela on stage to tell us a little about their experience. 

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Well, thank you Aldi and Marsela for your strong messages. And thank you for agreeing to moderate this event, please stay with me on the stage.

Excellencies – 

Finally, I would like to conclude my speech with a few remarks about the work the 19 agencies that represent the UN System in Albania do here Cooperation with the Government of Albania and our Development Partners.  

Albania is at a fast-moving context, and I congratulate the country for its engagement with the EU accession process, finalizing the screening process last year, and for opening the Cluster 1 negotiation this October.  This process is complementary to efforts Albania makes on Agenda 2030 and the achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, indeed, progress on accession is a key driver progress with the SDGs. The UN stands as your partner in this process and parallel investments necessary to ensure gender equality and building human capital for success.  

Last year, UN Albania delivered over 60 million usd in programming across four strategic priority areas of our cooperation framework, with your funded support, and here I acknowledge the European Union, Government of Switzerland, Sweden and the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Austria and Italy that support our work around shared Strategic Priorities.  Many of whom choose to support UN development efforts for impact through the contributions to the Albania Joint SDG Acceleration Fund.  

I would like to give a few headline results in our Annual Report in the three areas of strategic priorities.  In terms of building Human Capital, 

• Through our collective UN efforts, 46,000 people gained access to essential services. 
• We invested in the workforce: with over 580 key staff strengthening their skills to implement the new national disability reform. 
• In education, a cornerstone of human potential, over 15,000 students and teachers benefited from improved educational facilities, all repaired or reconstructed to meet modern standards.

Programmes delivered for skills development and fostering green growth 

• Saw 10,000 individuals gain to access skills and lifelong learning programs, empowering them for the jobs of tomorrow. 
• In the private sector, 135 entities introduced sustainability innovation in their business practices and operations. 
• And, in cooperation with the government, over 100 thousand hectares of terrestrial and marine areas have either been newly protected or are now under improved management practices.

In the area Governance, Rule of Law, and Human Rights and Gender Equality some headline results include:

• 8000 individuals from vulnerable groups received access to justice,  
• 18 Local Government Units that adopted efficient and transparent systems for funding civil society organizations from public sources. 
• Importantly, we guarantee that 100% of individuals undergoing asylum procedures receive vital legal advice and representation.

Gender equality, the capacities of 21 institutions to enhance the provision of essential services, goods, and resources for women and 

• Through the introduction of gender-based budgeting techniques we can now record an increase to 9.6% of the total national budget dedicated to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. 
• In our communities, over 300 service providers across 24 municipalities have increased their ability to handle and refer cases of violence against women and children, ensuring that survivors receive the support they need.

I mention these results, but they are not just statistics; but I believe, represent lives transformed, communities uplifted, and a commitment to a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. Together, we are making a difference, and I thank each of you for your unwavering dedication to this mission.