U N I T E D   N A T I O N S N A T I O N S   U N I E S

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

MESSAGE TO THE NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS MODEL UNITED NATIONS (NISSMUN) CONFERENCE

Abuja, 21-25 October 2007

Dear young friends,

The world is changing in the United Nations’ favour -- as more people and Governments understand that multilateralism is the only path in our interdependent and globalizing world. Global problems demand global solutions -- and going it alone is not a viable option. Whether we are speaking of peace and security, development, or human rights, demands on the UN are growing every day.

 I am determined to make progress on the pressing issues of our time, step by step, building on achievements along the way, working with Member States and civil society. That means strengthening the UN’s ability to play its role to the fullest extent in conflict prevention, peace-making, peacekeeping and peace-building.  And it means invigorating our efforts for disarmament and non-proliferation.

At the same time, we must spare no effort in reaching the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in Africa. I will seek to mobilize political will and hold leaders to their commitments on aid, trade and debt relief.

And I will do all I can to galvanize global and decisive action on climate change. The UN is the natural forum for building consensus on this pressing issue, as we saw in the September 2007 high-level event I convened on the margins of the General Assembly. The meeting sent a message to the Bali negotiations in December on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: this is no longer business as usual, and we must build momentum across the developing and industrialized world to ensure results.

If security and development are two pillars of the UN’s work, human rights is the third.  I will strive to translate the concept of the Responsibility to Protect from word to deed, to ensure timely action when populations face genocide, ethnic cleansing or crimes against humanity.

Finally, we must transform the UN itself.  We must adapt to meet new needs, and ensure the highest standards of ethics, integrity and accountability, so as to demonstrate that we are fully answerable to all Member States and to people around the world.

We will be judged in the future on the actions we take today -- on results. I look to all of you to help build a better understanding for our United Nations -- what it is, what it does, and what it can do. I thank all of you for your commitment, and wish you a most stimulating conference.

Ban Ki-moon