United Nations in Bahrain

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. With 21 United Nations Entities represented in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the work of the United Nations encompasses all 17 SDGs.

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04 September 2024

Planning ahead: 5 things to know about the UN’s landmark Summit of the Future

1 What is the Summit of the Future?In 2020, the UN turned 75 and marked the occasion by starting a global conversation about hopes and fears for the future.This was the beginning of a process that would eventually lead, four years later, to the convening of the Summit of the Future, a major event this September, which will take place at UN Headquarters, just before the annual high-level debate of the General Assembly.The Summit was conceived at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was a perception at the UN that, rather than cooperating to face this global threat that affected all of us, countries and people pulled apart.“We were really confronted with the gap between the aspirations of our founders, which we were trying to celebrate at the 75th anniversary, and the reality of the world as it is today”, says Michele Griffin, the Policy Director of the Summit. “The problems that we faced, the threats, but also the opportunities and the imperfections in how we respond”.UN Member States tasked Secretary-General António Guterres to come up with a vision for the future of global cooperation. His answer to their call was “Our Common Agenda”, a landmark report with recommendations on renewed global cooperation to address a host of risks and threats, and a proposal to hold a forward-looking summit in 2024.The event will consist of sessions and plenaries based around five main tracks (sustainable development and financing; peace and security; a digital future for all; youth and future generations; and global governance), and other topics that cut across all of the work of the UN, including human rights, gender equality and the climate crisis.The immediate outcome will be a finalised version of a Pact for the Future, with a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration for Future Generations in annex, all of which are expected to be adopted by Member States during the Summit. 2 Why does the Summit matter?Because, although these themes have been addressed in the past, and groundbreaking accords such as the Paris Agreement on climate and the Sustainable Development Goals have been reached, there is a widespread perception that the structures of the UN, many of which were established decades ago, are no longer sufficiently fair or effective.The Summit of the Future offers a chance to deliver more fully on promises that have already been made, to ready the international community for the world to come, and to restore trust.“The most important ingredient in international cooperation is trust”’ says Michele Griffin. “Trust in each other. A sense of our shared humanity, our interconnectedness. And the summit is designed to remind all of us, not just governments and not just people who will be at the UN in New York in September, but everyone, that we have to work together to solve our biggest shared problems”.3 Who are the key players?The Summit will be preceded by two Action Days, also held at UN Headquarters, where representatives from civil society, private sector, academia, local and regional authorities, youth, Member States and many more, will have the chance to engage in the main themes of the event.“You look at the UN and you think governments are the key players”, says Griffin. “And that’s true. They’re the ones sitting around the table, but they do so on behalf of their people”.“Civil society actors, young people have been involved throughout and will be at the summit”, explains Ms. Griffin. “Private sector will be here in recognition of the massive role they have in shaping people's lives and opportunities today. This summit is for and by everyone, and everyone should see themselves reflected in it”.4 What happens next?The organizers of the Summit have stressed that the closing of the event will not be the end of the discussions and issues raised over the four days.Michele Griffin describes it as the beginning of a process: “most of the seeds that we plant at this summit will take some time to grow and flourish”, she says, “and all of us have to be involved in holding governments responsible for living up to their commitments on the international stage”.After the Summit, the focus will shift to implementing the recommendations and pledges contained within the Pact for the Future. In November, Azerbaijan will host the UN Climate Conference (COP29), where climate financing will be high on the agenda; December sees the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Botswana, where solutions for sustainable development will be sought; and next June, efforts to reform the international financial architecture (including bodies such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which decide how, and under which conditions, to provide loans, grants and technical assistance to developing countries) will be stepped up in Spain, at the International Conference on Financing for Development (Ffd4).5 How can I get involved?Act Now is the UN’s global campaign to encourage all people to advocate for a better, more peaceful and sustainable future. The platform aims to increase the numbers of those who are speaking up and making a positive difference, whether it’s by volunteering in their local community, taking part in local decision-making, or simply changing their personal habits of consumption to live more environmentally responsible lives.In the lead up to the Summit, the UN Youth Office is also galvanizing young people and allies by launching #YouthLead, an appeal to world leaders to make global policymaking more representative of the communities they serve.

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06 June 2024

WHO Bahrain Country Office on the forefront of the fight against Tobacco

In the lead-up to World No Tobacco Day (May 31st), WHO Bahrain organized a workshop on May 18th to raise awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use, including for youth.
The event was held at the Royal Humanitarian Foundation and attended by a diverse youth audience.
Participants were provided with essential information and tools to combat tobacco use. Promotional material dedicated to fighting tobacco, including a video, was unveiled. The workshop also included a video production and editing session in preparation for a regional video contest held on World No Tobacco Day 2024.
On May 26th, the WHO Bahrain Country Office held a lecture on World No Tobacco Day for Ministry employees and healthcare professionals. The lecture focused on this year's theme, which urges youth to act against predatory tobacco marketing tactics and provided crucial information to combat tobacco use.
On May 30th, 2024, the WHO Country Office in Bahrain attended the World No Tobacco Day 2024 event at the Ministry of Interior.
The event was organized to enhance community awareness and participation in health issues.
Several internal and external bodies, including Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative in Bahrain, were honoured during the event. Additionally, the winner of the smoking cessation competition organized by the World Health Organization and the Ministry's employees who participated in the tobacco cessation initiative were also recognized.
"We have undoubtedly achieved so much progress on tobacco control, but we still have a long journey ahead. Tobacco and related industries will continue to fight to ensure the dangers of their products are concealed. Still, we must be on our guard against its tactics to protect our current and future generations," said Dr Atatrah.

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18 November 2024

Assistant-Secretary General for Youth Affairs visits Bahrain

Dr Felipe Paullier, Assistant-Secretary General for Youth Affairs and Head of the UN Youth Office, visited Bahrain from 3 to 8 November to participate in launching the “Hope Network”, a global youth support network initiated by the Kingdom of Bahrain."My visit to Bahrain has been an incredible opportunity to connect with inspiring young leaders and support the launch of the Hope Network, a platform that brings together governments to exchange best practices and strengthen initiatives with and for youth," said Dr Paullier, highlighting Bahrain's crucial role in hosting this initiative.He also emphasised the role of such a platform during a time of global momentum in youth empowerment, which requires maximising cooperation and collective efforts. Dr Paulier explored with Bahraini officials, including His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, H.E Ms Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, and H.E. Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Noaimi, Minister of Information, impactful opportunities to empower youth."Every moment has been focused on amplifying youth voices and building impactful partnerships. We look forward to scaling up our collaboration to support young people in Bahrain and beyond," he said.Dr Paullier also met the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Bahrain, discussing how empowering young people by providing spaces for their meaningful engagement can deliver on the UN's Youth2030 strategy. "Mainstreaming youth issues is our best chance to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030", he told the UNCT.
"The UNCT will build on the outcomes of this visit to continue working with partners to engage and empower Bahraini youth," said the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bahrain, Mr Khaled El Mekwad. The Hope Network’s mission is to advance youth affairs through global policy exchange and strategic national planning to fully leverage the potential of youth as a vital human capital resource. The network also has initiatives to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), allowing youth to launch their own initiatives and creating a helpful environment to support such efforts.This aligns with the UN Youth Office, which leads system-wide collaboration, coordination and accountability on youth affairs, balancing how the United Nations works with and for young people in all their diversity. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the UN Youth Office was created “to advance efforts towards stronger advocacy, coordination, and accountability for and with young people.”

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17 November 2024

COP29: Governments, industry must stop ‘lip-service’ on methane and slash emissions, says UNEP

That message comes after a new UN report revealed that, over the past two years, a sophisticated system that detects significant methane leaks has sent 1,200 notifications to governments and businesses, but only one per cent of those notifications have been answered.“We now have a proven system to identify major leaks so they can be quickly stopped – often with simple repairs. We are quite literally talking about screwing bolts tighter in some cases,” Inger Anderson said, launching the report, which highlights plume alerts from the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS).The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) chief’s alert was just one of the many key events taking place today at COP29. The latest annual UN climate summit has been underway in the Azerbaijan capital city since Monday and heads into the weekend with experts and government negotiators set for tough talks over climate finance and emission reductions. The goal is reaching an agreement by the time the meeting wraps up at the end of next week.What is methane?According to UNEP, human-caused methane emissions are responsible for roughly one-third of the planet’s current warming. Reducing these emissions is the fastest, most cost-effective way to slow global warming in the near-term and is essential to averting critical climate damage.Three industries account for the majority of human-caused methane: agriculture, waste and fossil fuels. Coal mining contributes 12 per cent of emissions in the fossil fuel industry, while the extraction, processing, and distribution of oil and gas account for 23 per cent. About 20 per cent of methane emissions in the waste sector come from wastewater and landfills. Finally, about 32 per cent of emissions in the agricultural sector come from grazing livestock and manure, while a further eight per cent come from rice farming.Right now, there is roughly 2.5 times the amount of methane in the atmosphere than there was during pre-industrial times and emissions have been rising in recent years, according to the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO). How can we slash methane?While methane is considered an ‘aggressive greenhouse gas’ it is actually easier to reduce than carbon dioxide, or CO2, the better-known heat-trapping gas, because methane has a shorter lifespan in the atmosphere.The UNEP-led International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) and the hi-tech MARS system use artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite data to detect gas releases and to help industry and countries identify and deal with large methane emissions.“Governments and oil and gas companies must stop paying lip-service to this challenge when answers are staring them in the face,” stated Ms. Anderson, UNEP Executive Director. Instead, they should recognize the significant opportunity presented “and start responding to alerts by plugging leaks that are spewing climate-warming methane into the atmosphere. The tools are ready, the targets are set – now it is time to act,” she said.While more remains to be done, the report does highlight examples of nations and companies responding – proving the value of data-driven solutions such as MARS. In 2024, the IMEO facility verified action to reduce emissions from major leaks in Azerbaijan and the United States. In Algeria and Nigeria, MARS notifications and engagement led to direct action from the governments and oil and gas companies to address large methane leaks. For example, UNEP says that in the Nigeria case, the six-month leak emitted methane equivalent to 400,000 cars being driven for a year and was able to be fixed in under two weeks by simply replacing faulty equipment.

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17 November 2024

‘Pay up or humanity will pay the price’, Guterres warns at COP29 climate summit

“The sound you hear is the ticking clock. We are in the final countdown to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. And time is not on our side,” he warned.In his opening remarks to the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, the ministerial-level segment of COP29, which officially opened on Tuesday in the Azerbaijan capital of Baku, Mr. Guterres pointed to the proof, noting that 2024 is almost certain to be the hottest year ever recorded.Meanwhile, “no country is spared” from climate destruction ranging from hurricanes to boiling seas, drought ravaged crops, and more, all being supercharged by human-made climate change.‘Avoidable injustice’In the global economy, supply chain shocks raise costs – everywhere: Decimated harvests push up global food prices; destroyed homes increase all insurance premiums.“This is a story of avoidable injustice: The rich cause the problem, the poor pay the highest price,” stated the UN chief, noting that Oxfam has found that the richest billionaires emit more carbon in an hour and a half than the average person does in a lifetime.“Unless emissions plummet and adaptation soars,” he emphasized that “every economy will face far greater fury.” ‘Reason to hope’But there is every reason to hope, the Secretary-General continued, pointing to the solid steps that had been taken last year at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates.In the UAE, all countries had agreed to move away from fossil fuels; to accelerate net zero energy systems, setting milestones to get there; to boost climate adaptation; and to align the next round of economy-wide national climate plans – or NDCs – with the 1.5-degree limit set at Paris.“It’s time to deliver,” he said stressing that a poll by the University of Oxford and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had found that eighty percent of people around the world want more climate action. In addition, “scientists, activists, and young people are demanding change – they must be heard, not silenced.”The UN chief went on to note that last year – for the first time – the amount invested in grids and renewables overtook the amount spent on fossil fuels and today, almost everywhere, solar and wind are the cheapest source of new electricity.“Doubling down on fossil fuels is absurd. The clean energy revolution is here. No group, no business, and no government can stop it. But you can and must ensure it is fair, and fast enough to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius” he explained. Three focus prioritiesWith all this in mind, Mr. Guterres said, “developing countries must not leave Baku empty-handed” and urged world leaders at COP29 to focus on three areas for immediate action:Make emergency emissions reductions – cutting emissions by nine per cent every year towards 43 per cent of 2019 levels by 2030. This is the clearest pat to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.Do more to protect people from the ravages of the climate crisis. The gap between adaptation needs and finance could reach up to $359 billion a year by 2030. The missing dollars are not abstractions on a balance sheet: they are lives taken, harvests lost, and development denied.Tear down the walls to climate finance by agreeing a new finance goal that contains a significant increase in concessional public finance; a clear indication of how public finance will mobilise the trillions of dollars developing countries need; taps innovative sources; sets out a framework for greater accessibility, transparency, and accountability; and boosts lending capacity for bigger and bolder multilateral development banks. ‘Pay up or pay the price’“On climate finance, the world must pay up, or humanity will pay the price,” emphasized the UN chief telling world leaders that “you and your governments must be guided by a clear truth: Climate finance is not charity, it’s an investment; climate action is not optional, it’s imperative.”‘Strong standards’ agreed for centralised carbon marketThere was progress late on Monday at COP29 when parties adopted strong new standards for a centralised carbon market under the auspices of the UN, a mechanism highlighted just last week by UN Trade and Development body UNCTAD.UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said the agreement was “a good start” following 10 years of negotiations.“When operational, these carbon markets will help countries implement their climate plans faster and cheaper, driving down emissions,” he said, adding that “we are a long way from halving emissions this decade, but wins on carbon markets here at COP29 will help us get back in that race.”The UNFCCC chief said it was essential to ensure that developing countries benefit from the new financial flows unlocked through the UN carbon market, where credits will be bought and sold to boost development.‘Climate finance is global inflation insurance’In his remarks to the leaders’ summit, UN climate chief Simon Stiell echoed many of the same themes, warning that the climate crisis is fast becoming an economy-killer. “Climate impacts are carving up to 5 per cent off GDP in many countries,” underscoring that the climate crisis is a cost-of-living crisis because climate-driven disasters are driving up costs for households and businesses.

“Worsening climate impacts will put inflation on steroids unless every country can take bolder climate action,” said Mr. Stiell, who is the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which convenes the annual COP meetings.He urged the leaders to learn the lessons from the pandemic – when billions suffered because collective action wasn’t taken fast enough when supply chains were smashed.“Let’s not make that mistake again. Climate finance is global inflation insurance. Rampant climate costs should be public enemy number one,” he stated.

He went on to stress that bolder climate action can drive economic opportunity and abundance everywhere. Cheap, clean energy can be the bedrock many economies. It means more jobs, more growth, less pollution choking cities, healthier citizens and stronger businesses.

“Billions of people simply cannot afford for their government to leave COP29 without a global climate finance goal,” Mr. Stiell said told leaders to make it clear that they expected a strong set of outcomes in Baku.“Tell your negotiators – skip the posturing – and move directly to finding common ground. Bring those positions together.”

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10 November 2024

UNIC Manama highlights youth engagement in global diplomacy at a MUN Conference

The United Nations Information Center for the Gulf Countries (UNIC Manama) highlighted the importance of engaging youth to solve global challenges at a Model United Nations (MUN) conference organised by Al Hekma International School on 8 November. UNIC Manama Director Ahmed Ben Lassoued spoke to the MUN delegates about dialogue and diplomacy and their role in achieving the United Nations’ vision for a brighter, more sustainable future. He quoted the Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres, saying, “Dialogue, diplomacy, and multilateral solutions provide the surest path to a peaceful and just world.” Ben Lassoued stressed the importance of giving a global platform to silenced voices, including women and youth, to realise the needs of the people and the planet, pointing out that the United Nations has been the place to do so. “The United Nations has been about uniting people behind global solutions to global problems,” he said, highlighting the indispensable role of youth in coming up with these solutions and encouraging students to implement their skills outside of the confines of the conference. “We need leaders like you—leaders willing to listen, lead, and achieve peace, dignity, and equality on a healthy planet.” Ben Lassoued told delegates.He pointed out United Nations campaigns where youth could make their voices heard and encourage positive change, such as the United Nations Youth Office’s “Let #YouthLead for the Future” campaign.The UN Youth Office leads system-wide collaboration, coordination and accountability on youth affairs, harmonising how the United Nations works with and for young people in all their diversity. Dr Felipe Paullier, Assistant-Secretary General for Youth Affairs and Head of the UN Youth Office visited Bahrain this week to participate in launching the “Hope Network”, a global youth support network initiated by the Kingdom of Bahrain that serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and creating impactful partnerships to advance youth engagement worldwide.

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03 November 2024

Resident Coordinators gather to leverage the Pact for the Future to gear up for delivery of the SDGs

New York, 22 October 2024 – UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened Resident Coordinators (RCs) from across the globe in New York last week, underscoring their pivotal role in leveraging the transformative vision of the Pact for the Future into tangible progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "The Pact for the Future that was adopted includes breakthroughs and reforms to revitalize the multilateral system to meet this challenging moment," Mr. Guterres emphasized. "As Resident Coordinators, you and your teams have a critical role to play in leveraging the Pact to help countries accelerate progress towards the SDGs." Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, Amina J. Mohammed, echoed this call to action. She noted, “The Pact of the Future is a recommitment to the goals we have set, and it also encompasses the new era of technology, meaningful youth engagement and future generations, things that weren’t on the table when the 2030 Agenda was adopted in 2015.” With this clarion call, RCs delved into how to effectively bridge global commitments and local action, turning the Pact's ambitious aspirations into concrete achievements for the advancement of the 2030 Agenda on the ground. ImageCaption: Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J Mohammed addressing Resident Coordinators, alongside Assistant Secretary-General for Development Coordination Oscar Fernandez-Taranco.Photo: © UNDCODriving the SDGs: Financing, Climate and New Technologies RCs are playing a critical role in working with their UN Country teams to advance key areas highlighted in the Pact for the Future, with a focus on assisting governments in closing the SDG financing gap, stepping up climate ambitions, and navigating new technologies to meet the deadline of the 2030 Agenda. The SDG financing gap represents the shortfall in funding needed to achieve the SDGs. To close this gap, RCs are supporting government to strengthen their capacity, building on overseas development assistance, to access and manage different forms of financing including private and concessional financing, as well as improving their ability to mobilize domestic resources through effective budgeting practices and addressing tax evasion. On climate change, RCs are supporting countries to strengthen their commitments under the Paris Agreement and accelerate action on the ground. This includes helping governments create ambitious national climate plans that align with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5⁰C, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and the whole economy. RCs are also helping countries identify promising climate strategies and investment-ready projects, and connecting them with climate financing from various sources, including multilateral development banks and international financial institutions. Recognizing the transformative potential of technology, RCs are working to help governments harness its benefits while supporting dialogues on mitigating potential risks. Discussions ranged from supporting the development of policies, laws, and safeguards around technology to ensuring participation from all segments of society in shaping the technological landscape. RCs also stressed the importance of securing funding to ensure that countries can fully leverage opportunities and challenges presented by technologies like artificial intelligence. ImageCaption: Resident Coordinators are playing a critical role in working with their UN Country teams to advance key areas highlighted in the Pact for the FuturePhoto: © UNDCOThe importance of solidifying the reform of the UN development system, with a reinvigorated Resident Coordinator system at its core, was a recurring theme throughout the week-long conversations on what it takes to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda. In an exchange with RCs and Member States, many Member States reiterated their commitment to supporting the Resident Coordinator system to ensure its long-term sustainability and effectiveness. Many delegates noted that as the world navigates a complex and challenging landscape, Resident Coordinators, with the UN country teams, are essential partners in driving SDG implementation. ImageCaption: Resident Coordinators are essential partners in driving SDG implementation at the country levelPhoto: © UNDCO

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Press Release

19 November 2024

The Secretary General Message for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The epidemic of violence against women and girls shames humanity. Every day, on average, 140 women and girls are killed by someone in their own family. Around one in three women still experience physical or sexual violence. No country or community is unaffected. And the situation is getting worse. Crises of conflict, climate, and hunger have inflamed inequalities. Horrendous sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war. And women and girls face a torrent of online misogyny. The situation is compounded by a growing backlash against women and girls’ rights. Too often, legal protections are being rolled back, human rights are being trampled, and women’s human rights defenders are being threatened, harassed and killed for speaking out. The United Nations Spotlight Initiative and the UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women initiative call on all of us to join forces to end the scourge of violence against women and girls everywhere. The world must heed this call. We need urgent action for justice and accountability, and support for advocacy. Almost thirty years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action promised to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls – it’s beyond time to deliver. ***

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Press Release

24 October 2024

Statement attributable to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bahrain, Mr. Khaled Al Mekwad, on United Nations Day (observed on 24 October)

On United Nations Day, which commemorates the entry into force of the United Nations Charter 79 years ago today, we remember and reflect on how nations united following an unprecedented global conflict to establish this unique organization dedicated to achieving international peace and security and sustainable development for all peoples.In today’s turbulent times, the United Nations serves as a stabilizing force in a world increasingly facing geopolitical divisions, endless wars and conflicts, a climate crisis, including global warming, protracted humanitarian catastrophes, including rising displacement, as well as the dark shadow of nuclear weapons and new weapons.Amid the horrific events unfolding in the Middle East, the United Nations continues to work in extremely challenging conditions to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to those in need and tirelessly reminds the parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.The United Nations represents hope for a better future where no one is left behind. The recent Summit of the Future offered hope for a revamped multilateral system, with the United Nations at its center, that can deliver on its promises and is more representative of today’s world.For the United Nations Country Team in Bahrain, UN Day is also an opportunity to reflect on the longstanding partnership with the Kingdom of Bahrain, and how to develop it in the future.The recent months have been marked by a series of high-level engagements between Bahrain and the United Nations, a testament to the importance of our partnership. This included the participation of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa in the COP-28, and the participation of His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the 79th United Nations General Assembly, as well as the visit of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres, to Bahrain to attend the 34th Summit of the League of the Arab States chaired by Bahrain.Significant progress has also been made in recent months towards finalizing the new Strategic Cooperation Framework, which will guide the work of the United Nations in Bahrain in 2025-2029. This framework was developed through a consultative and inclusive process with the Government of Bahrain, the Private Sector, and, for the first time, representatives of Civil Society, including youth and women.The United Nations Country Team in Bahrain remains engaged in continuing to support the people of Bahrain in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and their national development aspirations, in line with Bahrain’s Vision 2030.

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Press Release

23 September 2024

United Nations adopts ground-breaking Pact for the Future to transform global governance

New York, 22 September 2024 – World leaders today adopted a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. This Pact is the culmination of an inclusive, years-long process to adapt international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow. The most wide-ranging international agreement in many years, covering entirely new areas as well as issues on which agreement has not been possible in decades, the Pact aims above all to ensure that international institutions can deliver in the face of a world that has changed dramatically since they were created. As the Secretary-General has said, “we cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents.”

Overall, the agreement of the Pact is a strong statement of countries’ commitment to the United Nations, the international system and international law. Leaders set out a clear vision of an international system that can deliver on its promises, is more representative of today’s world and draws on the energy and expertise of governments, civil society and other key partners.

“The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities,” said the Secretary-General during his remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future. The President of the General Assembly noted that the Pact would “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations.”

The Pact covers a broad range of issues including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. Key deliverables in the Pact include:

In the area of peace and securityThe most progressive and concrete commitment to Security Council reform since the 1960s, with plans to improve the effectiveness and representativeness of the Council, including by redressing the historical under-representation of Africa as a priority.The first multilateral recommitment to nuclear disarmament in more than a decade, with a clear commitment to the goal of totally eliminating nuclear weapons.Agreement to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space, including a clear commitment to prevent an arms race in outer space and the need to ensure all countries can benefit from the safe and sustainable exploration of outer space.Steps to avoid the weaponization and misuse of new technologies, such as lethal autonomous weapons, and affirmation that the laws of war should apply to many of these new technologies.
On sustainable development, climate and financing for developmentThe entire Pact is designed to turbo-charge implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.The most detailed agreement ever at the United Nations on the need for reform of the international financial architecture so that it better represents and serves developing countries, including: Giving developing countries a greater say in how decisions are taken at international financial institutions;Mobilizing more financing from multilateral development banks to help developing countries meet their development needs;Reviewing the sovereign debt architecture to ensure that developing countries can borrow sustainably to invest in their future, with the IMF, UN, G20 and other key players working together;Strengthening the global financial safety net to protect the poorest in the event of financial and economic shocks, through concrete actions by the IMF and Member States;and accelerating measures to address the challenge of climate change, including through delivering more finance to help countries adapt to climate change and invest in renewable energy. Improving how we measure human progress, going beyond GDP to capturing human and planetary wellbeing and sustainability.A commitment to consider ways to introduce a global minimum level of taxation on high-net-worth individuals.On climate change, confirmation of the need to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
On digital cooperationThe Global Digital Compact, annexed to the Pact, is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance.At the heart of the Compact is a commitment to design, use and govern technology for the benefit of all. This includes commitments by world leaders to: Connect all people, schools and hospitals to the Internet;Anchor digital cooperation in human rights and international law;Make the online space safe for all, especially children, through actions by governments, tech companies and social media;Govern Artificial Intelligence, with a roadmap that includes an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI;Make data more open and accessible, with agreements on open-source data, models, and standards;This is also the first global commitment to data governance, placing it on the UN agenda and requiring countries to take concrete actions by 2030.
Youth and future generationsThe first ever Declaration on Future Generations, with concrete steps to take account of future generations in our decision-making, including a possible envoy for future generations.A commitment to more meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in the decisions that shape their lives, especially at the global level.
Human rights and genderA strengthening of our work on human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women.A clear call on the need to protect human rights defenders.Strong signals on the importance of engagement of other stakeholders in global governance, including local and regional governments, civil society, private sector and others.
There are provisions across the Pact and its annexes for follow-up action, to ensure that the commitments made are implemented.

Summit Process
The Summit process and the Pact have been deeply enriched by the contributions of millions of voices and thousands of stakeholders from around the world.

The Summit brought together over 4000 individuals from Heads of State and Government, observers, IGOs, UN System, civil society and non-governmental organizations. In a broader push to increase the engagement of diverse actors, the formal Summit was preceded by the Action Days from 20-21 September, which attracted more than 7,000 individuals representing all segments of society. The Action Days featured strong commitments to action by all stakeholders, as well as pledges of USD 1.05 billion to advance digital inclusion.###

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Press Release

12 September 2024

Op-ed: What Does the Summit of the Future Mean for Bahrain?

On 22-23 September, the United Nations will host the Summit of the Future in New York. This unprecedented global event will bring together world leaders to explore the best ways to address the escalating global threats of extreme poverty, hunger, increasing global emissions that lead to catastrophic climate change, health crises, conflicts, and rising displacement. These threats endanger international peace and security and hinder the development prospects of billions of people. The prevailing climate of widespread mistrust, accompanied by unprecedented levels of disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech, including online, further underscores the urgency of this Summit.The Summit aims to advance collective efforts to achieve existing international commitments related to the development agenda and to take concrete steps to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities. World leaders will approve a package of decisions on fundamental issues such as sustainable development, financing for development, international peace and security, science, technology, innovation, digital cooperation, youth and future generations, and transforming global governance.Since these threats are global in nature and do not respect national borders, effective international cooperation is essential to confront them and leverage the opportunities globalization presents for achieving common goals. The Summit of the Future will strive to achieve this by adapting the global governance system to our rapidly changing world, aiming to create a better world for future generations.For Bahrain, the Summit represents an important opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to a sustainable and better future for its youth, to exercise its voice as a UN member state in advocating for a better, safer, and more sustainable future for every young person in all countries of the world, and to promote its commitment to peaceful coexistence, respect, and religious tolerance, while calling for the same values everywhere.The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the bedrock of international peace and security. I had the opportunity to highlight this once again during my participation in May at the fifth edition of the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum (WEIF), hosted by Bahrain under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, concurrently with the 33rd Arab Summit. I underscored tangible SDG acceleration actions to scale up SDG implementation through initiatives undertaken by governments and non-governmental actors, and how the private sector, in particular, can contribute through entrepreneurship, risk-taking, innovation, and knowledge.Delegates attending the WEIF endorsed the "Manama Declaration," calling on the international community, including stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to achieve the SDGs, with a focus on women, youth, and people with disabilities. The declaration recognized the importance of an integrated approach and the crucial role of financial institutions and active private sector engagement in achieving theSDGs, and called for promoting promising sectors, such as the creative economy known as the "orange economy," and digital transformation, including artificial intelligence.Such recommendations could enrich the discussions at the Summit of the Future. Bahrain is well-positioned to present these ideas as the custodian of the Declaration. Furthermore, Bahrain's role in fostering SDG 17, "Partnerships for the Goals," is evident in the level of international partnerships the Kingdom has established to achieve global objectives. Finally, as a leading nation in innovation and digital transformation, Bahrain is well-prepared to share its best practices, like the Bahrain Digital Innovation Country Profile, completed in 2023 with support from the United Nations. Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship for the SDGs through engagement with youth in schools and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises is another success story worth highlighting. The United Nations is looking forward to Bahrain’s contribution and active involvement in this key gathering for multilateral cooperation. By Khaled El-Mekwad, UN Resident Coordinator in Bahrain

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