UN celebrates 71st anniversary with 17 goals

The United Nations (UN) celebrate its 71st anniversary today (Monday, 24 October).

Every year, UN Day marks the anniversary since 1945.

In Papua New Guinea, the UN started is operations in 1976. Today there are 14 UN agencies based in the country and working across different thematic areas in support of the Government of Papua New Guinea and its people.

The theme of this year’s UN Day celebrations is the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN in Papua New Guinea encourages everyone to understand the 17 Goals and urges all to contribute to the implementation of the SDGs.

“On this occasion to celebrate 71st years of UN’s existence, I would like to draw attention to the fact that we have just fourteen years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” stated Roy Trivedy, the UN Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea.

“The SDGs are vital for the achievement of Papua New Guinea’s Vision 2050 policy. Implemented well, the SDGs will help to bring peace and prosperity for people around the world as well as safeguard the planet for future generations. We must work together to attain the Goals.”

With the ratification of the UN Charter as the founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the UN officially came into being.

This year’s observance occurs at a time of transition for the world and for the United Nations. With a global commitment to fulfil the great promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 193 member states have committed to transform the world towards a better future for all.

The UN is also in transition, with handing over of the baton in early 2017 from Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon to his successor, Antonio Guterres.

UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, said: “I have been honoured to serve ‘we the peoples’ for the past ten years. I thank people across the world for their support and urge all to give their full backing to Secretary-General-designate Antonio Guterres in continuing our global mission of peace, sustainable development and human rights.”

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