Rodrigues-Birkett highlights need to bridge global divide in session with Latin American states

In a Regional Dialogue on the future leadership of the United Nations convened by Uruguay in its capacity as currently holding the Presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and candidate for the UN Secretary General position, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said bridging the global divide would be a top priority, should she be elected to the top UN job. As she addressed a series of issues specific to the Latin America and Caribbean Region on Monday, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett said it would be crucial to address the socioeconomic, political and technological inequalities between the developed and developing nations as part of efforts to strengthen the global confidence in the United Nations, and its systems. “There have been clear calls for a Secretary General who can increase confidence in the United Nations, manage geopolitical divisions, lead credible reforms and ensure that we have greater impact on the ground. More specifically, what I have heard is that we need a Secretary General that would ensure financial prudence and that would increase the use of the peace and security tools so that we have better outcomes when it comes to preventing and resolving conflicts. And I have also heard the calls for fair geographical representation in the UN system and for effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and development that reaches the most vulnerable,” Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett said. Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett said at present, the Latin America and Caribbean Region faces multiple challenges from threats to its peace and security to climate change. These challenges, she said, require not only global attention, but decisions at the global level. “Latin America and the Caribbean faces a number of challenges that require global decisions to address them. This includes the threats to peace and security, including transnational organized crime, climate change, many of the frontline countries are facing the difficult impacts of climate change in our region. This is why we have to ensure that multilateralism works because it is multilateralism that will enable us all to address these global challenges,” she said. The Guyanese Ambassador said she would ensure continuous reforms, including structural changes that are not only effective but efficient, and would ensure countries have the information necessary to make prudent decisions. Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett said it is important for those decisions to reflect Latin America and the Caribbean’s longstanding call for a more representative, effective, rules-based multilateral system. Rodrigues-Birkett was among Candidates for the UN Secretary-General post that joined the dialogue on Monday. Last week, she placed second in the first informal UN Security Council poll in the race for the next Secretary General of the United Nations. Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett placed second in the poll behind former Costa Rican Vice President, Rebecca Grynspan. Under Article 97 of the UN Charter, the Secretary-General shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.