UN80 Reforms Can Succeed through Partnership with Civil Society, Secretary-General Tells Special Event

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres' remarks to the Civil Society Special Event on UN80 Initiative, in New York today:

I am delighted to see such broad participation in this chamber today. Civil society organizations, large and small. Women and young people, out in force. Voices from every region. You reflect the true spirit of "We the peoples".

And I commend your tireless, principled work. Pushing for peace. For human rights. For equality. Calling for a revitalized multilateralism, with people at its centre. And demanding a more inclusive and effective United Nations.

I hear you. We must renew our Organization to deliver better for people. That is why we launched the UN80 Initiative.

Building on earlier reforms, it offers a bold set of proposals to make the UN more coherent, more fit for purpose, and more effective. It calls for change that is meaningful. Action that is concrete.

And most of all, impact that people can see, feel and believe in - an impact that translates itself into more effective action in relation to the people we serve.

UN80 is vital to our ability to succeed in an age of profound instability. Across our world, we see trust eroding and divisions deepening. Conflicts causing death and destruction on a shocking scale. Communities starved of resources for development and resilience. Climate action is delayed and climate justice is denied. And new technologies racing ahead without proper guardrails represent a threat to us all.

These challenges are complex, but they point to a simple truth: The United Nations can only deliver on its promise if we dare to evolve.

Renewal means earning trust through results, and that's what UN80 is all about. Above all, it must strengthen our ability to realize existing commitments.

I am thinking of commitments like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are our shared promise to people and planet. And the focus of the High-Level Political Forum now under way.

But with less than five years to go, just 36 per cent of the targets are on track or making moderate progress, and 15 per cent have gone into reverse.

We must correct course and pick up the pace. UN80 can help through stronger coordination and enhanced country-level delivery.

I am also thinking of commitments like the Pact for the Future, our global pledge to tackle shared challenges together. The Pact spells out concrete actions to turbocharge the SDGs, which I believe you are fully aware of.

These include urgent steps to strengthen peace and security. Accelerate sustainable development and tackle climate change. Share the benefits of science and technology more equitably, while reining in the risks. Empower youth and future generations. And transform global governance, so it's more inclusive and effective.

UN80 puts us in a much stronger position to deliver on these commitments. Through greater efficiencies. Stronger synergies within and across pillars. Easier access for our partners. And closer proximity to those we serve.

I will never forget the pivotal ways civil society has already moved the needle. Driving local action to advance the SDGs. Bringing energy and ideas when we met two years ago in Nairobi. Building momentum ahead of the Summit of the Future. Persuading Member States to approve the Pact. And supporting its implementation on the ground.

Because of you, we have made real headway despite fierce geopolitical headwinds. And you remain indispensable. As a partner bringing front-line knowledge and capacity. As a watchdog strengthening accountability and demanding follow-through. And as a bridge connecting global decisions with local realities.

With your continued meaningful engagement, we can turn ambition into action - and action into impact.

UN80 will only succeed if it strengthens our ability to deliver on the SDGs, implement the Pact for the Future and work in partnership with civil society.

And how we work together truly matters. You have shown us that genuine engagement must be structured, sustained and linked to decision-making.

That means moving from participation to partnerships and from consultation to co-creation.

And that is why we are strengthening our Inter-Agency Civil Society Focal Point Network, to better facilitate our work together. And soon they will cover the whole of the UN system and all our agencies, funds and programmes and other UN institutions.

I am honoured to join this dialogue with civil society leaders from so many regions and constituencies. I am eager to hear your priorities, your proposals and your concerns.

I think probably people told you that you should ask me questions. I would strongly suggest that you can ask me all the questions you want. But beyond asking questions, please tell me what you think is wrong in what the UN is doing and what we should do in order to correct it and how we can improve how we deliver to the people we care for. So, don't worry with the script. The script can be changed at any moment. Please do spontaneously what you believe I need to hear, independently of the questions that you consider you would need to ask.

I indeed welcome your ideas for strengthening our cooperation.

Multilateralism works best when it draws on the collective strength of all key partners, including civil society. Only together can we build a peaceful, just and sustainable future for all. Thank you very much for your patience.