Inclusion and more public participation will help forge better government policies: Guterres
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#UN; #Inclusion; #HumanRights; #PublicParticipation; #GovernmentPolicies
UN, Sep 25 (Canadian-Media): Not only COVID-19, but climate protests, struggles for more inclusive politics, human rights, and waning public trust, have put a magnifying glass to the social and economic injustices plaguing societies, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday.
Speaking at the end of the annual high-level week, Secretary-General António Guterres warned that such crises are an “enormous governance challenge” for all nations, and overcoming them requires approaches driven by unity, solidarity, and compassion.
“For that, we need governance models and structures that work for the common good, with an intergenerational perspective. We need to prioritize the rebuilding of trust between people, institutions, and leaders,” he highlighted.
Lead through equality
The UN chief called for leadership that is gender-equal, noting recent studies that show women leaders have responded faster to COVID-19, adopted well-informed positions, led with empathy, and built inclusive coalitions that delivered better results.
“The key to reinvigorated and reimagined governance lies with truly meaningful participation of people and civil society in the decisions that affect their lives”, he added.
The high-level event, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s high-level annual debate, deliberated on the importance of participation as a human right and a vital tool for multilateralism, as well as how to address major global challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the climate crisis and development.
Participation ‘an under-utilized tool’
In his remarks, delivered via a video link, the Secretary-General highlighted the importance of participation in public affairs as a fundamental human right and an underutilized tool for better policymaking.
