77th Anniversary of the Establishment of the United Nations

• Hon. Dr. Advocate Damas Daniel Ndumbaro, Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs
• Honorable Ministers present,
• Representative from the Regional Commissioner’s Office.
• Representatives from different Government Ministries and Institutions,
• Excellencies Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Heads of International Organizations.
• Chairpersons of the UN Association (UNA) and Youth of the United Nations Association (YUNA),
• Religious Leaders,
• Civil Society Representatives,
• Members of the Press,
• My fellow UN Colleagues,
• Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Habari za Asubuhi! Asalam Aleikhum, Bwana Asifiwe and a very good morning!

Umoja wa Mataifa Oyeeeee! Umoja wa Mataifa Safiiiii!

Part I: Reaffirming Partnership with Tanzania

On behalf of the UN in Tanzania, I feel honored and privileged to be addressing all of you here today as we celebrate the 77th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. In 1945, as the world lay in ruins at the end of the second world war, a visionary group of 51 member states came together to promote peace, justice and development for all mankind. Since then, that number has grown to 193 member states. The 24th of October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. It marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter.

Today, as we commemorate and renew the long-standing collaboration between the Government and people of Tanzania, development partners and the United Nations; we are also reminded of our duty to maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, deliver humanitarian aid, promote sustainable development, and uphold international law.

I also take this opportunity to thank the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for continuing to receive and host refugees from neighboring countries. We understand the challenges this presents to the country and deeply appreciate its commitment to international humanitarian law.

I would like to thank the government of the United Republic of Tanzania for its longstanding, sustained commitment to the United Nations and multilateralism. 

Mheshimiwa  Waziri,

Allow me to extend greetings from the Secretary-General to Tanzania. Moreover, allow me to read the Secretary-General’s message for this year’s UN Day.

AND I QUOTE:

“The United Nations is the product of hope.

The hope — and resolve — following the Second World War to move beyond global conflict to global cooperation.

Today, our organization is being tested like never before.

But the United Nations was made for moments like this.

Now, more than ever, we need to bring to life the values and principles of the UN Charter in every corner of the world.

By giving peace a chance and ending conflicts that jeopardize lives, futures and global progress.

By working to end extreme poverty, reduce inequalities, and rescue the Sustainable Development Goals.

By safeguarding our planet, including by breaking our addiction to fossil fuels and kickstarting the renewable energy revolution.

And by finally balancing the scales of opportunity and freedom for women and girls and ensure human rights for all.

As we mark UN Day, let us renew our hope and conviction in what humanity can achieve when we work as one, in global solidarity”.

END OF QUOTE

Part II –UNSDCF

Mheshimiwa Waziri ,

The national theme for this year’s UN Day commemorations is Inclusive Communities - Leaving no one behind – this is in line with the transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the core of the Agenda, which are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Agenda and SDGs represent the unequivocal commitment of all UN Member States to eradicate poverty in all its forms, end discrimination and exclusion, and reduce the inequalities and vulnerabilities that leave people behind and undermine the potential of individuals and humanity as a whole.

These commitments are operationalized in Tanzania through the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) – which will guide the cooperation between the Government and the UN System in Tanzania for the next five years. The Cooperation Framework was launched earlier this year by the Vice President, H. E Dr. Philip Isdor Mpango. It was developed in close collaboration with the Government and other partners with the underlying principle of ‘leaving no one behind’ which aims to ensure that the most vulnerable and marginalized groups are prioritized.

Part III – UN Tanzania’s Work on supporting vulnerable populations

Women:

Mheshimiwa Waziri,

The role of the UN in Tanzania in contributing towards building inclusive and resilient communities is evident through the work of UN agencies supporting vulnerable populations. The work includes improvements to access health services and reducing maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity at the national, regional and district levels; and supporting the government in improving infrastructure and increasing quality human resources for health.

The UN has also been supporting the establishment, training, and setting up of gender desks across the country to help protect women and children and ensure that we address and eliminate violence against women and children. We were very pleased to learn that till last year, about 400 gender desks had been established in the country.

Mheshimiwa Waziri,

Women’s economic empowerment is equally an important area that the UN has been providing support to. Through its agencies, the UN in Tanzania has been working with the government and partners in Kigoma to support vulnerable women and youth through the strengthening of savings groups complemented with digital and financial literacy, which help build economic freedom and reduce financial burden.

Mheshimiwa, these are but a few examples of how the UN has been supporting vulnerable women. There are more areas such as the use of off-grid-boxes technology to provide clean water and the provision of equipment and training to support a group of women seaweed farmers in Zanzibar, and so much more.

Youth and Children

Children and youth in and out of the formal school system are other vulnerable groups that we need to ensure are not left behind. We have been supporting the government and its partners to scale up a child protection system for Tanzania that prevents and responds to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children. This includes strengthening the legal and regulatory framework; improving preventive and response services; addressing harmful social norms at the family and community level; and improving the capacity of the national and civil registration and vital statistics systems.

Invited guests,

I would like to thank all of our development partners, without whom these and many other activities would not be possible. I would also like to thank heads and representatives of UN agencies and all UN staff that work tirelessly to provide humanitarian and development support to Tanzania. Ninasema Asanteni Sana!

Part IV – Looking Ahead

This UN birthday is perhaps also an opportune time to reflect on the future. The second “SDG Summit” - the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the auspices of the General Assembly will be convened in September 2023 during the General Assembly high-level week in New York. The Summit will mark the mid-point in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The world is trying to embark on a sustainable, inclusive and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that advances the SDGs, amidst the impacts of the current geo-political situations.

This necessitates a renewed call to action!

Part V – call to action

Goal 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) calls for partnerships and recognizes multi-stakeholder collaboration as important vehicles for mobilizing and sharing knowledge, expertise, technologies, and financial resources to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, particularly developing countries. It is only by ensuring that we have all hands on deck, while addressing inequalities and emphasizing that no one is left behind , will we be able to achieve the SDGs.

The UN in Tanzania calls on all stakeholders across the country to help accelerate and scale up effective partnerships to advance the SDGs while ensuring that no one is left behind.

Not only is this the right thing to do – it’s also the best thing for the social and economic development of Tanzania.

The United Nations in Tanzania will continue to support the government and partner with all stakeholders to ensure the development of Tanzania, including achievement of the SDGs and other development goals.

Asante Sana! Happy UN Day to you all!