The United Nations celebrates its 70 years tommorrow October 24. It means different things to many different people. The Cold War dominated its agenda for the first few years, although issues of colonialism also took centre stage in the 1950s and 1960s. The Secretary General’s words emphasize the challenges of our times and the role of the UN.

The 70th anniversary of the United Nations is a timely opportunity to highlight its many and enduring achievements -- and to strengthen our collective resolve to do more to promote peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.

Every day, the United Nations makes a positive difference for millions of people: vaccinating children; distributing food aid; sheltering refugees; deploying peacekeepers; protecting the environment; seeking the peaceful resolution of disputes and supporting democratic elections, gender equality, human rights and the rule of law.

The challenges of our times transcend borders and require complex solutions reached through negotiation and compromise. The theme of this anniversary year -- “Strong UN. Better World” -- captures the importance of multilateralism and the essential role of the United Nations.

Only when we work together can we overcome shared threats and seize shared opportunities; only at the United Nations can all countries – large and small, rich and poor – and all people have their voices heard. In our rapidly changing world, the United Nations remains humankind’s invaluable instrument of common progress. Let us use this anniversary to reflect on the lessons of seven decades, and reaffirm our commitment to serve “we the peoples” and build lives of prosperity, security and dignity for all.

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The 70th anniversary of the UN also coincides with a towering achievement: the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, including 17 inspiring Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs. Our aim is clear. Our mission is possible. And our destination is in our sights: an end to extreme poverty by 2030; a life of peace and dignity for all. What counts now is translating promises on paper into change on the ground.

We owe this and much more to the vulnerable, the oppressed, the displaced and the forgotten people in our world. We owe this to a world where inequality is growing, trust is fading, and impatience with leadership can be seen and felt far and wide. We owe this to “succeeding generations”, in the memorable words the Charter.

In this year in which we mark the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, we must heed the call of the Charter, and hear the voices of “we the peoples”. That is how we can overcome the grim realities of the present — and seize the remarkable opportunities of our era.

The Millennium Development Goals made poverty history for hundreds of millions of people. Now we are poised to continue the job while reaching higher, broader and deeper. The new framework does not just add goals. It weaves the goals together, with human rights, the rule of law and women’s empowerment as crucial parts of an integrated whole.

The global goals are universal.

You, the world’s leaders, have committed to leave no one behind — and to reach those farthest behind, first. We can build on the momentum this December in Paris with a robust agreement on climate change. Remarkable changes are under way to reduce harmful greenhouse emissions. I have seen and visited vast solar power installations bringing a new energy future into being. There is wind in the sails of climate action.

Yet it is clear that the national targets submitted by  the member states will not be enough. We face a choice: either raise ambition — or risk raising temperatures above the 2-degree Celsius threshold, which science tells us we must not cross.

Reaching our sustainable development goals means organizing ourselves better. Let there be no more walls or boxes; no more ministries or agencies working at cross-purposes. Let us move from silos to synergy, supported by data, long-term planning and a will to do things differently. Financing will be a key test.

Climate finance will be crucial. I urge developed countries to meet the agreed goal of $100 billion per year by 2020. We must also get the Green Climate Fund up and running.

The world continues to squander trillions in wasteful military spending. Why is it easier to find the money to destroy people and planet than it is to protect them?

Succeeding generations depend on us to finally get our priorities right.

Suffering today is at heights not seen in a generation. One hundred million people require immediate humanitarian assistance. At least 60 million people have been forced to flee their homes or their countries. The United Nations has asked for nearly $20 billion to meet this year’s needs – six times the level of a decade ago.

UN humanitarian agencies and our partners are braving difficult conditions to reach people. (…)

Over the past 70 years, we have helped to liberate millions of people from colonialism and supported the successful struggle against apartheid. We have defeated deadly diseases, defended human rights and deepened the rule of law.

This and more we have done – but that is far from enough.

We are living through a time of severe test — but also one of great opportunity.

Today, we are more connected than ever, better informed than ever, and have better tools than ever. The recipes for positive change are on the table; the ingredients for success are in our hands.

We continue to reform the United Nations — although we know we must do much more, both managerially and politically. We can draw strength from the empowerment of women

— but we still need to step it up for gender equality on the way to Planet 50/50.

I am inspired by the world’s young people, who make up half the world’s population — and whose voices we must integrate more fully in decision-making everywhere.

And I am impressed with the way we, all of us, can unite behind vital causes — like the 2030 Development Agenda.

One year ago, when we gathered for the general debate, the Ebola crisis in West Africa was claiming lives daily. Families were being devastated. Fear was rife. Forecasts suggested frightening losses in the months ahead.

Today, thanks to collective action by communities and their governments and others all around the world, cases of Ebola have declined dramatically. The outbreak is not over, and we must remain vigilant. But the response is working, with lessons pointing to a safer future for all.

When we stand together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

Three days ago, young people from many nations stood together in the balcony of this Hall. They asked for one thing above all: change.

There is nothing we can say to the world’s children that can convince them the world needs to be the way it is. That means we must do everything we can to close the gap between the world as it is, and the world as it should be. That is the mission of the United Nations.

Let’s work together to make this world better for all, where everybody can live with dignity and prosperity.

Ban KI MOON

Global event to turn world ‘UN blue’ to mark  70th anniversary of United Nations Side-box ; Ahead of UN Day, marked annually on 24 October, the United Nations announced today that around 200 iconic monuments, buildings, museums, bridges and other landmarks in nearly 60 countries around the world will be lit up blue – the official colour of the Organization – as part of a global campaign to commemorate its 70th anniversary.