Informal Interactive Dialogue 1: The Pact for the Future – Means of Implementation
Statement by H.E. Rebecca Bryant, Deputy Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations
26 March 2025
Mr President, Mr Secretary-General, thank you.
The Pact for the Future reflects our collective commitment to ensure the UN continues to advance peace, human rights and development, supported by reform.
For 80 years, the UN has tackled enormous global challenges and continues to deliver services for the benefit of our citizens.
It guards against the spread of nuclear weapons.
It sets the standards that keep food safe.
It delivers aid to people in need.
The UN’s mandates and work indicates that member states see the UN as critical to helping solve the world’s most complex problems.
But the UN is facing an extremely challenging global environment where resources are rapidly shrinking across the board as needs increase.
As Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld acknowledged after the first review of UN mandates in 1954– there is only so much the UN can effectively deliver within limited resources.
Over time duplication and inefficiencies have arisen across the UN system and this needs to be addressed systemically.
Member states, particularly smaller states, are struggling to engage across the breadth of work.
With changed funding and global circumstances, the status quo is unsustainable.
President,
As we implement the Pact in this context, we need to be bold and do things differently.
The Secretary-General is right that the UN should be subject to rigorous and regular scrutiny to ensure it is fit-for purpose.
Australia very much welcomes the Secretary-General’s UN80 Initiative, and the UN progressing the initiative at pace.
We stand ready to support rigorous and urgent reforms to the UN system.
Amid the worsening liquidity crisis, the UN must be laser focused on its core mandates, look for efficiencies and ensure best value for money.
The UN must look for opportunities to consolidate and address overlapping mandates and functions across agencies.
President,
The challenge ahead is daunting.
The review of mandates and implementing deeper reforms will take sustained commitment from us, with equal opportunities for all Member States to meaningfully engage.
As Member States, we must ensure the multilateral agenda focuses on the most pressing global challenges.
More predictable, sustainable and flexible financial arrangements are critical for the UN to effectively tackle global challenges and deliver on its purposes in the UN Charter.
Australia will be a constructive partner in shaping a more effective multilateral system that delivers for citizens.
I thank you.