Government of Timor-Leste, UN System, and partners jointly celebrate UN Day 2021
24 October 2021
Dili, TIMOR-LESTE, 22 October 2021: The United Nations System and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, together with representatives from Diplomatic Missions and development partners, celebrated United Nations Day in Timor-Leste, which is observed annually to mark the establishment of the United Nations.
The celebration comes as the Government of Timor-Leste gets ready to participate in the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), where the parties to the Paris Climate Accords are expected to commit to enhanced climate ambition. As a small island nation, Timor-Leste is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Climate change adaptation and disaster risk management are key priorities for the cooperation between the Government and the United Nations in Timor-Leste.
As a member of the United Nations since 2002, Timor-Leste is committed to promoting the three pillars of the United Nations, which are peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development. It also continues to work with other Member States to uphold multilateralism and promote global cooperation on the world stage.
Speaking at the high-level event, jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and United Nations Country Team in Timor-Leste, Her Excellency Minister Adaljiza Magno reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the United Nations as a unique international body that embodies global solidarity. “We strongly believe that the United Nations is an indispensable forum that allows countries to sit together and find the solution for this global problem. Timor-Leste believes that multilateralism should be the main option for us to approach climate change, because global problems cannot be addressed by one country alone.”
“There is no other global organisation with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact of the United Nations. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that we are closely interconnected, and only by working together and in solidarity can we build resilience against global challenges, including climate change. I hope that we can all join the efforts to consolidate unity and cohesion and renew our collective commitment to the vision of tolerance, universal human rights, peaceful co-existence, and promotion of inclusive socio-economic growth, as set out in the UN Charter”, noted UN Resident Coordinator Roy Trivedy speaking at the UN Day reception.
The UN Day celebration was held in the courtyard of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. It included a message from UN Resident Coordinator Roy Trivedy and remarks by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation H.E. Adaljiza Magno. A mangrove-planting ceremony was also held under the patronage of His Excellency Francisco Guterres to symbolise the commitment to climate action and how the relationship between Timor-Leste and the United Nations will keep growing.
The closing of the reception was marked by a music performance that captured the partnership and trust between the Government of Timor-Leste and the United Nations System for development cooperation, peace, and prosperity.
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BACKGROUND NOTE FOR EDITOR
The United Nations played a vital role in Timor-Leste’s restoration of independence and democratic transition by helping organise the Popular Consultation in 1999. Since 2012, the UN in Timor-Leste has shifted its mandate from peacekeeping to strengthening stability and prosperity through sustainable development. The UN is an impartial, strategic partner supporting the Government of Timor-Leste as a Member State to fulfil international commitments and meet national aspirations to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Almost 20 years since the restoration of independence, Timor-Leste has emerged as a democratic and peaceful country focused on state-building and accelerating progress on sustainable development for all, regardless of gender, age, ability or other characteristics.
UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being. The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories.
The UN System in Timor-Leste is led by the UN Resident Coordinator Roy Trivedy, who is the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General to Timor-Leste and is responsible for the coordination of development activities in the country.
All UN agencies come together with the Government of Timor-Leste and other development partners under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator to support the achievement of Timor-Leste’s national development priorities.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES
Joanico Sarmento, Chief of Social Communications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Email: cdcs01mnectimorleste@gmail.com
Ahmed Saleem, Communications Officer, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. Email: mohammed.saleem@un.org
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