STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. LAMIN B. DIBBA AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY EVENT: NELSON MANDELA DAY

  Delivered by H.E. Lamin B. Dibba

Permanent Representative of Gambia to the United Nations

18th July 2025

Distinguished Delegates,

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mr. President,

On behalf of the African Group, I thank you, for convening this important event in remembrance of one of our own, President Nelson Mandela under the theme:” It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity”. I would start with a quote of President Nelson Mandela that “overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no freedom. The very right to be human is denied every day to hundreds of millions of people as a result of poverty “.

Mr. President,

Poverty and inequity remain challenges of our time.  Extreme poverty is on the rise. Debt is in distress, energy and food prices are soaring.  Developing countries and middle-income countries suffer most with unemployment rates beyond records. It is time for solidarity, partnerships and genuine actions where they are most needed. We must review the international financial architecture, adopt by consensus, the tax convention, renew our commitment to market access, production patterns, control global warming, safe environment, and ensure strong health systems globally.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we all seek a world in which men are freed from the burden of ignorance, poverty, hunger and diseases. In his words, President Nelson Mandela says that:” Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by actions of human beings”. Further emphasizes that “if people can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." 

Excellences,

While the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action calls for the concerted measures to combat racism in all its manifestations, including through strengthened education, guaranteeid economic development, promoting racial and economic justice and improved available means and resources for victims of racism, apartheid and colonialism, it also acknowledges that poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion and economic disparities contribute to the persistence of racist attitudes and practices which in turn generate more poverty.

Distinguished Delegates,

The African Group realizes that there is a continued increase of wealth between and within countries with the concentration of it in fewer hands. We believe that rising inequities and pervasive discrimination are not inevitable, they are a result of decades of policies and dynamics emanating from colonialism , apartheid  and discrimination while disease pandemics continue to roll back efforts to build better lives for all, contradicting with the purposes, principles and aspirations of the United Nations Charter which assures human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction, thereby leading to equal rights, equal opportunities, better standards of life,  economic and social empowerment of all peoples and the attainment of peace and security.

Mr. President,

The 2030 Agenda and its development goals due to expire in five years, set out a paradigm for more inclusive and sustainable development without discrimination. We hope that the Summit of the Future adopted in September last year, would truly renew our commitments, pull efforts to actions and push the 2030 agenda forward in line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for Financing for Development.

The African Group also applauds the international community for convening in November 2025, the second world social summit, intended to address gaps and recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action since its implementation gives momentum towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, its goals and the African Union 2063 Agenda.

The Group believes that it is time to work in partnerships to address the root causes of conflict, crises, deprivation and discrimination, to close the digital divide and to reverse the inequity divisions between and within countries. We must keep the momentum and ensure stronger political will and multilateral solidarity to achieve universal economic and social protection by 2030.

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Mr. President,

In concluding, the African Group reaffirms that the fight against poverty should also be accompanied with a battle against inequity. As the global community, we must commit to end poverty and inequity with their manifestations, fight corruption, cut the illicit financial flows, tackle debt distress, commit to the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, lift sanctions especially on medicines and treatment, create trade, close the digital divide gap and ensure partnerships and investments in countries with the greatest needs and attain decent work for all including for women and youth. Closing the inequity gaps, building peace and development “demands the united efforts of us all”, it is indeed, “in our hands to create a better world for all who live in it”.

I thank you,  for your attention!