United Nations (UN) secretary-general, Antonio Gutierrez, has lamented that 2023 has been a year that brought enormous suffering, violence and climate chaos around the world.
The UN chief said this in his New Year message as the world prepares to usher in 2024. He noted that 2023 is the hottest year on record, saying our “humanity is in pain. Our planet is in peril. People are getting crushed by growing poverty and hunger. Wars are growing in number and ferocity. And trust is in short supply.”
Gutierrez stressed that pointing fingers and pointing guns lead nowhere even as he urged humanity to stand strong and come together across divides for shared solutions in 2024.
He said, “Humanity is strongest when we stand together. 2024 must be a year for rebuilding trust and restoring hope. We must come together across divides for shared solutions, for climate action, for economic opportunity and a fairer global financial system that delivers for all.
“Together, we must stand up against the discrimination and hatred that are poisoning relations between countries and communities. And we must make sure new technologies such as artificial intelligence are a force for good.”
While wishing the world a peaceful New Year, Gutierrez promised that the United Nations will keep rallying the world for peace, sustainable development and human rights.
“Let’s resolve to make 2024 a year of building trust and hope in all that we can accomplish together,” he said.
