2025 should be a year of progress and reform, in the service of the rule of law, cooperation and peace: UK Statement at the UN General Assembly
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-15)

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN General Assembly briefing by the UN Secretary-General on his 2025 priorities.

Effective multilateralism remains the key to effective global leadership, to peace and development.

But around the world, we see conflict exacting a terrible toll in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and beyond; we see rights being rolled back, climate changing and development stalling.

As my Prime Minister said in this hall in September, we should not accept this slide into greater conflict, instability and injustice. And we will do all we can to work together for peace, human rights and development.

As we approach the 80th anniversary of the UN, with the world in turmoil, we must come together and deliver.

For the UK there are three core elements to this:

First, we recognise the opportunity this year presents to turbocharge practical and tangible action as we mark other significant milestones, including the UN Ocean Conference, the 30th climate COP, a decade since the Paris Agreement, and the Social Development Summit.

At the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development we want to work in genuine partnership to unlock the finance, reforms and impact needed to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs.

2025 is also a critical year for advancing women’s rights. As we mark Beijing+30 and the 25th anniversary of the landmark Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, we reaffirm the need for women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in peace processes and decision-making.

Second, we take our responsibility as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council seriously.

We will continue to work hard to ensure that the Council delivers on this crucial mandate.

This includes efforts to secure lasting peace for the people of the Middle East towards an inclusive political transition in Syria, an enduring ceasefire and political stability in Lebanon and of course, bringing to an end the awful conflict in Gaza, returning the hostages home, injecting aid and delivering a two-state solution.

Finally, we must also turn our attention to the UN’s potential for the decades ahead and ensure the organisation is fit for the future.

We need to make the system more representative and more responsive to those who need it most.

When we come together and when there is political will for change, we can make a difference.

Adopting the Pact for the Future by consensus at the Summit of the Future last year was a prime example of this.

Now we must implement the commitments we made in the Pact and its Annexes.

We renew our commitment to General Assembly revitalisation and to Security Council reform to ensure these bodies can continue to deliver on their mandates, as outlined in the UN Charter.

Mr President, 2025 should be a year of progress and reform.

It is in this spirit, that we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to work with all UN members in the service of the rule of law, cooperation and peace.