Statement to be delivered by H.E. Dr. Mutryce Williams, Permanent Representative of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations, on behalf of CARICOM at the informal commemorative meeting to mark the 80th Anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter
“Better Together: One Charter, One Future”
 

Madam President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the fourteen Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). We thank you for convening this important meeting.

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), we reflect on what has become one of the most consequential documents in modern history, representing one of the most noble aspirations: a better future, jointly constructed by all countries.

For the nations of the Caribbean, the Charter has served as a beacon of hope, a guarantor of sovereign equality and territorial integrity, and the catalyst through which many of our countries achieved self-determination. The Charter has represented stability for us as small states and we renew our commitment to abide by its principles.  

Madam President,

The United Nations remains an indispensable partner in the development efforts of the CARICOM Member States. It has, inter alia, supported regional and national efforts to eradicate poverty, strengthen democratic institutions, improve health and education outcomes, advance gender equality, and respond to environmental challenges, including climate change.

CARICOM remains firmly committed to the Charter and has consistently championed the purposes of the UN, including the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, the promotion and protection of human rights, and the advancement of sustainable development. As small states, we are among the strongest advocates of the rules-based international order as the essential safeguard for all nations.  

The multilateral space created by the Charter remains a crucial platform for all nations to contribute meaningfully to global dialogue and decision-making on important issues such as financial reform, climate finance, and sustainable development. Moreover, because there is no monopoly of ideas in these halls, small states like the CARICOM Member States continue to make significant contributions to advancing the work of the organization. 80 years on, the organization’s principles are still relevant, and under one charter, we have indeed succeeded, however imperfectly, to chart a better future together.

As we commemorate this historic milestone, we do so at a moment of profound change and global uncertainty. Armed conflicts continue to devastate lives and create humanitarian crises. Climate change, biodiversity loss and ocean degradation are threatening lives, livelihoods especially those in particularly vulnerable states, including the Caribbean. Inequalities persist and are widening both within and among nations. Simultaneously, we are witnessing international law being undermined, including the principles enshrined in the Charter.

In our own region, civilians in Haiti are living under extremely difficult circumstances owing to ongoing violations of many of their rights by armed gangs. Global shocks have impacted the supply of energy, food and essential commodities, pushing the most vulnerable into greater poverty and insecurity.

These and other realities underscore the necessity of the United Nations’ work and the need for stronger, more effective and more responsive multilateralism. CARICOM therefore supports continued efforts to strengthen and reform the United Nations so that it remains fit-for-purpose and capable of responding swiftly and decisively to contemporary challenges while remaining faithful to the principles and purposes enshrined in the UN Charter.

Madam President,

CARICOM recommits to the Charter and calls upon all Member States to do the same. The Charter confers on us the shared responsibility to build a more peaceful, just and sustainable world both for our generation and generations to come. Let us therefore safeguard, defend and promote the UN Charter.

I thank you.