International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
"We hear calls for more local control over our lives and societies, against globalization, calls for more national autonomy in policy-making and control over our natural resources, calls for new forms of protectionism. These calls are often legitimate and come from all sides of the ideological spectrum. However, dealing with the manifold challenges of our times, be they social, political or environmental in nature, requires (coordinated) public action at all levels. Scale continues to matter. Multilateralism is a crucial piece in the global governance puzzle, as well as peace-seeking diplomacy."
- Philippe De Lombaerde, Director a.i. UNU-CRIS
"We need a networked multilateralism, strengthening coordination among all global multilateral organizations, with regional ones able to make their vital contributions; and an inclusive multilateralism, based on deep interaction with civil society, businesses, local and regional authorities and other stakeholders… where the voice of youth is decisive in shaping our future."
- António Guterres, United Nations Secretary General
