By: Ahmmed Saleem, UN Media
RC’s Speech – UN Day Reception
22 October 2021
Your Excellency Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation,
Honourable Ministers, State Secretaries and other National and Municipality-level government officials,
Members of the National Parliament,
Excellencies Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
National and International Partners,
Members of the Media,
Members of the UN Family,
All Protocols Observed,
Good afternoon!
Exelénsia Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno, Ministra Negósiu Estranjeiru no kooperasaun,
Honouravel Ministru, Sekretáriu Estadu no ofisiál Governu sira seluk iha nivel Nasionál no munisípiu,
Membru Parlamentu Nasionál sira,
Exelénsia Embaixador no membru korpu Diplomátiku sira,
Parseiru Nasionál no internasionál sira,
Membru média sira,
Membru família ONU nian,
Maluk sira hotu,
Lokraik di’ak!
Dear Friends,
Estimadu Kolega sira
Last year, in the midst of the global pandemic, we marked the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. “We the Peoples” of the United Nations renewed our joint commitment to strive together to deliver the promise of the UN Charter: to secure a world where everyone can thrive in peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet. The continued relevance of multilateralism was also reaffirmed, while there was a shared recognition that the United Nations as a unique multilateral system needs to consistently strive to more inclusive, better networked and more effective.
Tinan kotuk, iha surtu globál nia klaran, ita marka aniversáriu ba dala 75 Nasoins Unidas nian. “ita povu sira” husi Nasoins Unidas hafoun fali ita-nia kompromisu konjuntu atu haka’as an hamutuk hodi entrega promesa charter ONU nian: atu asegura mundu ida-ne’ebé hotu-hotu bele moris ho pás, dignidade no Igualdade iha planeta ida saudavel. Relevánsia kontinua husi multilaterál sira-ne’e mós reafirma fila-fali, no iha rekoñesimentu ida-ne’ebé fahe tiha ona katak Nasoins Unidas nu’udar sistema multilaterál úniku ne’ebé presiza atu haka’as an nafatin hodi inkluzivu, di’ak liutan iha sustentabilidade no efikas liutan.
One year on, we celebrate the 76th anniversary of the United Nations. The global pandemic is still with us, lives are continuing to be lost, and the health and wellbeing of people – particularly the vulnerable – continue to be affected. The socio-economic impact of COVID-19 is acutely felt everywhere, and inequalities between nations and within countries are growing. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of all those who have made great efforts throughout the past year to address the impacts of COVID-19 and to pay my respects to those who have lost family members, friends and colleagues this year.
Iha tinan ida nia laran, ita selebra aniversáriu ba dala 76 Nasoins Unidas. Pandemia globál sei nafatin ho ita, sei lakon nafatin vida, no ema nia saúde no moris-di’ak – liu-liu vulneravel – kontinua afeitadu. Impaktu sosio-ekonomiku husi Covid-19 ne’e halo ema sofre iha fatin hotu-hotu, no dezigualdade entre nasaun no nasaun sira iha nasaun laran aumenta ba beibeik. Ha’u hakarak rekoñese esforsu sira husi ema hotu ne’ebé halo ona esforsu boot durante tinan kotuk hodi hatán ba impaktu Covid-19 no ha’u-nia kondolensia no respeitu ba sira ne’ebé lakon sira-nia família, kolega no kolega sira iha tinan ida-ne’e.
We all know that we must quickly come to terms with climate change as the new normal. The impacts of climate change are felt everywhere, including in Timor-Leste, where in April this year, we experienced the worse flooding in recent history. These disasters will continue to occur, and we are acutely aware of the vulnerability of Timor-Leste to such disasters as a small island developing state.
Ita hotu hatene katak ita tenke mai lalais hodi ko’alia kona-ba mudansa klimátika hanesan normál foun. Impaktu husi mudansa klimátika sente iha fatin hotu-hotu, inklui iha Timor-Leste, iha fulan Abríl tinan ida-ne’e, ita hasoru inundasaun ida-ne’ebé aat liu iha istória foin lalais ne’e. Dezastre sira-ne’e sei kontinua akontese, no ita hatene loloos kona-ba Timor-Leste nia vulnerabilidade ba dezastre sira hanesan Estadu illa ki’ik ne’ebé foin dezenvolve
But I don’t want to infer that all is doom and gloom. Far from it. Throughout both the COVID-19 pandemic and the April floods response, we have witnessed a remarkable level of solidarity and compassion – starting at the community-level, all the way up to the Government and the friends of Timor-Leste, many of you are here today. Amidst global vaccine inequality, Timor-Leste received – and continue to receive – COVID-19 vaccines. Under the strong leadership of the Government, with support from the partners including the UN, vaccine coverage in Timor-Leste is increasing daily. As at 19th October, nearly 70% of the eligible population received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination, providing them a degree of protection from the virus. This is something that Timor-Leste and its friends can – and should – be proud of.
Maibé ha’u lakohi atu hanoin katak buat hotu la iha no nakukun. Dook husi ne’e. Durante pandemia Covid-19 no mós iha fulan-Abril resposta inundasaun nian, Ita haree ona nivel Solidariedade no kompaixaun ne’ebé boot tebes – hahú husi nivel komunidade nian, to’o ba Governu no belun sira Timor-Leste nian, barak mak hola parte iha eventu ohin loron. Dezigualdade globál, Timor-Leste simu ona – no kontinua simu vasina Covid-19. Iha lideransa Governu ne’ebé forte, ho apoiu husi parseiru sira inklui ONU, kobertura vasina iha Timor-Leste aumenta daudaun loron-loron. To’o iha loron 19 fulan-outubru, besik 70% husi populasaun sira ne’ebé elejivel simu ona sira-nia doze dahuluk vasinasaun Covid-19 nian, hodi fornese ba sira grau protesaun ida husi virus ne’e. Ida ne’e buat ida-ne’ebé Timor-Leste no nia kolega sira bele – no tenke – orgullu ba.
Similarly, during the floods response, the first respondents were the neighbours and local communities helping each other. The Government, all sectors of society, national and international partners came together to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance.
Nune’e mós, durante resposta inundasaun (bee-sae), respondente dahuluk mak viziñu no komunidade lokál ne’ebé ajuda malu. Governu, setór sosiedade hotu-hotu, parseiru Nasionál no internasionál sira hamutuk hodi fornese asisténsia umanitária salva-moris.
As I look to the coming year, the word that comes into my mind is: action. First, of course, is climate action, and this involves a set of actions (and changes in our lifestyles) that all of us will need to take, urgently and consistently – every single day. As the Timor-Leste delegation sets out to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), the United Nations stands firm to continue to support the Government and people of Timor-Leste to take concrete actions on climate change adaptation and disaster risk management.
Bainhira ha’u hateke ba tinan tuirmai, liafuan ne’ebé ha’u hanoin mak tuirmai ne’e: halo buat ruma. Primeiru, ita hotu presiza haka’as an atu moris ho urjente no iha nafatin moris loroloron nian, no ida-ne’e envolve hahalok (no mudansa iha ita-nia moris). Hanesan delegasaun Timor-Leste nian hatuur ona iha konferénsia Nasoins Unidas ba mudansa klimátika tinan 2021 (COP26), firme Nasoins Unidas nian atu kontinua fó apoiu ba Governu no povu Timor-Leste atu foti asaun konkreta sira kona-ba adaptasaun mudansa klimátika no jestaun risku dezastre nian.
Second are a set of actions related to countering the increase in inequalities and ensuring that the COVID-19 recovery is inclusive, with active participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, to harness the full potential of every person everywhere.
Segundu, nu’udar asaun lubuk ida-ne’ebé relasiona ho kontra aumentu dezigualdade sira no asegura katak rekuperasaun Covid-19 ne’e inkluzivu, ho partisipasaun ativu husi feto, Juventude, ema ho defisiénsia no grupu vulneravel sira seluk, atu harika ema ida-idak nia potensialidade tomak.
Third are a set of actions related to ending violence against women and girls. Globally, including in Timor-Leste, violence against women and girls was a pandemic even before COVID-19. Emerging global data and global reports have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified during COVID-19. In a month’s time, we will be marking the annual 16 days of activism. But I’d like to say today: it’s not just 16 days. We need to act to end violence against women and girls every single day, for 365 days, until no woman, no girl feels threatened or unsafe.
Terseiru nu’udar asaun lubuk ida relasiona ho hapara violénsia kontra feto no labarik-feto sira. Globalmente, inklui iha Timor-Leste, violénsia kontra feto no labarik-feto sira mós pandemia ida molok Covid-19. Dadus globál no relatóriu globál emerjente hatudu ona katak tipu violénsia hotu-hotu hasoru feto no labarik-feto sira, liuliu violénsia doméstika, intensifika ona durante Covid-19. Iha fulan ida nia laran, ita sei marka loron 16 ativizmu anuál. Maibé ha’u gosta atu dehan ohin: laos de’it loron 16. Ita tenke atua hodi hapara violénsia hasoru feto no labarik-feto kada loron-loron, durante loron 365, to’o la iha feto ida mak sente ameasa ka la seguru.
These are only three areas of actions that we need to focus on. We need to change gear, to accelerate our collective efforts in all these areas. It is not easy. But the solidarity and the sense of shared responsibility we have witnessed this year gives me some reasons to be optimistic for a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.
Ida ne’e área tolu de’it husi asaun ne’ebé ita presiza foka ba. Ita presiza muda gear, atu aselera ita-nia esforsu koletiva iha área sira-ne’e hotu. Ne’e la fasil. Maibé Solidaridade no sentidu fahe responsabilidade ne’ebé ami haklaken ona iha tinan ida-ne’e fó razaun balu atu optimistiku ba futuru ida-ne’ebé pasifika no prosperu liutan ba ema hotu.
The 2030 Agenda’s promise of ‘Leaving No One Behind, For People and For Planet’ must guide us in making difficult policy choices and taking bold decisions and actions based on the spirit of global solidarity and shared responsibility. We must work to advance public goods and take decisive climate actions. We must also focus on greener/bluer economic recovery, resilience, social services, and social protection systems.
Ajenda 2030 promesa atu husik hela laiha ema ida iha kotuk, ba ema no ba planeta tenke orienta ita hodi halo desizaun polítika ne’ebé difisil no foti desizaun no asaun ne’ebé forte bazeia ba espíritu Solidariedade globál no responsabilidade ne’ebé fahe. Ita tenke servisu atu avansa sasán públiku no foti asaun desizivu ba klima. Ita mós tenke foka liu ba rekuperasaun ekonómika Matak, reziliensia, servisu sosiál, no sistema protesaun sosiál.
I have always said that challenges can make or break nations. Timor-Leste is a challenge-hardened nation. In the era of COVID-19 and emerging climate emergencies, this is an opportune time for us to renew our collective commitment to the vision of tolerance, universal human rights, peaceful co-existence, and promotion of inclusive socio-economic growth, as set out in the UN Charter.
Ha’u sempre dehan katak dezafiu sira bele halo ka sobu nasaun sira. Timor-Leste nu’udar nasaun ida-ne’ebé hasoru dezafiu. Iha era Covid-19 no emerjénsia klimátika ne’ebé mosu daudaun, ida-ne’e hanesan tempu di’ak ida atu hafoun fali ita-nia kompromisu koletiva ba vizaun toleránsia, direitu umanu universál, ko-ezistensia pasifika no promosaun kreximentu sosio-ekonomiku inkluzivu, hanesan define ona iha karta Nasoins Unidas nian.
I firmly believe this is what the United Nations is all about. Today, on the occasion of the 76th anniversary, I ask everyone to join hands and to re-assure the people and Government of Timor-Leste, that the United Nations not only stands with you, but also that the United Nations belongs to you.
Ha’u fiar metin katak ida-ne’e mak buat ne’ebé Nasoins Unidas nian. Ohin, iha aniversáriu ba dala 76, ha’u husu ba ema hotu atu kaer liman hamutuk no hamutuk ho povu no Governu Timor-Leste, katak Nasoins Unidas laos de’it hamriik ho imi, maibé mós Nasoins Unidas mak imi-nian.
Obrigado barak and thank you all!
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