UN Secretary-General, commends PNG’s resilience and celebrates 50 years of Independence

In a historic first, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited Papua New Guinea this week, expressing his admiration for the country’s resilience and commitment to inclusive development as it marks fifty years of independence.

In a speech , Guterres praised Papua New Guinea for buliding its diverse cultures into a unified nation, emphasizing that such unity and dialogue are vital amid the current global turbulence, including conflicts, climate change, and economic inequality.

“Papua New Guinea has felt the pain of these challenges but also provides a model for solutions,” Guterres said.

He highlighted the Bougainville Peace Agreement, now 24 years in place, as a testament to what perseverance and mutual respect can achieve.

The UN has supported Bougainville through weapons disposal and the 2019 referendum and will continue to assist as the region prepares for its upcoming autonomous elections.

The Secretary-General also commended Papua New Guinea’s recent adoption of the National Prevention Strategy on violence, which aims to ensure safety and dignity for all citizens, regardless of tribe or gender.

He stressed the importance of empowering young people and supporting women, particularly through increased participation in leadership and efforts to combat violence against women and girls.

Guterres highlighted the country’s pioneering role in climate justice, noting that Papua New Guinea absorbs CO₂ but is among the most affected by climate change impacts such as rising sea levels.

He called for urgent action at upcoming global climate talks, urging developed nations to honor commitments on climate finance and for the G20 to take responsibility for reducing emissions.

The UN chief also emphasized the importance of reforming international financial institutions to better serve developing countries like Papua New Guinea.

He advocated for debt relief, increased lending capacity, and mobilization of private sector investments to promote sustainable development.

Guterres congratulated Papua New Guinea on its fifty years of independence and expressed the UN’s ongoing solidarity and support.

 “The United Nations stands with you now and in the future,” he affirmed.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}