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ms. Tatiana valovaya

United Nations Under-Secretary General
Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

eighty years young: A Future

Forged in multilateralism

This year marks a historic milestone: the 80th bold reform agenda launched by the Secretary-
anniversary of the United Nations. As Secretary- General in March 2025 to make the UN more
General António Guterres has repeatedly agile, inclusive, and fit for purpose in a rapidly
emphasized, this anniversary is not only a evolving global landscape.
moment of reflection — it is a call to action.
The UN turns 80 with renewed urgency and Before looking ahead, it is worth reflecting on
purpose. The world today faces increasingly what the United Nations has already achieved.
complex and interconnected challenges — from
climate change and technological disruption to From 51 founding members in 1945 to 193
widening inequality and protracted conflict. Yet Member States today, the UN has been a catalyst for
we have never had a greater opportunity to shape independence and self-determination — facilitating
a more just and sustainable future for all. This is the decolonization of more than 80 former colonies
the driving spirit behind the UN80 Initiative, a across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.

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