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international

Your tenure occurs during highly unusual under stress, so I know I can work under “It was and still is a very unusual
– even surreal – times such as have never stress, and I’m really prepared to do so. In the
been experienced at the United Nations, life of my generation, quite a few situations experience, but we understand
nor in the world. How has this affected your were challenging in my country. You had to that even under these exceptional
aspirations? take many relevant different decisions at the
Well, of course, it has affected them because same time. circumstances, we know that life
it is a new challenge that is added to our can go on. We can always find a
work. Really, we had to work very hard just It was very good that I started my job here in
to prepare the Palais for reopening: 164,000 August 2019, more than half a year before the solution and always carry out our
square meters had to be prepared for the pandemic. I started working with my team, mandate.”
safe return of staff, delegates and conference learning about their capacities. When we
participants. We had to think about lots of were obliged to turn to virtual work, it was
things. From the very beginning, we identified much easier for me to lead my team. It was
the need to impose a distance of two meters in and still is a very unusual experience, but we anniversary of the United Nations, because
the conference rooms, thought through how understand that even under these exceptional ordinary citizens were asked: what is the
people should walk along the corridors, along circumstances, we know that life can go on. future you want, and what is the role of the
the staircases. It was altogether an unusual We can always find a solution and always United Nations in this future? The majority of
experience. We also had to have a common carry out our mandate. the people taking part in the survey, practically
response of the whole international Geneva in 90 percent, wanted more multilateralism and
the interaction with our host country. Today, looking back, people are often more United Nations.
comparing the current situation with that of
woman. It really shows how important gender At the same time, it was immediately the “Spanish flu”. But in a sense, there were For us, it is very important to have this
parity is to the United Nations as an organization, recognized that our agenda was more relevant very promising aspects to those times – WWI, support of the population. At the same
how important it is to the Secretary-General. than ever. We went on with all the issues “the war to end all wars”, was over and, what time, we understand that we need to build
I think it’s important that at the top level in that were on the agenda, for example the was more important, the League of Nations better multilateralism, more inclusive, more
the organization, we now have gender parity. 75th anniversary of the United Nations, one was being set up. So, actually, the previous integrated. That is what the citizens around the
At the level of under-secretaries-general and of the key priorities for last year. We were pandemic coincided with the birth of the world want. So, I am pretty optimistic in this
heads of departments, we really are a balanced very pleased and happy that we managed to League. Do you see today the germs of any regard, and I hope the result of this pandemic
organisation. implement all the ideas we had been discussing positive developments, any promising trends? will be a realisation that we live on the same
with my team at the end of 2019. We were able And if so, could you elaborate? planet, where we are all very interconnected.
I do not consider myself as a role model. When to carry out absolutely all of them, even if in I like history and it is necessary to know All the challenges we are facing are global
I was a young girl, we did have some female role a different, virtual format. For example, we history well, and to learn its lessons. For challenges, and if you have global challenges
models. These days it’s really the mainstream. had been discussing that we wanted to have me, it’s absolutely obvious that each time you have to have global solutions. To find
We take it for granted that women should be a conference on the future of multilateralism humanity confronts a global challenge as a a global solution, you need a multilateral
at the head of international organizations. I and a dialogue with young people. We had result of catastrophe or tragedy, there is a system.
think the ideal for young generations is not an three dialogues, in April, in June and then determination to address it in a more unified
individual female as role model, but the fact in October. We had fantastic participation, way. Regarding diplomacy after the pandemic,
that we are equal, we are professionals, we can and not only by people in Geneva, but from what is your vision? Is “online” diplomacy
lead international organisations. This is going many countries. We managed to carry out all History shows that after World War I, the here to stay? What about the importance of
to stay. This is the generation of equality. our plans, albeit in a different manner; but League of Nations was born. After World “person to person” contacts, not just in the
our aspirations remained intact. We worked War II, the United Nations was born precisely conference room, but in the corridors, outside
Do you think it is important to have a woman together in a unified manner to move forward to avoid a repetition of the tragedy that was the meetings?
at the head of an international organization, the agenda of the United Nations. the Second World War. This pandemic is not I think all of us are looking forward to in-
country etc.? only a health issue, it’s an economic and social person meetings. One of the lessons from the
Of course, it’s important! I really hope that my Today, we are learning to live with the virus, issue, really creating global challenges. I pandemic is that we really need such meetings.
generation will see the day when it will not even to “dance” with the virus, having events believe that it will generate a renewed interest Although virtual and hybrid tools are proving
make news in the newspapers that this or that at the Palais, continuing the renovation work, in reinvigorating and further building the necessary now to go on with the cooperation,
organization has finally had a woman named and even finishing a construction project. multilateral system. we really need meetings in-person. When
at its head. We should really take it for granted, What kind of experience is this turning out you meet a person you can build confidence,
as something normal. We should really reach to be for you, and how are you managing to When I say this, it is not only the lesson you can build trust. Even if you do not always
a stage where it’s normal, nothing exceptional. carry on your work? from history, it is also the result of the global share each other’s views, you trust the other as
Women make up half of humanity! My previous experience was one of working conversation we had last year about the 75th a person, you can see her or his integrity.

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