In her address to the plenary of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, she called for facilitating concessional lending opportunities for highly indebted small island states. The application of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index is something we urgently need to address the unfortunate issue of graduating this group solely on the basis of per capita income, she said.

She also urged during her speech that multilateralism be strengthened to address the challenges facing humanity.

“A robust, strong, inclusive multilateral system with the United Nations at its core remains the most effective way to build international cooperation for a sustainable future,” she said.

In relation to the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda, she remarked that efforts must be directed to fully achieve these goals and to fully comply with the targets set with a comprehensive approach to the whole of society.

“We recognize the cross-cutting nature of these goals that must drive the efforts needed to transform our planet, improve shared prosperity and meet the needs of citizens,” she said.

However, she clarified, the goals will not be achieved until the chapter of slavery and its legacy in planetary history is definitively closed.

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