Before the 78th UN General Assembly gathering on Monday, Justin Trudeau shifted the subject of his talks with world leaders to the ongoing issues in Haiti.
On Monday morning, the prime minister spoke at a high-level gathering for a UN advisory committee in Haiti after meeting with the interim prime minister of the Caribbean, Garry Conille.
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Early this year, Conille took over as prime minister following the forced resignation of Ariel Henry due to escalating unrest and violence committed by criminal gangs that had taken over a large portion of Haiti’s capital.
During their conversation, Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s continued support for Haiti and talked about the “slow but real progress that is being made” there. Conille stated that elections are being planned for the nation, possibly in the year 2026.
Later in the morning, during a high-level advisory group meeting for Haiti, Trudeau informed other world leaders that “we must come together” with a real strategy to prioritize addressing the country’s humanitarian needs and securing support for a political transition.
The status quo cannot last, he said, and he urged the international community to help the transitional administration.
Trudeau reiterated his requests, voiced over the past two years, for other nations to impose sanctions on Haiti’s political and corporate leaders, who have assisted gangs in sowing chaos.
He said that to spearhead a global campaign to destroy the gangs, Kenyan police officers need further assistance. The UN says that Kenya oversees an international operation in Haiti that has generated controversy but is required to put an end to bloodshed and reduce the flow of weapons to other Caribbean nations.
Canada has a significant stake in the way the current political, security, and humanitarian challenges are resolved. According to a UN assessment from June, the Caribbean nation has seen over 580,000 displaced persons since March because of gang activities.
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a working luncheon for the prime minister, who also had a meeting with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
After arriving in New York on Sunday, Trudeau will have a very different kind of conversation when he makes his guest appearance on CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” At the Summit of the Future, he told leaders they had two options: either they would rather put their heads in the sand or work together to address global challenges.
The purpose of the summit is to restructure the UN, revitalize multilateralism, and address emerging issues at a time when the international organization has been mainly relegated to failing humanitarian endeavors, like those started in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Gaza War, and the civil war in Sudan.
Trudeau urged world leaders to accept the “Pact of the Future,” a 42-page plan outlining strategies for tackling several global issues of the twenty-first century.
At the start of the two-day meeting, the UN General Assembly gave it their approval. Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, commended statesmen and diplomats for opening “the door” to a brighter future.
Significant opposition to the agreement has been shown by Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other nations that disagree with sections of the text on topics including climate change and the reform of international financial institutions.
Up until the very last minute, its destiny remained uncertain, but according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres had three speeches ready to go for any situation.
The week before last, Guterres issued a warning: “International challenges are moving faster than our ability to solve them.” At a time when the assembly has been clouded by growing geopolitical turmoil worldwide, the pact’s passage provided some hope.
On September 24, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to speak before a special session of the UN Security Council over Russia’s continuous assault. Russia, which holds a permanent membership in the Security Council, has come under heavy fire for violating the UN Charter by acting aggressively in Ukraine.
Following Trudeau’s arrival in New York, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly will provide Canada’s national statement to the UN General Assembly. According to a news release from her office, the address would highlight “Canada’s commitment to promoting multilateral cooperation, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.”
Joly noted in a recent statement, “In the face of multiple global crises, the world needs a strong, effective, and modern UN.”
“Through constructive dialogue, shared learning, and collective problem-solving at this year’s (UN General Assembly), I am confident that we can effectively work together to address some of the most critical issues of our time.”
Joly will further participate on a panel alongside delegates from Estonia and the Ukraine according to the statement, “that will underscore the urgent need to restore the rights of children worldwide and enhance child protection, including addressing the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.” In addition to attending other events, she will co-host a panel discussion about media freedom.
