H.E. Yeşim Oruç, United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Guyana, will end her assignment on 9th August 2024, after serving in this position since August 2021.During her tenure, Ms. Oruç has sought to lead the United Nations system to support the government and people of Guyana to ensure that no-one, regardless of their circumstances, status or identity, is left behind from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ms. Oruç has coordinated the UN System’s support to national authorities in key areas, including gender equality and women’s empowerment, social protection, food systems transformation, labor, employment, and migration. These initiatives were facilitated by strengthened partnerships with development partners, the private sector, non-governmental organisations, academia, civil society, youth, the media, among others.Ms. Oruç has worked to align the UN’s programmatic portfolio in Guyana in support of national development priorities for achieving the SDGs. In so doing, she put inclusivity at the center of the UN’s work. This has resulted in a renewed focus on the situation of women and girls, young people, persons living with disabilities, Guyana’s indigenous peoples, persons living with HIV/AIDS, migrant populations, and other vulnerable groups living in Guyana.“It has been the privilege of my life to serve in a country where a dynamic commitment to global goals is embodied in the national Low Carbon Development Strategy, backed by successive SDG-enabling national budgets. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity to have accompanied this remarkable country on its amazing journey towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. I am also fortunate to have worked with some incredible people who are committed to helping Guyana to honour its human rights commitments. In recent months, it has been inspiring to witness Guyana take up its place on the UN Security Council, where today it is striving to ensure that topics like food security and climate security are placed right at the very top of the global agenda,” said Oruc.Ms. Oruç’s successor will be announced in another release.

Climate change is “the defining issue of our time,” said Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN, emphasizing Guyana’s intent to advance the notion of climate change as a threat to global peace and security at September’s Summit of the Future negotiations.The Ambassador, whose country is currently serving a two-year term on the UN Security Council [2024–2025], was participating in UN Guyana’s town hall-style ‘Summit of the Future Dialogue’ where she urged the embrace of an “expansive model” to the concept of peace and security, encompassing factors from climate change to development, human rights and gender equality.The Summit takes place against the backdrop of increasing global challenges including deepening geopolitical divisions and conflict. "It’s all about making sure the international global multilateral system is able to weather the challenges we're facing... from artificial intelligence to climate change to human rights...," said Yeşim Oruç UN Resident Coordinator to Guyana and event moderator. She highlighted the need to emerge from the Summit with a reinvigorated United Nations system that will be "fit for purpose" in today's world. Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett said the aim of world leaders gathering for the Summit, in September at UN Headquarters in New York, is to mend mistrust and enhance effective global cooperation. Guyana, she said, will prioritize climate security, food security and energy security in the negotiation process. The agenda of the Summit will be spread across five thematic chapters and the outcome of the negotiations will be reflected by the outcome document called the Pact for the Future.Chapter I: Sustainable Development and Financing for DevelopmentAmbassador Rodrigues-Birkett said the Summit was urgently needed to “turbocharge" implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — the UN's blueprint for securing the well-being and prosperity of everyone on Earth by the year 2030. The 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report shows, however, that only a mere 17% of the targets are currently on track as the deadline draws closer.To correct course, she said that development finance and climate finance needs to be unlocked for the developing world."Many countries have not been able to make progress in SDG implementation because of financing and we believe that the developed countries should shoulder their historic responsibilities and fulfill their commitments."One example she raised is the Paris Agreement, which called for the mobilization of USD $100 billion per year for developing countries by 2020 — an unkept promise."There's no shortage of commitments really on climate but we're not seeing them implemented," she stressed. The Ambassador highlighted data showing that 280 million people are food insecure globally and said Guyana would be advocating for global agrifood systems transformation at the Summit.She expressed hope that the Pact for the Future, could carry the world, "further than where we are right now," on achieving the SDGs.Chapter II: International Peace and Security“The Security Council is the most undemocratic organ of the United Nations,” said Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett, urging the abolition of the veto, which allows any one of the five permanent members of the Council to unilaterally block decisions receiving majority support.She said that Guyana would advocate, through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), for the creation of a rotating permanent seat on the Council for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and also emphasized the historical injustice of Africa not having a permanent seat on the Security Council. On the likelihood of these reforms being achieved at the Summit, the Ambassador cautioned about the difficulty.“I'm not seeing the end of this road on reform very close, but we have to continue to speak on it.” With Guyana serving as one of the ten non-permanent members elected to the Council for a two-year term, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana chaired a high-level open debate at the Council on climate change and food insecurity during Guyana’s Presidency in February.Highlighting this event, Rodrigues-Birkett said Guyana would continue to advance its position linking climate change and food security to global peace and security at Summit negotiations and beyond.Chapter III. Science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation“AI, I think it's a force for good and it's a force for bad,” said Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett, supporting the Summit's call to regulate Artificial Intelligence. Rodrigues-Birkett pointed out, however, that the current conversation surrounding AI is not accessible for all countries. “For many small developing countries, it’s not even an issue fully understood,” she said. She added that these countries must build their capacity to contribute to the AI discussion and protect their interests.The Ambassador pointed to the anticipated Global Digital Compact outcome document at the Summit of the Future as essential to bridging digital divides. As an annex to the Pact for the Future, the document will serve as a framework for digital governance centered on collective principles and priorities, aiming to better manage the risks associated with digital advancements while leveraging their benefits for all rather than just few.Chapter IV: Youth and Future GenerationsAmbassador Rodrigues-Birkett said an objective of the Summit is to "embed young people at the heart of decision making." She emphasized that youth would have a voice at the Summit of the Future discussions where a "Declaration on Future Generations" is being developed as an annex to the Pact for the Future. This declaration aims to ensure that data, foresight, and science are used to assess the impact of today’s actions for the ten billion people yet to be born in this century.She explained that the new United Nations Youth Office is playing a central role in the Summit's engagement with youth. "We know what the issues are in terms of what young people are calling for from the discussion that we've had with youth in the process of establishing the office," she shared, having co-facilitated the intergovernmental process for the establishment of the Youth Office.Chapter V: Transforming Global GovernanceAmbassador Rodrigues-Birkett said that Guyana is advocating for reform of the international financial architecture address the development challenges faced by SIDS and other vulnerable regions. "Because you're classified as a middle-income country you have to borrow at very high interest rates and some countries that might be at your same level, in terms of GDP per capita, can borrow at a less cost than you,” she said, calling the system, “unfair.”She, however, praised the UN’s recent adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), a comprehensive measure of economic vulnerability, and called for international financial institutions to integrate these measures into their lending practices.The Ambassador emphasized the need to create an emergency platform that would facilitate access to concessional finance for SIDS that are vulnerable to external shocks."COVID came and we also see hurricanes come and go, we see floods come and go and the UN does not have an emergency platform to deal with these."She pointed to Hurricane Beryl's impact on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada as the most recent example.The multi-stakeholder Summit of the Future dialogue saw the participation of development partners, youth, civil society, women’s groups, national commissions, academia, the media, among others.  View more photographs from this event here.This story was first published on the UN Caribbean website with editorial support provided by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana.

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and the United Nations in Guyana launched a national ‘Countering Hate Speech’ campaign in observance of the International Day to Counter Hate Speech. The campaign will feature the dissemination of public service announcements, social media message and workshops with various stakeholders including youth, influencers, and disc jockeys. Delivering remarks at the event, UN Resident Coordinator Yeşim Oruç said, “Hate speech is a marker, an early warning sign of discrimination, abuse, violence, conflict, and even of crimes against humanity.” She noted that in 2019 Secretary-General António Guterres launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, which highlights the UN’s ongoing commitment to promote peaceful, inclusive and just societies. She said “addressing hate speech does not mean limiting or prohibiting freedom of speech. Nipping hate speech at the bud is as much about education and positive messaging intended to keep hate speech from escalating into something more dangerous that is prohibited under criminal law. #NoToHate campaigns and the work that the ERC is embarking on today is precisely about that.” Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Hon. Gail Teixeira, highlighted the need for familial involvement in public education efforts against hate speech. She said, “to build a society rooted in respect and tolerance, we must start with teaching values that celebrate diversity as something good and exciting.”Chief Executive Officer of ERC, Gomin Camacho stated that the "campaign aims to educate and inform individuals to be more aware that certain words and statements carry negative connotations, which hurt, disrespect, and in some cases lead to violence.” In attendance at the launch were representatives from the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and development partners.The campaign will be supported by OHCHR, UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM, UNESCO, and IOM.   

The world must respond to the harms caused by the spread of hate and lies online while vigorously defending human rights, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said at the launch of the United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity, 24 June 2024.One year after launching his report on information integrity on digital platforms, the Secretary-General presented a framework for coordinated international action to make information spaces safer and more humane, one of the most urgent tasks of our time.Misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and other risks to the information ecosystem are fueling conflict, threatening democracy and human rights, and undermining public health and climate action. Their proliferation is now enhanced by the rapid rise of easily accessible Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, increasing the threat to some groups often targeted in information spaces, including children. "The United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity aim to empower people to demand their rights," said the Secretary-General. "At a time when billions of people are exposed to false narratives, distortions, and lies, these principles mark a clear way forward, firmly rooted in human rights, including the right to freedom of expression and opinion." The UN chief urgently called on governments, technology companies, advertisers, and the public relations industry to take responsibility for disseminating and monetizing harmful content.The erosion of information integrity is compromising the UN's missions, operations, and priorities, including vital peacekeeping operations and humanitarian efforts. In a global survey of UN staff, 80% of respondents said that damaging information puts them and the communities they serve at risk.The principles result from extensive consultations with member states, the private sector, youth leaders, media, academia, and civil society. The recommendations in this document are designed to foster healthier and safer information spaces that promote human rights, peaceful societies, and a sustainable future.The 5 Global Principles for a more humane information ecosystem are: What do these principles include?Governments, technology companies, advertisers, media, and other stakeholders should refrain from using, supporting, or amplifying disinformation and hate speech for any purpose.Governments should facilitate timely access to information, ensure a free, viable, independent, and pluralistic media landscape, and ensure robust protection for journalists, researchers, and civil society.Technology companies should ensure security and privacy by design in all their products, along with consistent application of policies and remedies across countries and languages, with particular attention to the needs of groups often targeted online. They must improve their response and take steps to support the integrity of information during elections.All parties involved in developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies must take urgent, immediate, inclusive, and transparent steps to ensure that all AI applications are designed, implemented, and used safely, responsibly, and ethically to respect human rights.Technology companies must develop business models that do not rely on programmatic advertising and that do not prioritize engagement over human rights, privacy, and security. These models must allow users greater choice and control over their online experience and personal data.Advertisers should demand transparency in the technology sector's digital advertising processes to help ensure that advertising budgets do not inadvertently fund disinformation, hate, or undermine human rights.Tech companies and AI developers should ensure meaningful transparency, allow researchers and academics access to data while respecting user privacy, commission publicly available independent audits, and co-develop accountability frameworks for the industry.Governments, technology companies, AI developers, and advertisers should take special measures to protect and empower children, and governments must provide resources to parents, guardians, and educators."Everyone should be able to express themselves freely without fear of attack. Everyone should be able to access diverse opinions and sources of information. No one should be at the mercy of an algorithm that they do not control, that was not designed to safeguard their interests, and that tracks their behavior to collect personal data and keep them hooked," stressed the Secretary-General during the presentation of the Global Principles, placing particular emphasis on the situation of vulnerability in which millions of girls and boys find themselves."The UN listens to your pleas for guidance and support. Do not be discouraged: raise your voice. Demand accountability, demand choice, demand control. You are the majority. And this is a fight we can win together," concluded António Guterres (Read the Secretary-General's entire message).For her part, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communication Melissa Fleming also urgently called on people to respect the integrity of information, especially those who create artificial intelligence."AI creators: make sure you don't make the same mistakes as social network creators. Make sure you are safe by design, make sure you make branded content, and remove content that fails to comply with the principles," he said.Background:The UN Global Principles for Information In "AI creators: make sure you don't make the same mistakes as social network creators. Make sure you are safe by design, make sure you make branded content, and remove content that fails to comply with the principles," he said. integrity arises from a proposal in Our Common Agenda, the Secretary-General's 2021 report outlining a vision for the future of global cooperation and multilateral action. The Principles are a resource for member states ahead of the Summit of the Future to be launched next September.-----The Universal Principles for Information Integrity are available at:https://www.un.org/es/information-integrityView a video presentation of the Universal Principles at: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1c/k1c1nfpy8n