Director-General/Executive Director
Honourable Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta,
Ambassadors,
Dear colleagues,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am honoured to join you today to celebrate 30 years of the Sovereign Order of Malta’s partnership with the United Nations.
The Sovereign Order is truly an institution unlike any other, with a remarkable legacy that dates back over 950 years, and a true voice of peace.
It is a legacy defined by compassion, resilience, and commitment to those who are too often left behind in society: the sick, the poor, refugees, women, children, and marginalized communities.
As an organization founded on faith, the Sovereign Order brings a unique perspective to the table – one that is rooted in moral clarity and service to others.
Its neutrality and impartiality enable it to build bridges between different cultures, to overcome political divisions, and to operate in places and communities that others often cannot reach.
And today, the Sovereign Order is active in over 120 countries, making a tangible difference in some of the most volatile and challenging environments around the world.
It is delivering life-saving aid in Gaza and Lebanon, supporting refugees fleeing violence in Ukraine, assisting migrants on dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean, and providing relief to millions affected by natural disasters every year.
These are just some examples of the Sovereign Order’s impact, but they serve as powerful reminders that hope and humanity can prevail even in the darkest of times, and hope is indeed something we desperately need today.
Excellencies,
The Sovereign Order’s mission to alleviate human suffering, advance social justice, and build a more peaceful world is closely aligned with the goals and principles of the United Nations.
And for 15 of those 30 years of collaboration with the UN, the Order been present here in Vienna, and I’m pleased to see the other Vienna-based Organizations also represented today, reinforcing the spirit of partnership that unites us all.
At UNODC, we are very grateful for the Sovereign Order’s longstanding support to our mission.
Together, we have worked to protect and empower vulnerable populations, especially women, youth, and people on the move.
An important example of this collaboration has been the Sovereign Order’s support for UNODC’s Youth Forum and youth projects.
This initiative provides young leaders with a platform to develop innovative ideas and solutions to address the world drug problem.
We are keen to build on this success and to expand our collaboration through other UNODC programmes, such as our Friends in Focus project and our CHAMPS initiative on drug use prevention among children, which I was proud to launch earlier this year.
These initiatives aim to unite young people, promote peer-to-peer learning, and raise awareness about the harms of drug use, while empowering the next generation to lead healthier lives.
And the joint statement we signed earlier today lays a strong foundation for future cooperation and promoting education for young people.
We have also worked side by side to raise awareness about the risks of human trafficking for those fleeing conflict and to help survivors rebuild their lives.
For example, with the Sovereign Order’s support, we have been able to identify the protection needs of refugees and displaced persons in places like Lebanon and Jordan, ensuring that those at risk of exploitation are not forgotten.
And the Sovereign Order’s work supporting migrants in the Mediterranean provides another area where our organizations can join forces to amplify our collective strengths and help prevent further loss of life at sea.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we celebrate and reflect on the past 30 years, I am optimistic for what lies ahead.
There is much that we can achieve together, and I truly believe that our partnership has the potential to make an even greater impact in the years to come.
Let us have faith in ourselves, in each other, and in our multilateral system, which remains the strongest platform we have for addressing global challenges and creating a more just and peaceful world.
Thank you once again for your dedication and for the hope you bring to a world in need.
