Director-General/Executive Director
Distinguished guests,
Dear trainees,
I’m delighted to welcome you all to the Vienna International Centre today as you embark on your diplomatic careers.
Allow me to start by thanking our host country, Austria, and Ambassador Bertagnoli for organizing this joint initiative, which we are keen to turn into a useful and regular tradition.
We created this training to offer young diplomats such as yourselves the chance to learn more about our work, about the UN, and to better prepare you for the multilateral challenges that you will face in your careers.
Because as the world evolves, so too does the practice of diplomacy. A diplomat 100 years ago faced different challenges, and today you will face many more.
And we are particularly fortunate that today’s session is taking place at a unique and symbolic time, both for the United Nations and Austria.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the VIC, and just a few days ago, we celebrated UN Day and Austria’s National Day.
These occasions underscore the strong bond between the UN and Austria, and remind us of Austria’s true commitment to multilateralism and its rich diplomatic heritage that stretches back decades. A heritage you must be proud of.
From the historic Congress of Vienna in 1815, to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which entered into force 60 years ago, to the establishment of the UN Office at Vienna in 1980 as one of the four UN headquarters alongside Geneva, Nairobi and New York.
These milestones have helped shape the international order that we know today and cemented Vienna’s position as a global hub for diplomacy.
And as you step into this tradition, you are entering a world that is much more complex and more interconnected than ever, but also more divided than ever.
The global landscape is shifting rapidly, and trust in multilateralism is also being tested and challenged.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of our international system, climate change threatens the future of our planet, and new technologies are reshaping the world at warp speed.
Meanwhile, new conflicts and crises are destabilizing the international order. From Ukraine, to Gaza, Lebanon, Haiti, Sudan, and beyond. Everywhere you turn, you see a crisis.
And it is the most vulnerable, particularly women and children, who are increasingly caught in the crossfire, with the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubling in 2023, according to UN Women.
All this has led to questions about whether the UN can weather the storm and meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The UN Security Council, as the political forum for matters of war and peace, has become shackled by outdated structures, geopolitical divides, and paralyzing vetoes.
Our Peacekeeping Missions, with over 68,000 peacekeepers dedicated to building and keeping the peace, are increasingly under fire as they seek to protect the vulnerable and face many challenges on the ground.
And the Sustainable Development Goals, our targets for reducing poverty, ending hunger, and protecting people and the planet, have fallen dangerously out of reach.
Yet, while the UN is only as strong as its Member States allow it to be, this is only one side of the coin.
The other side is one of hope, resilience, and perseverance.
And today, I believe the UN can persevere and is in fact needed more than ever.
Its convening power makes it the only forum where all countries from around the world – from the Global North and South, rich and poor – can come together to express their views, negotiate, and find a path forward.
Just last month in New York, the UN Secretary-General convened the Summit of the Future, to call for a path towards stronger multilateralism.
Member States responded by adopting the Pact for the Future, providing a blueprint to reinvigorate the multilateral system.
And the UN is on the ground around the world, delivering humanitarian aid, feeding the hungry, and driving development efforts. In each and every crisis, you will see the UN delivering.
When COVID struck, the UN helped deliver over 1 billion vaccine doses to 144 countries, especially in poorer regions with limited access.
When food prices soared after war returned to Europe, the UN helped facilitate the export of more than 18 million metric tons of grains and foodstuff through the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which UNODC was proud to support with our inspectors.
When the world called for action against climate change, the UN helped establish the loss and damage fund to fill the gap in climate financing.
And when the world loses its way, the General Assembly helps guide our moral compass back to the UN Charter and the values it embodies.
When we are called to action, the UN is there to act.
Here in Vienna, we are doing our part.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which I am very proud to lead, supports countries in tackling organized crime, drugs, corruption, and terrorism.
By addressing these destabilizing forces, we help strengthen the foundations of peace, security, and development, by making societies more resilient.
We train law enforcement personnel, judges, and forensic experts.
We provide leading research and data to inform policy-making.
And we act as the Secretariat of key intergovernmental processes and normative instruments.
Two weeks ago, for example, we concluded our Conference of Parties of the UN Convention against Organized Crime, during which we launched a one-month campaign to mark the first-ever International Day against Transnational Organized Crime on 15 November.
Earlier this year, we held a high-level session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, where Member States pledged to step up their efforts to address the world drug problem.
And in 2023, together with the President of Austria, we marked the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention against Corruption, the world’s only legally binding anti-corruption instrument, which was negotiated here in Vienna.
But the impact of these agreements and conventions echoes far beyond the walls of these conference rooms.
They go on to guide our work in the field, where we turn commitments into action through our operations in 150 countries and territories.
As many of you will find out, the field is where you can have the greatest impact, where your efforts will directly affect communities, and where individual voices and actions can make a real difference.
That is why, as we look to the future, your voices will be essential in shaping the work we do and the future of multilateralism itself.
And we need to listen to all voices, especially those of women and youth.
In that regard, I’m very encouraged to see so many female diplomats with us today, representing more than two thirds of this group.
Women bring essential perspectives that ensure policies are more inclusive, resilient, and effective.
According to a recent analysis by UN Women, it is estimated that peace agreements are 35 per cent more likely to last at least 15 years when women are involved in negotiations.
This shows that to achieve lasting, sustainable solutions, we need women in every diplomatic delegation, in every negotiation room, and in every leadership position.
And I’m proud that we have achieved gender parity overall at UNOV and UNODC, although there is still work to be done to achieve parity at each and every level.
But we recently witnessed an inspiring example of women’s leadership in action two months ago, when Ambassador Faouzia Mebarki, an Algerian diplomat, guided the negotiations of a new cybercrime treaty.
She used her own experience as a former Ambassador here in Vienna to navigate the complex negotiations to consensus.
Her leadership sets a powerful example for other women in diplomacy.
And it reminds us of the enduring spirit of constructive dialogue, compromise, and consensus that is so unique to Vienna – which is why we often refer to it as the Vienna spirit.
This spirit of collaboration enables countries to come together and unite around common goals.
Whether it’s ensuring the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and outer space, driving industrial development, or monitoring nuclear testing worldwide.
The work of the VIC and its specialized agencies truly embodies this spirit.
And with a workforce of over 5,000 staff from 150 countries, and more than 120 embassies, the UN presence here has elevated Vienna’s profile and contributed to the local economy in meaningful ways.
A recent study estimated that the diplomatic community adds a staggering 1.7 billion euros annually to Austria’s economy, 4.5% more compared to 2019.
In 2023, the UN spent over 300 million euros on local procurement, purchasing goods and services from Austrian companies and supporting local businesses.
And beyond the economic benefits, we enrich Vienna’s cultural diversity, while providing young Austrians with unique opportunities to network, engage on global issues, and develop a broader outlook.
Dear friends,
A career in diplomacy is one of the most rewarding ways to make a difference in the world and leave a lasting impact.
It is about more than just negotiating treaties or agreements; it is about building bridges, overcoming obstacles, and improving the lives of those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
As Nelson Mandela once said, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
Whether you are based in Vienna or other cities around the world, I’m confident you will make a lasting impact in people’s lives.
Thank you, and I wish you all a very successful career.
