78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Ministerial meeting of the Summit of the Future
Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna
21 September 2023, New York
Mr President,
One year ahead of the Summit of the Future, we are at a critical juncture, faced with complex crises and challenges.
We need to admit that the current multilateral order with its inherent systemic flaws is no longer equipped to guide us forward. We need a reset. We need an ambitious Pact of the Future, a pact that makes us fit for the future.
Mr President,
The criticism towards the UN Security Council has been mounting over time. However, never did the UN Charter foresee a situation where a member of the Security Council, responsible for upholding and protecting international peace and security, attacks its sovereign neighbour and abuses its veto privileges to hold the Council hostage. Addressing those structural shortcomings is essential for reinforcing the positive aspirations of multilateralism.
Estonia has always advocated for a balanced, yet well-functioning Security Council that truly reflects the entire world, while being guided by international law, the UN Charter and the ICC.
Mr President,
Any reset must prioritise a human-centric and inclusive approach, working for the benefit of people, their rights and freedoms. We want to see human rights of all individuals, gender equality, and empowerment of women and girls mainstreamed throughout the Pact for the Future.
In our modern interconnected era, media and internet freedom in particular have proven to be key drivers for positive change. Estonia is committed to protecting human rights online as a founding member of the Freedom Online Coalition and as a current co-chair and a founding member of the Media Freedom Coalition. I am also proud to announce Estonia’s ambition to become the chair of the Freedom Online Coalition in the near future.
Technology and digital solutions present opportunities and responsibilities in equal measure. That is why fundamental rights and freedoms must remain at the core of digital governance, ensuring transparency, accountability, and public trust in these systems. The Global Digital Compact must deliver ambitious proposals to bridge digital divides and jointly achieve the SDGs. To reach universal and meaningful connectivity, we need multi-stakeholder cooperation that relies on our common values and global principles. Sharing experiences and solutions through initiatives like the UN Digital Public Goods Alliance and GovStack can create a more equitable world using digital public goods.
In conclusion, it is clear that in order to reinvigorate multilateralism, we need more ambitious solutions. I am sure that together we can return to building a more just, rights-respecting, and sustainable future for generations to come.
Thank you.