The UN Resident Coordinator's Statement on 21st September, 2021

“Till now, whatever we did mattered little outside, but from today onwards our success and failures will be reflected before the whole world. We have now joined hands with other advanced countries of the world’. His Majesty the Third King.

Salutations

Honorable Prime Minister, Lyonchen Dr. Lotay Tshering, Lyonpos,  Dashos,  ambassadors, members of the international community, UN colleagues. Charos

Opening

Today, we mark a half century of strong partnership in a unique country. We recognize the history of a unique journey undertaken under the wise and dynamic leadership of Their Majesties the Kings- the Third, Fourth and The Fifth Druk Gyalpo.

This  milestone is not only about reviewing the lessons from this partnership, but also the time to think about how we can strengthen the partnership. We are invited to expand our ambition for the people of Bhutan and take real action to support the most vulnerable sections of the society - because only then can we truly ensure we ‘leave no one behind.’

Today, I have three key messages:

1. Yang Drak Pai Drenpa- development with values

2. A UN that is fit for purpose

3. The next 50 years

First Message Yang Drak Pai Drenpa- development with values

Pursuing development with values grounded in Gross National Happiness- this is the foundation of  UN’s partnership with Bhutan. And leaving no one behind is at its  heart.

Yan Drak Pai Drenpa- every development initiative that the UN supports the country with must keep in mind the needs of the people. This is the UN pursing development with values - Yang Drak Pai Drenpa.

The UN supported the very foundations of modern Bhutan, for example through supporting the establishment of the first airline and environmental trust fund to the current day supporting Bhutan’s capacity to mitigate the impacts of climate change and recovery from COVID.

For the 31 UN agencies that work in Bhutan, serving Bhutan is a privilege. The Royal Government’s agenda and priorities are our priorities. The SDGs provide a shared global vision towards sustainable development for all and they under-pin the work of the UN and are so closely aligned to Gross National Happiness.

His Majesty has stated that ‘one of our primary objectives is to be self-reliant.’ The UN believes that self-reliance and partnership forms the very basis of development with values AND THIS includes LDC graduation.

One such partnership, is with the CSO community. Their Majesties’ vision of a compassionate and just society has been made possible, in part, by CSOs.

The global partnership for development is evolving. We wish to further strengthen our listening ability with the 10 ministries, parliamentarians, local authorities, GNHC, environmental organizations, constitutional bodies, dzongkhags, academic institutions, media, private sector and all the other Government entities that the UN is privileged to serve alongside.

Second message: A UN that is fit for purpose

Today's UN must be ready to handle tomorrow's challenges

Recently Lyonchhen wrote in the 12th plan review:

‘For all nations, government and individuals, the pandemic has handed us a reset button with clear pointers on what we much really focus on hereafter. Many such crises will hit mankind. Any nation that cannot press the reset button now will be left behind’.

At this historical juncture point, it is important that the UN remains ever fit for purpose: and the strongest possible partners to the Royal Government – I wish to personally thank the RGOB and particularly MOFA for their support in this area.

As the world faces the challenges of the pandemic, I am deeply moved by how Bhutan has come together in solidarity. His Majesty’s leadership inspires and encourages all Bhutanese to come together to combat COVID. I wish to commend the Royal Government in tirelessly focusing on both the immediate responses to this pandemic and also the longer-term recovery measures.

Speaking last year at the 75th UN General Assembly, Lyonchen said ‘Bhutan remains assured that the UN is and will continue to be instrumental in spearheading global collective action for building a better world.’

Lyonchhen also rightly said that the UN needs to think differently about development and consider new ways of building back better.

The UN must evolve to this changing world. We need to be hitting our own re-set button so as to address the challenges and opportunities our Planet faces. The world of today is very different from what it was when the United Nations was created 76 years ago.

While there are more countries, more people, more challenges there are also more solutions. Our working methods need to adapt, and we need to create a more agile, effective and accountable organization that delivers results and solutions. It is not enough to say we are part of the solution; our responsibility is to deliver results in the actions we take, day in – day out.

3rd key message: The next 50 years

I wish to quote a sentence from Tandin Dorji, one of the winners of the UN@50 essay competition- “In the next 50 years, I envision a developed Bhutan transitioning and striving in a green economy with a thriving natural environment and wildlife.”

This is what we as UN staff must envision, alongside Royal Government colleagues, and help shape a country that Tandin Dorji wants to see over the next 50 years

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has identified ‘five horsemen in our midst’ which can jeopardize every aspect of humanity’s future. These five horsemen include surging global tensions; our green planet is burning; mistrust is deep and growing; and the dark side of digital technology raises deep concern by spreading disinformation while undermining governance.   We continue to be challenged by COVID which is probably the biggest challenge to our humanity since the second World War.

While we live in uncertain times, there are opportunities today that couldn't have been previously imagined.

Bhutan has emerged as a beacon of hope in the region and the World as it responds to the double crisis of climate change and COVID. Just as the battle against COVID cannot be won in isolation also the climate crisis requires states to come together through international cooperation. Sharing of resources and expertise between the member states of the UN is needed now more than ever.

Therefore, the 31 UN agencies that work for Bhutan have a unique role to play in solutioning the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

This week is important for global governance as leaders from around the world meet in New York… the UN SG is launching the ‘Common Agenda’ which is a detailed roadmap for how humanity can best respond to the challenges and opportunities we are likely to face over the coming 25 years: for example, the common agenda calls for specific deliverables in terms of

1. the further empowerment of WHO,
2. new measures to complement GDP,
3. we need to represent the rights of future generations.

I commend the Common Agenda for your reading.

I’d like to close with 6 points

Firstly, Bhutan plays an important role in UN Peacekeeping and police missions since joining in 2014. Today we have approximately 32 Bhutanese army and police serving to maintain international peace and security – I take this opportunity to thank both the 32 persons and their families for their commitment and professionalism. This work is a testament to Bhutan’s commitment to share the burden along with other Member States. I wish to take this opportunity to thank His Majesty, the Royal Government and the people of Bhutan for your commitment to international peace and security. I also wish to take the opportunity to thank His Majesty for the gift of a Park to honour the 50th anniversary…most especially because it signifies the depth of agreement at the level of values of a great country and an organization that ever strives to deliver on the values inherent in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Secondly…I’d like to thank Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wanchuk for her message today and I quote: ‘For millions across the globe, the UN is a leading champion of global reach, stability and equality and a force to lift the poorest out of poverty’.

Thirdly           Thanks to all the 31 UN agencies for your great support over the years; most especially FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNODC, ITC, WFP and WHO; their 128 staff and their 328 dependents, those who have retired, and those who went on to serve as Lyonpos and members of parliament: all who have served the UN down the years.

Fourthly, thanks to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and especially Dasho Kinga for Chairing the RGoB-UN @50 Taskforce and all who served this work.

Fifth: Regarding the unveiling of the gift from Paro Penlop, Prince Namgyel I’d also like to pass onto colleagues that the photo is not to be shared over social media.

Finally… Please allow me to end with a quote from the UN SG.

“At this time of turbo-charged change, the United Nations remains focused on the real problems of real people. We are working for a fair globalization and bold climate action. We are pushing for human rights and gender equality. The UN itself is becoming ever more agile and accountable.”

Kadinchey La and Tashi Delek…