Ban stresses ‘people power’ and partnerships at start of second term as UN chief

Ban stresses ‘people power’ and partnerships at start of second term as UN chief

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has begun his second term as Secretary-General of the United Nations by pledging to 

harness “the strong power of partnerships” to respond to the planet’s biggest challenges, such as tackling

 climate change, combating poverty and empowering women and girls.

In an interview today with the UN News Centre and UN Radio to mark the start of his second term, Mr. Ban, 67, stressed the need for unity, particularly among Member States and their citizens.

“Together, nothing is impossible,” he said, adding that “if we strengthen these partnerships among governments, business communities, civil organizations and philanthropists, then I think all these powerful partnerships can bring us towards the right direction.”

Mr. Ban reiterated his priorities for the second term, spelling out the five “generational opportunities” 

he sees for the UN: promoting sustainable development; preventing natural and man-made crises 

disasters; making the world safer and more secure; helping countries and peoples in transition; and 

encouraging gender empowerment.

“We have to connect the dots among climate change, [the] food crisis, water scarcity, energy shortages 

and women’s empowerment and global health issues. These are all interconnected issues.”

Mr. Ban, whose second five-year term as Secretary-General began on Sunday, said “people power” and 

deepening globalization represented the biggest development since he first took office in 2007.

“We have seen so many people – marginalized people, oppressed people – who have been yearning for 

democracy, their dignity and human rights. We have [a] heavy responsibility to help them in [their] transition to democracy.