Mon Sep 23 22:54:08 UTC 2024: ## World Leaders Urge Action on Global Challenges at UN Summit

**New York, September 18, 2023** – Leaders at the United Nations Summit of the Future, concluded on Monday, emphasized the need for immediate action on a newly adopted blueprint for addressing global challenges.

Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stressed the importance of genuine reform that addresses the concerns of developing nations, warning against the “Pact of the Future” becoming a collection of empty promises. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed the sentiment, highlighting the need for global institutional reform to ensure peace and development.

The pact encompasses frameworks for promoting peace, sustainable development, digital cooperation, human rights, and gender equality. Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, in his UN debut, pledged to reduce inequality and empower women and youth. However, protesters in New York demonstrated against his administration’s record on women’s rights, with a larger protest planned ahead of his speech at the General Assembly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of obstructing the negotiation process and undermining global unity, highlighting Russia’s 15 objections to the pact. Despite this, the document was adopted by the assembly.

Meanwhile, a separate event on the margins of the General Assembly focused on the plight of Afghan women. Asila Wardak, a former Afghan official, and actress Meryl Streep spoke out against the Taliban’s “morality law,” which severely restricts women’s rights. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the Taliban’s actions and demanded the immediate removal of discriminatory restrictions, including the reopening of schools and universities for girls.

The Summit of the Future concluded with a renewed call for collective action and a commitment to addressing global challenges through the newly adopted pact. The annual General Assembly debate will continue on Tuesday, featuring speeches from world leaders including US President Joe Biden and the presidents of Brazil, South Africa, Iran, and Nigeria.

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