UN Secretary-General: Humanity's shared future depends on its ability to wield power wisely
Secretary-General stresses the need to uphold the rule of law, end wars, and address inequality in his address to the General Assembly
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
New York, Sept 22 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirmed on Tuesday that humanity’s shared future will be determined by its ability to wield power wisely, through strengthening the rule of law, ending wars, addressing inequality, accelerating climate action, and governing artificial intelligence. This came in a speech by Guterres on the work of the United Nations, delivered ahead of the opening of the high-level general debate of the 81st session of the General Assembly, which will be attended by heads of state and government and senior officials from around the world.
Guterres said, “Our shared future will be determined by humanity’s ability to wield power wisely,” emphasizing that the greatest power is not the ability to dominate, but the ability to build a future that works for all. He clarified that this requires “the rule of law to be enforced before impunity becomes the norm, wars to be ended before they devour entire generations, inequality to be addressed before societies fracture, climate action to be accelerated before we pass tipping points, and artificial intelligence to be governed before it controls humanity.”
He noted that the world is moving toward a multipolar order, explaining that these shifts could lead either to a fragmented world driven by short-term interests, or to an interconnected multipolarity based on cooperation and collective action.
Guterres highlighted four major tests of power: the authority to decide on war and peace; the power that entrenches wealth concentration and exacerbates inequality; the power that fuels the climate crisis and the war on nature; and the power unleashed by artificial intelligence.
On the Middle East, Guterres said conflicts continue to multiply across the region while civilians continue to pay the price, calling for an end to fighting, the guaranteed flow of humanitarian aid, and the full restoration of freedom of navigation rights in accordance with international law. He stressed the need not to overlook the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the obligation of all parties to comply with international law and the orders of the International Court of Justice regarding Gaza. He also pointed to violence, displacement, and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, warning against undermining the peace process and affirming that “we cannot allow the two-state solution to disappear before our eyes.”
On Sudan, Guterres said the power struggle, fueled by external actors, has turned into a war against civilians. In his remarks on inequality, he stressed that no country should be denied a sustainable future because of a highly unequal global financial system.
On climate, he called on governments to adopt national plans to transition away from fossil fuels and urged those most responsible for pollution to bear greater responsibility for addressing the resulting damage.
On artificial intelligence, Guterres warned that the danger does not lie in the technology itself, but in the lack of accountability, oversight, and transparency, emphasizing that AI must be shaped “by humanity, with humanity, and for the benefit of all humanity.”
In concluding his final address to the General Assembly, the Secretary-General affirmed that “the world does not need weaker United Nations, but an organization strong enough to face the world as it is, and with the resolve to build the world as it should be.” (End) A.S.T. / S.M.A.
