Commit to making 2022 a year of recovery for everyone: UN chief Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday suggested that the world should commit to making 2022 as a year of recovery for everyone.

In his year-end message to the world, Guterres said: "The world welcomes 2022 with our hopes for the future being tested by deepening poverty and worsening inequality... An unequal distribution of Covid vaccines... climate commitments that fall short, and by ongoing conflict, division, and misinformation."

He added that these are "not just policy tests", but "moral and real-life tests".

However, these are exams that all of humanity can pass "if we commit to making 2022 a year of recovery for everyone", said the UN chief.

Guterres went on to detail how best the recovery should be done on each front.

The pandemic requires "a bold plan to vaccinate every person, everywhere", he said.

And for an economic rescue, the UN chief flagged that wealthier countries must support the developing world with "financing, investment and debt relief".

Meanwhile, to heal from mistrust and division, he affirmed that a new emphasis must be placed "on science, facts and reason".

At the same time, recovery from conflicts calls for "a renewed spirit of dialogue, compromise and reconciliation" while restoring our planet takes "climate commitments that match the scale and urgency of the crisis", said Guterres.

The UN head also acknowledged that "moments of great difficulty are also moments of great opportunity to come together in solidarity".

This is because they offer the chance "to unite behind solutions that can benefit all people. And to move forward together, with hope in what our human family can accomplish".

"Together, let's make recovery our resolution for 2022. I wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year," concluded the Secretary-General.

--IANS

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