The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on United Nations Day:

“In the aftermath of the Second World War, the international community recognized that true peace depends on dialogue, negotiation, and co-operation. On this day in 1945, the United Nations (UN) was born from a mutual commitment to create a better future for everyone, and it continues to serve as the bedrock of the rules-based international order. As we mark United Nations Day, we reaffirm our dedication to upholding the ideals of peace, prosperity, and the rule of law that the UN stands for, and we reiterate the importance of the UN as a pillar of stability in an increasingly unstable world.

“As a founding member of the UN, our steadfast commitment to its objectives has helped forge our national identity. Over 125,000 Canadians have participated in close to a hundred peacekeeping efforts around the world. Today, we continue to play a leadership role in important UN initiatives, such as the Vancouver Principles, which focus on preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers in places where peacekeeping missions operate, and the Elsie Initiative, which promotes women’s meaningful participation in peace operations.

“Canada is taking concrete action to advance the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and as a Co-chair of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocates Group, I will continue to promote a more peaceful, just, and inclusive future. Last month, while at the UN General Assembly in New York City, I announced over $125 million to support projects in line with the SDGs, as well as $78 million in support for key UN programs, such as the UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, and the UNFPA. In April 2024, Canada will also welcome the world to Ottawa, Ontario, where it will host the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, under the UNEP, to develop a new global agreement on plastic pollution and create a greener, cleaner planet.

“The UN is a forum to discuss and debate the most pressing global issues. Its institutions and programs play a critical role in helping vulnerable populations. Canada is committed to working with its UN partners to protect human rights, advance gender equality, strengthen the rule of law, address food insecurity in emerging economies and developing nations, and help those who need it most.

“On this United Nations Day, we recommit ourselves to the principles enshrined in the UN’s founding charter – the ‘equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small’. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I invite Canadians to learn more about the UN’s mission and to recognize the importance of working together to build a better world for everyone.”