Momen calls for renewed commitment of stakeholders in post-pandemic rebuilding

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen called for renewed commitment and partnership of all stakeholders in rebuilding post-pandemic economies.

"An essential component of our recovery effort from the pandemic must involve a peaceful environment in which all of us irrespective of our caste, creed, colour, race and religion can meaningfully contribute to our rebuilding efforts," Dr Momen made the remark while speaking at the United Nations High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace held yesterday virtually at the United Nations General Assembly, a press release said here today.

The foreign minister said there is no alternative to inculcating the culture of peace in the efforts to build back better in the post-Covid recovery.

This year's high-level forum on the culture of peace focused on its transformative role in promoting inclusion and resilience in post-Covid recovery.

The day-long event included an inaugural session, a plenary session and a virtual panel discussion.

Dr Momen recalled Bangladesh's pioneering role in the adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Culture of Peace since 1999 and organization of the high-level forum since 2012.

Apart from the Foreign Minister, the President of the General Assembly, High Representative of UN Alliance of Civilization, Chef de Cabinet of UN Secretary General and the Representative of UNESCO delivered remarks at the inaugural session.

Dr Momen stated that a successful pandemic recovery must involve universal vaccination.

He referred to the unfortunate manifestation of the vaccine nationalization and called the world to stand united against such vaccine inequity.

"It is time for development partners to be more humane and help the deserving without discrimination. Vaccine should be a public good," he added.

Later in the afternoon, a virtual panel discussion was held involving civil society organizations which was moderated by Ambassador Anwarul K Chowdhury, former Under-Secretary General and High Representative of the United Nations.