Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has recently stated that the people of Afghanistan continue to face enormous hardships.
He made these remarks during the signing ceremony of an agreement to establish the United Nations Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Mr. Guterres said that the people of Afghanistan are suffering from deeply rooted poverty, widespread displacement, earthquakes, climate shocks, and a fragile humanitarian situation.
He emphasized: “They deserve peace, stability, and a better future.”
The UN Secretary-General added, “This Regional Centre will support Afghanistan’s sustainable development path — with full respect for human rights, including the rights of women and girls — and with a focus on economic self-reliance, peace, and human dignity.”
He noted that the Regional Centre for Central Asia and Afghanistan is being established based on a mandate from the United Nations General Assembly.
He further explained: “The Centre will bring together governments, UN country teams, civil society, academia, the private sector, regional organizations, and financial institutions — to shape coordinated, country-led efforts to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time — from climate change and water scarcity to youth unemployment, gender inequality, and the digital divide.”
Mr. Guterres said that the Centre will work with UN Resident Coordinators and country teams to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda in Central Asia and Afghanistan.
He also spoke about the situation in Central Asia, saying that climate change in the region is already depleting water resources, melting glaciers, and contributing to natural disasters.
Additionally, Antonio Guterres expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for hosting the Centre and noted that this initiative can help ensure that the aspirations of landlocked nations are not constrained by geography, but empowered through cooperation and regional solutions.
