Last year, the United Nations conducted a worldwide consultation involving more than 1 million people from 193 countries. The feedback pointed to some important facts. And this year’s U.N. General Assembly must respond by bolstering rules-based multilateralism.
For starters, the consultation found that the expectations and hopes of the world’s women, men, girls and boys are strikingly similar. People want better access to basic health care, sanitation and education. They also want to see more solidarity with those hit hardest by the pandemic and with those living in poverty.
Respondents’ top concern over the longer term is the twin crisis of climate change and accelerating biodiversity loss. Almost 90% of participants agree that global cooperation is vital to deal with today’s challenges and a majority believe that the pandemic has made international cooperation even more urgent. Especially encouraging is that young people worldwide clearly want more international cooperation.
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