‘Pandemic Recovery is our Chance’, Secretary-General Tells Aswan Forum, Pledging Solidarity with Africa amid Efforts to Expand COVID-19 Vaccination
Format
SG/SM/20608
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the opening of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, held from 1 to 5 March:
It is a pleasure to greet this year’s Aswan Forum. I welcome your focus on “Shaping Africa’s New Normal: Recovering Stronger, Rebuilding Better”.
The COVID-19 [pandemic] continues to upend lives and economies across the world, endangering our work for peace, human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. [The year] 2021 must be the year to get on track. Pandemic recovery is our chance.