United Nations News Centre

Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-first session. UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

26 September 2016 – Confronting the daunting challenges that face the world, the United Nations must improve its performance to transform its ambitious agendas on sustainable development and climate change into “real change” that benefits all people, Denmark told the General Assembly today.

“As the people's organization, the United Nations needs to do better to foster trust, transparency, and efficiency,” Permanent Representative Ib Petersen told the Assembly’s annual General Debate.

“If the UN is to remain a relevant and legitimate organization for peace, development and human rights, we must continue on this path of increased openness and transparency. This is in the shared interest of all Member States,” he said.

But he said the UN’s recent record gave cause for optimism, based on the adoption of Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, the successful conclusion of the Paris Climate Agreement last December, and last week’s Summit for Refugees and Migrants in New York.