New York: Europe and the Arabs
Amidst the escalating global challenges facing humanity - from wars and conflicts to natural disasters and rapid technological developments - the United Nations is preparing to hold the Future Summit on September 22 and 23, with the participation of world leaders within the framework of the General Assembly's high-level week. The summit comes as part of the global organization's efforts to modernize and activate the work of its institutions to keep pace with the rapid changes and challenges of the twenty-first century. In statements to the United Nations News website, Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division at the United Nations Department of Global Communications, said: “The Future Summit comes in response to the recommendations of the United Nations in its report entitled “Our Common Plan” after a global consultative campaign conducted by the United Nations on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the organization.

The summit aims to enhance the work of the United Nations by adopting important documents, including the “Charter for the Future”, the “Global Digital Charter” and the “Declaration of Future Generations”. These “historical documents” aim to address current issues such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, peace and security, and financing sustainable development, reflecting global priorities and establishing a collective response to common problems.

For his part, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, described the upcoming Future Summit as a “summit of solutions and initiatives” and that it constitutes a crucial opportunity and “a serious attempt - and perhaps one of the last attempts - to save what can be saved of the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing global system and its institutions concerned with peace and development.”

In an interview with United Nations News, Dr. Mohieldin said that the summit represents a real opportunity to reconsider international action mechanisms and activate initiatives related to sustainable development and world peace.

Cooperation is the key to overcoming crises

He stressed that achieving sustainable development requires deeper international and regional cooperation, especially in the Arab region, which faces major challenges, including conflicts and humanitarian crises. He explained that the Future Summit will seek to develop practical solutions to these challenges, noting that regional and international cooperation will be the key to overcoming these crises.

Dr. Mohieldin also spoke about the need to reform international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, noting that the summit will witness discussions on reforming the global financial system in line with current challenges.

He explained that many developing countries, including Arab countries, seek greater and more equitable representation in these institutions. He added, "These institutions, including the United Nations, are all daughters and sons of the post-World War II circumstances. Many of our developing and Arab countries were out of control of their situations or were under mandate or under colonialism, and their economic weights were not as strong as they are now." The necessity of activating the capabilities of Arab youth
Dr. Mohieldin touched on the importance of the role of youth in the Arab region, explaining that youth constitute a large percentage of the population, and therefore, it is necessary for the Future Summit to pay attention to their issues and future aspirations. In this regard, he stressed the issue of job opportunities for them and the necessity of involving them in decision-making processes and directing them towards adopting innovative solutions to current problems, such as digital transformation and green development.
He continued by saying: "The call here is for the United Nations system to do more to activate the capabilities of youth and benefit from their innovative solutions, especially in the areas of learning and innovation, as well as projects that can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals."
Dr. Mohieldin concluded his speech by emphasizing that success in achieving the goals of the Future Summit depends largely on the commitment of governments to implementation, noting that the United Nations will closely follow up on the implementation of the recommendations and agreements that will come out of the summit.
The goal of the Future Summit could not be more ambitious: drawing up a practical plan for a better future for people and the planet. To make the task of achieving this goal possible, the summit organizers focused on five main topics that will be addressed during the summit.
Late September is usually the busiest time of year at UN Headquarters, when world leaders arrive in New York for the high-level debate at the General Assembly. This year, there is an added event as UN Secretary-General António Guterres takes the opportunity to convene the Future Summit, bringing together world leaders, civil society leaders and young activists. The summit takes place on 22 and 23 September, preceded by two days of action (20 and 21). During this period, seminars, side events and keynote speeches will be held. These events will be divided into five main themes, along with so-called “cross-cutting” themes such as human rights, the climate crisis and gender equality, which are linked to all the issues. The five themes are: 1. Financing for development 2. International peace and security 3. Science, technology and digital cooperation 4. Youth and future generations 5. Global governance.