Make 2021 a year of possibility and hope, UN chief tells General Assembly

Following an “annus horribilis” of death, disaster and despair, 2021 must be a year of transformation, Secretary-General António Guterres told the UN’s 193 Member States on Thursday. 

Outlining his priorities for the months ahead, Mr. Guterres emphasized that now is the time to secure the well-being of people, economies, societies and the planet. 

From tragedy to transformation 

“2020 brought us tragedy and peril. 2021 must be the year to change gear and put the world on track”, he said, speaking from the podium in the General Assembly Hall. 

“We need to move from death to health; from disaster to reconstruction; from despair to hope; from business as usual, to transformation.” 

The Secretary-General has called for a global reset as the world continues to reel from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than two million lives and some 500 million jobs. 

He said the crisis is an opportunity for change, stating “We can move from an annus horribilis to make this an 'annus possibilitatis' – a year of possibility and hope.” 

Vaccine solidarity a top priority 

Ensuring equal access to newly developed COVID-19 vaccines is the first step in the transformation, but here the world is falling short. 

“Vaccines are reaching a handful of countries quickly, while the poorest countries have none. Science is succeeding — but solidarity is failing”, the UN chief said. 

Calling vaccines “the first great moral test before us”, Mr. Guterres urged countries to step up support to the COVAX Facility, the international coalition working to make these treatments available and affordable to all. 

“There is only one victor in a world of vaccine haves and vaccine have-nots: the virus itself”, he stressed. 

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