Global Citizenship Begins in Your Own Community, Deputy Secretary-General Tells Global Citizen Festival, Quoting Words of Kofi Annan

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa, today:

Sanbonani, Jozi!

It’s great to be back in South Africa, celebrating the iconic Madiba in this stadium, where history was made.  Madiba once said:  “Young people are capable, when aroused, of bringing down the towers of oppression and raising the banners of freedom.”  He also said that “we are the generation that can end poverty”.

We also celebrate other African giants who played a part in the Long Walk to Freedom:  Walter and Albertina Sisulu, Winnie Mandela, Kofi Annan.  We also remember our great women and activists Miriam Makeba and Aretha Franklin.

We will never forget Madiba and his legacy.  Madiba’s legacy is about action, not words.  We know the world is not in a good place.  People are divided.  Hatred, inequality, violence and xenophobia are on the rise.  Climate change threatens our planet and future generations.

But we believe in the power of solidarity; in building bridges across divides; taking on the big issues ‑ like ending hunger, disease, exclusion, discrimination, pollution, inequality.  Our 17 Global Goals are the roadmap to ending poverty and taking climate action.

Around the world, we are taking action.  But it is not enough; we need to do more.  Remember the words of my friend Kofi Annan; he said being a global citizen begins in your own community.  Are you ready for action?  Your destiny is in your hands.  Let’s act for the Africa we need, and the world we want.  The United Nations walks with you in Solidarity.

Amandla!