Ending Conflict, Alleviating Suffering Will Require New Levels of Solidarity, Compassion for One Another, Secretary-General Tells Awards Reception

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the Meaningful World awards reception, in New York today:

I send my warmest greetings to this gathering of the Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention, Meaningful World.

I am honoured to receive this award, on behalf of the United Nations.  I know that this is a tribute to all United Nations staff who work every day to relieve suffering and improve lives around the world.

The United Nations and Meaningful World share the belief that when one helps another, both become stronger.

The world has made great progress over the past 40 years by establishing global rules to enhance the protection of civilians and ensure that perpetrators of violations are brought to justice.

Tragically, the reality on the ground in many places remains bleak.  In conflicts around the world, civilians are deliberately or recklessly killed, maimed, tortured and abducted.  Sexual violence is widespread.

Our common humanity demands that we do everything we can to prevent and end violations, to hold perpetrators accountable, and to support survivors.

The UN continues to combine its efforts through a unified framework to protect women and girls, to combat conflict-related sexual violence and to help those who have suffered to live fulfilling and productive lives.

I thank Meaningful World for contributing to these efforts through its programmes to support survivors of trauma through therapy, education, mediation and empowerment.

We can and must do better to end conflict, alleviate suffering and reduce risk and vulnerability.  This will require new levels of solidarity and compassion for each other.  Let us be held together by the bond of our common humanity and a shared responsibility.

Thank you again for this honour.