UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised Papua New Guinea (PNG) as a global example of unity in diversity, peacebuilding, and climate leadership during his address to the national parliament on Wednesday.
Guterres, the first sitting UN chief to visit PNG, lauded the Pacific nation as it celebrates 50 years of independence.
He highlighted its “tremendous diversity, with over 800 languages spoken and countless traditions,” and noted that unity has been forged despite challenges.
“And yet, you have a shared commitment to speak with one voice – to having ‘one talk’ – for peace, for dignity and for progress,” he said.
“You are champions of multilateralism and international solutions. And that spirit is urgently needed in our world today,” he added.
The UN chief pointed to the 24th anniversary of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, signed in 2001 between the government and separatists, which ended a decade of conflict and created the autonomous Bougainville region.
“You have shown the world the path of healing through dialogue, perseverance, and mutual respect,” he said, noting that people in Bougainville will head to the polls on Thursday in their fifth autonomous election since the accord.
Guterres underscored PNG’s role in pushing climate justice, citing its contribution to the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion that affirmed tackling the climate crisis as a legal obligation.
The opinion, he said, “is a testament to the leadership of Papua New Guinea, Melanesia and the wider Pacific region,” particularly its youth, who make up 60 percent of the population.
“Your voice will be integral again during the annual UN climate conference in Belem, Brazil,” he warned, stressing that the 1.5°C target is at risk.
He called for stronger national climate plans, a faster transition away from fossil fuels, and greater commitments to climate finance, including the loss and damage fund.
Guterres further urged reforms in the international financial system and the UN Security Council, warning that many developing countries are “drowning in unsustainable debt.”
The Secretary-General also emphasized gender equality, reminding lawmakers that “no story of peace or progress is complete without fully including half of the population.”
He recalled UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s 2020 visit to launch the Spotlight Initiative in PNG, and welcomed Parliament’s decision earlier this year to dedicate a full day to testimonies on gender-based violence.
“Ensuring greater voice and representation of women is not only a matter of justice — it is a matter of national strength,” he said. “Families thrive. Communities grow stronger. And institutions become more responsive when we uphold the rights of all.”
