20th February 2025. New York, NY—At the invitation of the People’s Republic of China, which currently holds the Presidency of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, the Sovereign Order of Malta’s Mission to the United Nations spoke out forcefully on the value of multilateralism and reform of global governance structures. The Sovereign Order of Malta was the only Permanent Observer, rather than member states, to address the Security Council during this debate.
“Our commitment, at the Sovereign Order of Malta,” stated Ambassador Beresford-Hill, “is not only about alleviating suffering through our medical and support operations in 120 countries; it is about ensuring that the voices of the forgotten, the marginalised, and the underrepresented are heard in decision-making at every level—local, national and international.”
Ambassador Beresford-Hill continued, recognizing the innate humanitarian implications of international conflict and how the global community might abate them. “We remain steadfast in our belief that multilateralism is the most effective means of fostering cooperation, strengthening global governance, and advancing the common good, when practiced with conviction and an innate respect for International Humanitarian Law,” he noted. Continuing, the Ambassador stated that ‘It is a recognized truth that every global political issue, every difference of opinion, every conflict that the Security Council is called upon to mediate, has a humanitarian aspect. These humanitarian dimensions cross borders, impact diverse societies and contribute to the suffering that is so much a part of the human condition.’
He then proposed that, as part of the dialogue concerning reform of the Security Council, the UN should consider giving a permanent seat to a rotation representing organisations that are apolitical, independent and, above all, humanitarian in their purpose. This courageous decision would, he stated, ‘truly represent those who are left behind’. ‘Global challenges are deeply interconnected’, he said, ‘and so too must be our response’.
In closing, Ambassador Beresford-Hill, reflected on the call of Pope Francis for the world to engage more in a ‘diplomacy of hope’ which, he noted, could help us embrace the future with less uncertainty.
