Opening Remarks by UN Resident Coordinator at Hacettepe University Model United Nations Conference

It is a great pleasure and honor to be with you today at the opening of HUMUN’25—an event that not only celebrates diplomacy and international cooperation but also gives voice to the leaders, thinkers, and changemakers of tomorrow.

As we commemorate 80 years of the United Nations, we reflect on a bold and powerful vision that emerged from the ashes of global war—a vision rooted in peace, justice, human dignity, and equality for all. This milestone anniversary is not just a moment of reflection, but a call to action.

It is no coincidence that this Model UN conference is taking place in the very year we celebrate the UN’s 80th birthday. You are here because you believe in dialogue over division, in negotiation over conflict, and in cooperation over isolation. You are here because you know that constructive diplomacy matters.

The UN was founded on the belief that the world is stronger when we act together. Although eight decades later, that belief is under stress and being severely challenged during the last years, it is even more relevant as ever. We are facing a cascade of crises: escalating conflicts, worsening inequality, rising authoritarianism, climate disruption, and technological upheaval. And yet, even in the face of these challenges, the UN remains a beacon of multilateralism, a symbol of what humanity can achieve when we unite around common goals.

Over the past 80 years, the United Nations has helped prevent wars, rebuild societies, and promote human rights. Our peacekeepers protect civilians in fragile settings. Our humanitarian workers support more than 100 million people each year, delivering life-saving assistance in war zones, disaster areas, and refugee camps. UN agencies combat hunger, eradicate disease, empower women, support education, and protect the planet.

Yet despite all this progress, the world is clearly at a crossroads.

We must ask ourselves:

•            How can we make global governance more inclusive and effective?

•            How do we rebuild trust in multilateral and international cooperation?

•            How do we ensure that no one is left behind?

These are not abstract policy questions. These are the very challenges your generation must grapple with—and your discussions here today are a vital part of finding answers.

The Summit of the Future, held in 2024, produced a new global commitment: the Pact for the Future. This Pact is a blueprint for reinvigorated multilateralism. It aims to reshape how countries work together, ensuring that global cooperation is fit for the 21st century—more inclusive, more agile, more accountable.

And to achieve this transformation, we need the full and active participation of young people.

You are not simply the leaders of tomorrow—you are the leaders of today. Across communities, movements, start-ups, and digital platforms, young people are already leading on climate action, defending human rights, and pushing boundaries in science and innovation. You are holding governments and institutions accountable, demanding transparency, justice, and sustainability.

That is why the UN has launched Youth2030, the first system-wide strategy to elevate youth voices in everything we do—from peace and security to development and climate action. With 132 UN Country Teams and 55 UN entities implementing this strategy, we are working to ensure that young people have a seat at every table.

But we cannot do it alone. We need your ideas, your vision, your energy, and your courage.

Let me speak plainly:

The world is in crisis.

Conflicts are raging.

The climate is collapsing.

Human rights are under assault.

Misinformation is spreading faster than truth.

And amid all this, the most vulnerable people—women, girls, refugees, the poor, the marginalized—are paying the highest price.

But I want to tell you something important:

You are not powerless.

You have a voice. You have ideas. And you have each other.

Change begins when people dare to imagine a better world—and then act to build it.

So I ask you today:

Dream big.

Speak up.

Stand for something that matters.

Defend the values that bind us together—human dignity, freedom, justice, equality.

Use this conference not just to learn, but to lead.

Because what you do  in the rooms of the conference—your debates, your resolutions, your negotiations—is more than a simulation. It’s a rehearsal for real life. It’s a training ground for a world that desperately needs your leadership.

During my career, I have had the privilege of witnessing the power of young people—especially in times of crisis. I have seen how youth stepped up after the devastating earthquakes here, helping communities heal and rebuild. I have seen youth-led innovation addressing climate change, mental health, and inclusive education. You are already making a difference. Imagine what more you can achieve with support, space, and solidarity.

The UN needs you—as thinkers, as creators, as disruptors, as peacemakers.

And more than that, the world needs you.

Let me leave you with this thought:

The United Nations was never meant to be just a building in New York. It is an idea, a promise—to generations past, present, and future—that no problem is too big when we face it together.

As you begin this conference, I urge you to carry that spirit with you. Let this be a space where diplomacy is not just discussed but lived. Let it be a space where diverse perspectives are welcomed, where compromise is not weakness but strength, and where cooperation triumphs over division.

Let this be the beginning of your journey as global citizens—bold, compassionate, and determined.

Because building a better world is not the work of institutions alone.

It is the work of people.

Of all of us—together.

And together, I believe we can rise to meet this moment.

On behalf of the United Nations family in Türkiye, I thank you for your commitment to global cooperation, and I wish you a most inspiring and impactful conference.

Let’s build that future—together.