On the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the European Union, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) issued a joint statement on Sunday 21 September reaffirming their support for multilateralism as the “most effective” way to tackle the world’s current challenges.
The three organisations “condemned the rising number of instances of lack of respect for international humanitarian law and human rights law”, said a European Council press release on Monday on behalf of its president, António Costa, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The leaders stressed the urgent need to “end the devastating war in Sudan” through an “inclusive” political dialogue aimed at an immediate ceasefire. They also discussed measures to step up the fight against armed terrorist groups and promote reconciliation in the Sahel.
Libya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia were also at the centre of discussions, as was the issue of migration, “in line with international humanitarian and human rights standards”.
The EU, AU and UN have also: called for ambitious commitments at the COP30 summit to be held in Brazil in November; recalled the importance of the Sevilla Commitment on financing for development (see EUROPE 13678/7); and commemorated the 25th anniversary of resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)