Namibia will continue to support and stand firmly with nations seeking self-determination and independence and remains committed to honouring its multilateral obligations.
This position was reiterated by the Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi.
“We shall continue to support and extend solidarity to the heroic people of Palestine and Western Sahara. We call for the lifting of unilateral coercive measures against Cuba, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe to help them implement the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. No evidence supports Cuba's presence on the list of state sponsors of terrorism; hence, it should be removed.”
The UN will mark its 80th anniversary in October, and the Minister underscored its founding principles of reaffirming faith in fundamental human rights.
“Yet, we continue to witness unprecedented suffering of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza. Humanity cannot continue to sit idly by watching a genocide taking place in Palestine. We call for a peaceful resolution of the conflicts everywhere in the world. In this respect, we shall continue to advocate for an equitable international system through the reform of the United Nations Security Council, in line with Africa's common position.”
Ashipala-Musavyi further announced that Namibia, through the International Women Peace Centre, would host a two-day event in Windhoek in October to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
The resolution calls for the increase in the participation of women and incorporation of gender perspectives in all UN peace and security efforts.
“Another commemorative event will also be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, during the forthcoming UN General Assembly. Invitations are being extended for the participation of your countries and organisations. We live in an era of unique geopolitics, which calls for effective multilateralism. Ultimately, while the geopolitical context may be challenging, the UN at 80 should offer us a unique impetus to rethink the world that the UN Charter envisaged.”
This year also marks the 35th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, which was adopted as a blueprint for governments to integrate gender perspectives into national policies and programmes.