Papua New Guinea: 50 years of uninterrupted democracy – UN Chief’s Presser | United Nations

Before his departure from Papua New Guinea, the Secretary-General appealed once again for climate justice and emphasized the need for international financial systems reforms, so that developing countries can have a stronger voice.

Speaking to reporters in Port Moresby, Guterres noted that with more than 800 languages, and very remote parts of the country with enormous challenges, Papua New Guinea is a country with 50 years of uninterrupted democracy.

He said, “In a world where we see democratic values being put into question by countries with much less problems than Papua New Guinea, I must say that we should all be grateful for this remarkable example.”

On climate justice, the UN chief called on the international community to “accept that there must be climate justice and that countries like Papua New Guinea must have all the support that was promised, in order to be able to address the needs of adaptation to build resilience and to protect its people and its country against the devastating impact of climate change.”

He also reiterated the “absolutely” needed reforms of the international financial systems in order for developing countries like Papua New Guinea to have a much stronger voice and a much stronger influence in the way decisions are taken.

Guterres said, “Papua New Guinea has enormous challenges, but because it is a middle-income country, it has no access to concessional funding.”