President Cyril Ramaphosa has told the United Nations General Assembly that the international community has not sustained the principles of solidarity and cooperation in securing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. He was delivering the country’s national statement during the General Debate where he again urged member states to support the proposal for a temporary waiver of certain provisions of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights at the World Trade Organisation.
Speaking virtually in a pre-recorded message, Ramaphosa said the pandemic had shaken the world’s collective sense of well-being and security.
“It is an indictment on humanity that more than 82% of the world’s vaccine doses have been acquired by wealthy countries, while less than 1% has gone to low-income countries. Unless we address this as a matter of urgency, the pandemic will last much longer and new mutations of the virus will emerge. South Africa reaffirms its call for fair and equitable distribution of vaccines,” says President Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa has again reiterated the long-standing African position on Security Council reform, chastising member states for not living up to their undertakings to change the composition of the 15-member body.
He has also urged greater investments toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly directed to providing low-income countries with the means of implementation.
“Climate change is an existential crisis for the entire world. Yet, poor countries are particularly vulnerable. Although we bear the least responsibility for causing climate change, African countries are among those that carry the greatest cost. For the forthcoming COP26 in Glasgow to respond adequately to the crisis we face, we need to see greater ambition and progress on mitigation, adaptation and the means of implementation. COP26 must, therefore, launch a formal programme of work on the implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation.”
VIDEO: 76th UNGA | President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses United Nations General Assembly
