new york –
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with world leaders on Monday ahead of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to focus on the ongoing crisis in Haiti.
The prime minister is due to meet with his Caribbean counterpart, Garry Conilles, before speaking at a high-level meeting of the UN Advisory Group on Haiti.
Conille took over as prime minister earlier this year after previous prime minister Ariel Henry was forced to resign amid growing unrest and violence perpetrated by criminal gangs that seized control of large parts of the Haitian capital.
On Monday afternoon, Trudeau will make his first appearance as a guest on CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and will be delivering a very different type of conversation.
Trudeau arrived in New York on Sunday to speak at the Future Summit, where he said leaders have a choice: to bury their heads in the sand or to come together to face global challenges.
The goal of the summit is to reform the UN, revitalize multilateralism and find solutions to new challenges at a time when the UN has come under criticism for its response to issues such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war in Gaza.
Trudeau called on leaders to embrace the “Deal for the Future,” a 42-page blueprint for addressing a wide range of global challenges in the 21st century.
The resolution was approved by the UN General Assembly at the start of the two-day summit, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres thanking leaders and diplomats for taking the first step and opening the “door” to a better future.
The agreement has faced strong opposition from Russia, Saudi Arabia and other countries, who oppose some of the language on issues such as climate change and reform of international financial institutions.
Its fate remained in doubt until the last moment, with UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric saying Secretary-General Guterres was preparing three speeches for any outcome.
“International challenges are moving faster than our ability to solve them,” Mr. Guterres warned last week. The agreement’s passage offered some optimism at a time when rising geopolitical instability around the world cast a pall over the General Assembly.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to address a special session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday about Russia’s ongoing aggression. Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council and has been heavily criticized for its aggression against Ukraine as a violation of the UN Charter.
Haiti’s ongoing gang violence and political turmoil will be a top priority for Trudeau on Monday morning, as the prime minister is expected to reinforce Canada’s longstanding support for a Haitian-led solution to turn things around in the Caribbean nation.
Canada is deeply involved in Haiti’s response to the ongoing humanitarian, security and political crisis. According to a United Nations report released in June, an increase in gang activity has forced about 580,000 people to flee the Caribbean nation since March.
The Prime Minister is also due to meet Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Malala Yousafzai, co-founder of the Malala Fund, before attending a lunch hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will accompany Trudeau in New York to deliver Canada’s national statement at the UN General Assembly. The speech will highlight “Canada’s commitment to advancing multilateral cooperation, human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” according to a news release from Joly’s office.
“In a time of so many global crises, the world needs a strong, effective and modern United Nations,” Jolie said in a statement.
“I am confident that through constructive dialogue, common learning, and joint problem-solving at this year’s[UN General Assembly]we can work together effectively to address some of the most important issues of our time.”
Jolie will also be on a panel with representatives from Ukraine and Estonia, “underscoring the urgent need to restore children’s rights and strengthen child protection around the world, including by addressing the unlawful expulsion and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia,” the statement said.
She will co-host a panel discussion on media freedom and will also be present at other events.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2024.
—With files from The Associated Press
