18 May2023, Rome: Creating a better world in which both people and planet can prosper requires legal frameworks that support efficient decision-making and policies, promote advances in technology, innovative approaches, and collaborations, said the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, at the Joint Meeting of the United Nations Legal Advisers, Funds and Programmes held at FAO headquarters today.
In his welcome address, the Director-General pointed out that the legal frameworks of the UN organizations were the pillars that sustained the work of the UN system, in particular joint work and collaboration.
“At FAO, our mandate guides us to work towards supporting the world’s farmers, eliminating hunger and all forms of malnutrition, and ensuring food security for all, leaving no one behind,” he said emphasising the critical role that legal advisers play in ensuring that the UN continues to function at its best throughout the world, working to overcome challenges and striving for excellence.
While stressing the importance of respecting the basic principles and fundamental rules of the United Nations, Qu noted that some of the rules that were established 77 years ago need to be adapted to the rapidly changing environment.
To this end, the Director-General said that addressing evolving and complex legal problems across the UN system required a coordinated and collective approach, maintaining an open dialogue amongst the UN entities, sharing experiences and lessons learned.
The Director-General concluded with a quotation from the great Roman lawyer Cicero: “The beginnings of all things are small” expressing hope that the meeting will produce “big legal solutions for the big progresses of the UN system.”
The annual joint meeting aims to provide a platform for discussion of legal issues of common interest and concern to the legal advisers of the participating UN entities, to improve coordination and communication among the legal advisers and to promote system-wide legal coherence.
