Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 2024

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

I begin this statement by greeting the President of the General Assembly, Philemon Yang, the Secretary-General, António Guterres, and all the delegations present.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues,

Today, we meet at a challenging moment for humanity; we face not one, but multiple crises that threaten our present and the future of the next generations. From climate change to inequalities, through pandemics, geopolitical conflicts, and crises of democracy. These crises feed off one another, deepening vulnerabilities and posing challenges that demand urgent, coordinated, and collective responses.
Today's global economy is sharpening inequalities, and the model of capital accumulation, based on the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, has increased poverty, marginalization, and social instability in many parts of the world. While financial markets continue to generate enormous profits for the global elite's 1%, millions of people struggle to access the most basic resources. This crisis is not only economic; it is also an ethical and social crisis, one that reveals the profound structural flaws of a capitalist system that prioritizes profit over life, well-being, and Mother Earth.
Wars, arms production, immense military spending, and the proliferation of weapons not only divert enormous resources that could be directed toward sustainable development, but also fuel conflicts that worsen human suffering. Billions of dollars are allocated to arms production while millions of people lack access to basic services such as education, health, food, and water. Instead of seeking solutions to common problems, this increases global instability and hinders the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The environmental crisis is one of the greatest threats, and our actions remain insufficient. Global warming, deforestation, pollution, and biodiversity loss are devastating our ecosystems, but they also have a direct impact on the lives of millions of people through extreme phenomena such as droughts, floods, and hurricanes—each time more intense—affecting local communities and indigenous peoples.

Mr. President,

The unprecedented technological transformation, with the development of new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), represents advances that are redefining the way we interact, work, and face our daily lives. However, this technological revolution also raises profound questions about the role of global governance in a world where technological power is concentrated in the hands of a few corporations and nations. Global governance must adapt to ensure that these technologies are used equitably, ethically, and in service of humanity's well-being, rather than deepening inequalities or generating new forms of exclusion and control.

Sisters and brothers of the world,

Faced with these crises, we must act decisively to collectively confront global challenges. It is time to rethink our development models and strengthen multilateral institutions, to protect the planet for future generations, and to ensure that justice, equity, and solidarity are the principles guiding our actions, respecting international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
The system that has governed the world order since the end of the Second World War has proven insufficient to address contemporary crises, such as climate change, inequalities, regional conflicts, pandemics, and new forms of economic interdependence. Therefore, a new world order based on effective multilateral cooperation, respect for the sovereignty of all countries, and equity in global decision-making is imperative.
To this end, a profound restructuring of international institutions, such as the United Nations Security Council, is necessary, so that it becomes more democratic and representative. We must move toward a system where global decisions are made inclusively, respecting the diversity of views and the needs of developing countries.
In this regard, a profound restructuring of the international financial architecture is also necessary—one centered on economic justice, sustainability, and inclusion, creating fairer mechanisms for sovereign debt restructuring, increasing the participation of developing countries in financial institutions, and promoting financing flows that support sustainable development and climate action. It is also essential to redesign international fiscal cooperation mechanisms so that the most vulnerable economies have access to resources that allow them to confront multiple crises. The restructuring of the international financial system is not merely a technical matter, but an ethical and political imperative to build a more equitable, resilient, and solidarity-based global economy.
The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals remain valid and represent a fundamental roadmap for confronting the most urgent global challenges. They provide us with a clear framework for action and international cooperation. Despite the delay in their implementation, we must redouble our efforts and strengthen our collective commitment to ensure that this ambitious plan becomes a tangible reality and changes the lives of our peoples.
The Pact for the Future must become a historic opportunity to reconsider our course as humanity; it commits us to an agenda that not only addresses immediate problems but also drives sustainable, inclusive, and equitable solutions for the coming generations. The Pact for the Future must not end in a diplomatic meeting; rather, it is now our task to carry these decisions, these words, forward to give impetus to the SDGs and change life in every community and city.
Sustainable development and climate change represent two sides of the same challenge that will determine the future of our planet and of the generations to come. Acting does not only mean reducing emissions; it means transforming our models of production and consumption, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring economic progress that leaves no one behind.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues,

Bolivia recognizes the international community as a space for solidarity and cooperation, under the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. In this context, we reject unilateral coercive measures that violate the most basic human rights and delay the development of many peoples. We express our solidarity with Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and all countries of the world that unjustly suffer these unilateral sanctions.
Likewise, we express our most emphatic rejection of the economic, financial, and commercial blockade imposed by the United States against the brotherly people of Cuba. Sixty years of injustice have not been enough to punish a people that has bravely confronted attempts at subjugation and domination by imperial power. We are certain that, sooner rather than later, justice and truth will prevail. This injustice is further aggravated when the United States unilaterally places Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Cuba should top the list of the world's most supportive countries, since its hand of solidarity has reached every corner of the planet.

Mr. President,

For decades, Palestine has suffered a prolonged conflict that has undermined regional stability and thwarted the dream of a just and lasting peace. Occupation, forced displacement, and genocide have brought devastation and destruction to the Palestinian people, creating an open-air prison for thousands upon thousands of people, mainly children and women.
Peace and security in Palestine will not be achieved without a genuine commitment to respect for human rights and an end to the genocide. Bolivia reiterates its full support for the exercise of self-determination and independence of Palestine, with the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, and we hope that it will soon become a full member state of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr. President, sisters and brothers of the world,

In this Assembly, I wish to reaffirm Bolivia's commitment to the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. We recognize the UN as the principal multilateral body created by humanity for development, peace, and security, not only within our borders but also on the international stage.
In this context, Bolivia once again reaffirms its firm intention to comply with all decisions and resolutions of the judicial bodies of the international system. Along these lines, Bolivia went before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, in a proceeding related to sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean. In this regard, the Court urged Bolivia and Chile to continue dialogue and exchanges, in a spirit of good neighborliness, to address matters related to sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean, whose resolution both parties have recognized as a matter of mutual interest. The Court called on both countries to resolve, on the basis of dialogue, a solution favorable to both peoples, with the aim of granting Bolivia sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean, which it enjoyed at the time of its declaration of independence, as the Court itself recognized in its ruling. My country stands ready to engage in dialogue whenever our counterpart so decides. We believe that the sea is a right of peoples.

Mr. President,

Bolivia calls on the international community to protect and support indigenous peoples, who have been the guardians of biodiversity and ancestral knowledge. We currently face vulnerabilities aggravated by the various crises. It is important to recognize their contribution to climate action; their knowledge and practices are fundamental and offer us a new model of development for Living Well in Harmony with Mother Earth.
Likewise, in this regard, allow me to share with you our concern over the negative classification of the coca leaf, which for indigenous native peasant peoples represents part of our identity and our culture.
Furthermore, we propose that we continue advancing and deepening gender policies and social relations, incorporating an approach of decolonization and depatriarchalization, which will make it possible to transform the power structures and social relations that have perpetuated gender inequality and the oppression of women.
Today, on behalf of the Bolivian people and the constitutional President Luis Arce Catacora, we reaffirm our democratic conviction and our commitment to the well-being of the Bolivian people, in order to achieve, as soon as possible, the 2030 Agenda and Living Well in Harmony with Mother Earth.
We regret that internal and external interests are today creating conflict in the country and attempting to destabilize a democratic government, but we are certain that, with the support and accompaniment of all of you, we will maintain and strengthen our democracy and institutional framework.
Bolivia is a people that has shown throughout its history that its democratic spirit is unbreakable. Strengthening our institutions and guaranteeing a future of peace, stability, and progress for all is our sole objective.

Jallalla to the peoples of the world!

Thank you very much!