My time here has come to an end after nearly five incredible
years in this beautiful country, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan!
I will miss you. I will miss your landscapes, your generous
and welcoming people, your warmth and friendliness, your delicious food, and
your great weather. I will miss all my friends and colleagues. I will miss my
UN family. But it is time for me to go back home and reunite with my family.
اضافة اعلان
You have throughout history demonstrated your unparalleled
generosity and hospitality by welcoming those who are fleeing persecution and
conflict, most recently from Syria. As a member of the international community,
I have advocated for continued and sustained support to your institutions,
authorities, civil society and all people living in your Kingdom, in the spirit
of collective responsibility. I have spoken up for equal access to basic services
and opportunities, and for the full enjoyment of people’s rights. For Agenda
2030, the Sustainable Development Goals and the principle of Leaving No One
Behind.
As I reflect on my time in Jordan, I will always remember
the time I lived here during the pandemic. It was a difficult time for all of
us, and somewhat it still is; the pandemic is not over! However,
professionally, it has been one of the most rewarding periods of my life. I am
content with the way I believe we as the UN were able to contribute to the
success of the national response.
I rediscovered and further appreciated human connections, my
local friendships, and again and again, the generosity of the people of Jordan.
I felt cared for being able to get the vaccine early on together with all other
Jordanians in my age group. You demonstrated your bigheartedness by providing
protection to everyone by allowing all people living in your Kingdom as of day
one to access the vaccine, regardless of their status or nationality, mindful
that only when everyone is safe we are all safe. You confirmed in action what
we all know: The virus has no border and knows no status, religion, nationality
or race.
As I leave, I encourage you to address remaining development
challenges with the same determination with which you responded to the
pandemic, using the Agenda 2030 and the SDGs as your North Star, for you to
build an even more inclusive, equal, sustainable, and green society. By
ensuring the fundamental rights of all people, by promoting and supporting
participation in the political, economic, and social lives, and by addressing
the root causes of vulnerability, I am convinced you will keep thriving and
continue to be a beacon of stability and respect for human rights in the region
and beyond.
You are a parched nation scarce of water. You are not
endowed with natural resources like your neighbors. Yet, your people are your
strength and your treasure.
I wish you to find ways to fully value the resources and
skills of young people and to create opportunities and incentives for them to
thrive. You have a young and highly educated population with more than 60
percent under the age of 30, and 40 percent under the age of 18. Make use of
it! Nothing is more precious than this. It is your hidden advantage. Do not let
them leave in search of better opportunities, do give them incentives, create
jobs for them, give them opportunities to become entrepreneurs. They are
enthusiastic to contribute to your success, to make you even brighter. Give
them space in your reform process so that they can participate in your
political and economic lives.
I wish your women and girls can prosper and fully contribute
to your development and stability. I am confident you will achieve gender
equality and eradicate gender-based violence once and for all. I met so many
exceptional Jordanian women here. Energetic, passionate, highly educated and
eager to be part of your success in every imaginable field. They want to, and
they can, contribute immensely to the country’s prosperity if given the
opportunity to do so.
I wish persons living with disabilities can have access to
the same opportunities as everybody else in the Kingdom and be given equal
chance to contribute to your success.
I wish all refugees and migrants also be given the possibility
to demonstrate their value, their skills, their knowledge and have a chance to
contribute to your prosperity.
I wish you a future where all freedoms are guaranteed and
protected. Hold on to your great performance in this troubled region. Human
rights are under attack all over the world. Push back on the push backs. The
world needs role models like Jordan, today more than ever.
My dear Jordan, my fellow Jordanian friends, keep it up!
Stand firm to protect all of what you have achieved. And be courageous to
pursue even higher goals. You have all what is needed to succeed.
I will miss you greatly, Jordan.
Ma’a salama. Goodbye! (For now)
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