{"id":2935,"date":"2025-10-28T20:05:57","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T19:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unmissionge.orderofmalta.int\/?post_type=news&p=2935"},"modified":"2025-11-04T14:41:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:41:27","slug":"special-event-on-the-future-of-multilateralism-organised-by-the-permanent-observers-to-the-united-nations-at-geneva-27-october-2025","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/unmissionge.orderofmalta.int\/en\/news\/special-event-on-the-future-of-multilateralism-organised-by-the-permanent-observers-to-the-united-nations-at-geneva-27-october-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Event on \u201cThe Future of Multilateralism\u201d organised by the Permanent Observers to the United Nations at Geneva 27 October 2025"},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-2935","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news_categories-news","news_tags-activities","news_tags-news"],"acf":{"hidden_news":"no","evidence":"yes","focus_on":"yes","breaking":"yes","news_cover":{"id":2936,"url":"https:\/\/unmissionge.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/10\/The-Future-of-Multilateralism-Multilateralism-Multilateralism-271652-scaled.jpg"},"cover_image_copyrighted":false,"news_content":"

On 27 October 2025 the Permanent Observer Delegations to the United Nations at Geneva organized a Special Event on the topic \u201cThe Future of Multilateralism \u2013 Permanent Observers\u2019 Perspectives\u201d<\/a><\/span>. The introduction by the Director-General of UNOG, Ms. Tatiana Valovoya, was followed by a panel discussion and an interactive dialogue with participants. Attendance included many Heads of Mission, other ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps. The main objectives were to contribute to ongoing reflections on the reform of the multilateral system, analyze possible key transformations and propose initiatives to ensure that multilateralism remains relevant to people worldwide.<\/p>\n

H.E. Ambassador Marie-Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Pictet-Althann, Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta, was one of the three main panelists. This is the text of her intervention:<\/p>\n

Excellencies, Madam Director-General,<\/em><\/p>\n

Distinguished Colleagues and Friends,<\/em><\/p>\n

Let me begin by highlighting a part of multilateral Geneva that is often overlooked: the<\/em>
\nPermanent Observer Delegations. These are entities that, while not full members of the United<\/em>
\nNations, play a vital role in the multilateral ecosystem, serving as bridges between states, civil<\/em>
\nsociety, and international organizations. Their legal status is grounded in resolutions adopted<\/em>
\nby the UN General Assembly and established custom, which grant them the right to participate<\/em>
\nin the work of the UN without voting privileges. They engage actively in debates, share<\/em>
\nexpertise, and often help shape the agenda while operating like Permanent Missions in their<\/em>
\nown right \u2014 with ambassadors, diplomats, experts and technical specialists.<\/em><\/p>\n

It is also worth noting that intergovernmental organizations such as the European Union, the<\/em>
\nLeague of Arab States, the African Union or the Pacific Islands Forum bear particular weight.<\/em>
\nWhen they speak, they represent not just one member state but the consensus of entire<\/em>
\nregions or groups of countries. This strengthens the coherence of debates and ensures regional<\/em>
\nand interregional perspectives are well integrated into multilateral outcomes. Then there is<\/em>
\nalso the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, which represents the Parliaments of<\/em>
\n35 member states from the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf region, whose main objective is to<\/em>
\nenhance political, economic and social cooperation and to find common solutions to common<\/em>
\nchallenges. Parliamentary diplomacy is often overlooked as an essential complementary<\/em>
\ninstrument.<\/em><\/p>\n

Crucially, alongside international governmental organizations, Permanent Observers with<\/em>
\nspecialized mandates bring perspectives and capacities that might otherwise be missing.<\/em><\/p>\n

For example, the institution I represent, the Sovereign Order of Malta, has a unique status both<\/em>
\nas a religious order and a sovereign entity under international law, but without territory. It<\/em>
\nmaintains diplomatic relations with 115 states and has representations to major international<\/em>
\norganizations. Last year we celebrated in N.Y., Geneva and Vienna our 30th anniversary as a<\/em>
\nPermanent Observer at the UN. Our global humanitarian outreach is reflected at the UN by<\/em>
\nour contribution to humanitarian diplomacy, linking our field presence in over 120 countries<\/em>
\nwith policy debates at the multilateral level. In situations of conflict and natural disaster, the<\/em>
\nOrder can mobilize its network across continents and use its platform here in Geneva to<\/em>
\nadvocate for equitable access to humanitarian assistance for displaced and marginalized<\/em>
\ncommunities.<\/em><\/p>\n

This shows the real value of observers: they bring concrete, on-the-ground knowledge into<\/em>
\npolicy debates, often serving as a bridge between international norms and local realities.<\/em><\/p>\n

What lessons can we take from this for the future of multilateralism, especially in light of the<\/em>
\nchallenges we face today \u2014 from geopolitical rivalry and climate change, to pandemics, digital<\/em>
\ngovernance, and rising inequality?<\/em><\/p>\n