United Nations General Assembly

This comes about in commemoration of the bomb attack on the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq on the 19^th of August 2003.

During the remembrance, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises. The day also reinforces the need for the safety and security of aid workers.

The theme for this year is #NoMatterWhat which focuses on the importance, effectiveness and positive impact of humanitarian work.

This was the message delivered by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill, when addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday in New York. 

“Many of the challenges that confront us today are not of our making, but we bear the consequences of actions by other larger and developed countries,” PM O’Neill said to leaders and delegates from UN Member States. 

“We live in a rapidly globalising world, where many events and influences are beyond national borders. 

Opposition Leader Don Polye said this following a suspension of Papua New Guinea’s voting right in the UNO, due to non-payment of its membership fee of US$180,000 (K571,000).

Polye claimed the suspension culminated with the country’s overseas missions being at the brink of closure associated with the same.

“The government pays more than K300 million as membership fees to similar other international organisations. I will not be surprised to see them facing the same issue in the months ahead,” Polye said.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York on 19 September, he said: "It also demonstrates the bilateral and regional cooperation with Australia and other partners since 2012, to address not only refugees and migrants but combat the despicable acts of people smuggling and human trafficking for profit by criminal syndicates and others”.

Pato was amongst world leaders who participated at UN meet to seek solutions to the escalating global humanitarian crisis concerning the large movement of refugees and migrants.

During the 71st United Nations General Assembly, PNG along with other countries asked for a reform of the UN system given the change in geo-politics.

“Europe is no longer the Europe it was, the Pacific is no longer the same, and Africa has taken a new stage globally,” said Pato.

“So we need to have fair representation in issues that affect the global community.”

Pato said the call is not based on the failure of the current system, as there has been a lot of success in the past.

However, there are many more nations making strides in terms of development.