Katalin Novák stressed the need for peace, the cause of families and the importance of having children at the UN Summit on Sustainable Development

Without peace, much of the efforts for sustainable development may be jeopardised or remain ineffective, said President Katalin Novák on Monday in New York, as the co-chair of the High-Level Political Forum on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Head of State, also as the head of the Hungarian delegation to the UN General Assembly, stressed that we must work together to find a path to peace in all conflict-ridden regions of the world, because without peace, threats increase, the arms race intensifies and international relations are disrupted. 
President Novák stressed that at the UN, in front of world leaders, she wanted to amplify the voices of the victims of the war. Further, she explained that she had recently visited Ukraine and now has brought a message from the people of Ukraine to the session of the world organisation in New York. 

As a second message, Katalin Novák directed attention to the threat to societies posed when families are ruined, schools are neglected and churches are discredited, because when this happens, "we lose the moral anchor of our lives and humanity, and this is a fatal mistake". 

As the third point of her speech, she called for responsible childbearing and parenting, which also falls in line with the principles of sustainability. As she put it, children must be saved to save the world, because "a world of empty cradles" is not worth fighting for. 

In her speech, Katalin Novák underlined Hungary's commitment to sustainable development by pointing out that Hungary is ranked 22nd out of 166 countries in the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Index. 
At the Leaders' Dialogue on Sustainability with Heads of State and Government, contributions were made by Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and by also co-chairing Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. 

In 2015, the UN adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will be subject to a mid-term review. Additionally, the steps needed to accelerate action in the coming years will be discussed by leading politicians at the UN High-Level Political Week. In a recent interview with Hungarian public media, Csaba Kőrösi, the outgoing president of Hungarian background of the UN General Assembly, who stepped down at the beginning of September, pointed out that the world is lagging behind in implementing the goals planned to be achieved in 15 years, with only 12 percent of them having been implemented. 

On Monday, Katalin Novák held separate talks with the Kazakh Head of State, with whom she also discussed bilateral relations, cultural cooperation and the opportunities arising from Hungary's EU membership. 
On Monday, the Hungarian Head of State attended a working lunch on women's rights, organised in the spirit of sustainable development by Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General for Women's Rights. The lunch was also attended by Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Rania of Jordan and actress Natalie Portman, UN Goodwill Ambassador. 

Katalin Novák represented Hungary at a reception to mark the 50th anniversary of Germany's membership of the United Nations, and also attended the annual gala dinner of Jewish Appeal of Conscience, where Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who celebrated his 100th birthday this year, received an award. 

On Tuesday, the Hungarian Head of State will deliver her speech to the General Debate of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly. US President Joe Biden will also address the General Debate on Tuesday.