Acceptance Remarks by Tarek Ladeb of Tunisia, as a 2024 Diwali Stamp – The Power of One Awardee

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6 December 2024 – Delegate Dining Room – U.N. NY

Excellencies, Dear colleagues, Distinguished Guests,


It is with an immense sense of gratitude and deep humility that I stand before you today as a recipient of this distinguished diplomatic reward, the Power of One award, which embodies the spirit of collective responsibility and the transformative power of individual action in advancing peace, dialogue, and understanding across our global family.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Diwali Foundation for recognizing and appreciating the efforts and dedication of diplomats, and in valuing their contributions to the multilateral actions to promote international peace and security and mitigate the challenges the world is facing.

I would like also to express my deep gratitude to the founders of the Diwali Foundation my dear sister Ranju Batra and my dear brother Ravi Batra for their engagement with the diplomatic community and the UN, and their commitment which paved the way for this recognition.

I am profoundly touched to be recognized by this prestigious and symbolic distinction for my work and contribution to the UN actions and efforts to make this world a better place to live for all nations and future generations, where each and every person enjoys his full rights to life, prosperity, development and security. A world free of deprivation, fear, violence, and all forms of discrimination and injustice.

This recognition holds special significance for me, as I had the great honor and privilege to represent my country Tunisia here in the United Nations, during the last four years as a Permanent Representative and for one year before that as a Deputy Permanent Representative, (and here I want to pay tribute to all DPRs because I know the amount of work they perform) and to serve in the Security Council in very challenging times marked by the covid-19 pandemic, and the escalation of conflict situations.

During my tenure, I have been all the time optimistic, as my dear brother Ravi and many other colleagues always tell me, and inspired by Tunisia’s steadfast engagement in advocating for multilateralism, dialogue, human solidarity and peace. 

Our actions and positions have been focused on promoting resolutions that champion global security, sustainable development, human dignity, and gender equality. 

In this connection, we worked tirelessly in the security council to advance peaceful resolutions to conflicts, particularly in the Arab world and Africa. I had the privilege to chair the Counter-Terrorism Committee, to co-facilitate the 8th review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, to chair the 16th and 17th Conference of States Parties to the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, to chair the operational activities for development segment as vice president of the ECOSOC, and to actively engage in all the processes of the SDGs summit and the Summit of the future. 

These contributions demonstrate my deep belief in the power of dialogue and international cooperation to address complex global challenges, and all the values we celebrate today which reflect the very principles upon which the esteemed organization of the United Nations was built.

Today, as I reflect on this recognition, I am reminded that our work is far from over. In a world increasingly fractured by conflict and polarization and impacted by cascading and interconnected crises, we must rekindle our commitment to the ideals and principles of the UN Charter and the values of solidarity, common destiny, and mutual respect. Like the flame of a Diwali lamp, our actions—no matter how small—must illuminate the way for others, dispelling shadows of misunderstanding, conflict, and fear.

We need more than any time before, to draw inspiration from the Diwali values, and to push towards the prevalence of peace and justice over hatred and violence, hope over despair, virtue over immorality and knowledge over ignorance.

Allow me to express my deepest gratitude to the United Nations for its unwavering dedication to multilateralism and global peace. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Permanent Missions that have recognized my efforts and to my family, friends, and colleagues here in the mission and in the ministry who have supported me every step of the way.

Thank you

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