"MeToo must become WeToo": Ardern's first speech to the UN rejects Trump | Policy

The New Zealand Prime Minister received thunderous applause at the UN for his speech in which he expressed world cooperation and the kindness of world leaders, in stark contrast to Donald Trump's rejection earlier this week.

Jacinda Ardern's national statement has been viewed by many commentators as a direct refutation of the US president's call for increased isolationism and national interest.

Ardern called for equality for women, action on climate change and a renewed commitment to multilateralism, stating: "We must rediscover our common conviction of the value rather than the harm of the world. connectivity.

Ardern opened his speech with seven lines of te reo Māori, the mother tongue of the indigenous people of New Zealand.

"Out of a catastrophic war, we have collectively established through conventions, charters and rules a set of international standards and human rights," said Ardern.

"All of this is a recognition that we are not isolated, that governments have obligations to their citizens and to each other, and that our actions have a global impact."

"None of these founding principles should be recorded in history books. In fact, given the challenges we face today and their degree of nature and impact, the need for collective action and multilateralism has never been so clear.

Ardern's speech rejected Donald Trump's call for other nations to turn away from globalism and adopt patriotism. Trump's speech on Tuesday was interrupted by mocking laughter from other world leaders, although Ardern said it did not participate.

"We can use the environment to blame the nameless, faceless" others "to feed the feeling of insecurity, to lock us into higher levels of isolationism. Or we can recognize the problems we have and seek to solve them, "said Ardern.

At age 38, Ardern is one of the world's youngest leaders and has described this generation of young people as "citizens without borders" and "citizens of the world" who express more and more their "discontent" vis-à-vis -vis current political systems.

One way to improve the future of young people is to tackle climate change, Ardern said.

The United Nations had enormous potential and the power to bring the international community together, said Mr. Ardern, and they needed to reaffirm their commitment to its core values ​​of preserving human rights and dignity for all. all. His practices also required updating, so that they were not "blocked" by the use of the veto.

Ardern concluded her speech by pledging to work for the equality of women and girls not only in New Zealand, but around the world, a goal that has earned her the applause of world leaders, the first spontaneous applause of New Zealand Radio. reporter on the ground.

"I, too, have to become so," said Ardern. "We are all in there".

Ardern's first trip to the UN has received intense attention and enthusiasm from the international media, especially since Ardern has seen his three-month-old daughter Neve close to home. trip.

At home, Ardern has been hailed for generating positive publicity for the country, but will return to a population that is becoming increasingly skeptical about what his coalition government was able to achieve in its first year in office.

Two ministers have recently been fired from the government and tensions within coalition partners are increasingly evident, particularly with regard to the recent increase in the refugee quota that Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters had previously opposite.