A 32-year-old woman, Emma Igual, granddaughter of a survivor of Nazism who was adopted by a family from Barcelona, became the starting point of Pedro Sánchez, acting president, of his speech before the General Assembly of the Organization of United Nations.
He recalled that this aid worker died on September 10. Her vehicle was hit by artillery while she was traveling through the Bakhmut region of Ukraine. Another person died and two were seriously injured. They were dedicated to helping those in need in that country at war. Emma's example “should lead us to a calm but urgent reflection on the need to take sides,” she stated. “Speak with actions, move from words to action,” she said.
This activism is what must also be applied in the defense of democracy, equality and social justice. Sánchez denounced on the great stage of diplomacy, already this Thursday morning in Spain, "a deep crisis of disaffection and distrust towards the institutions," he said.
This doesn't come out of nowhere. “An extremist and reactionary wave is growing throughout the world. A wave driven by movements that share a strategy: the promise of a return to a mythical past that never existed.” He didn't name names, but it was easy to think of loud, vociferous acronyms in Spain.
“The marginalization and criminalization of disadvantaged minorities. The rejection of feminism and equality. Or the questioning of human, civil and social rights. Ideas that we thought were outdated return and prosper where social frustration is greatest. It is not easy to combat those who make lies, fear and manipulation their main tool,” he denounced.
"In these turbulent years we have seen the threat that looms against democracy grow in many places. We experienced it in Washington D.C. or Brasilia. Today, in Niger and Gabon. Unfortunately, we have learned not to assume as irreversible the rights and freedoms for which Other generations fought with so much courage," he lamented. He clarified, however, that "Spain will always be a committed partner to advance the strengthening of democracy."
And, with women like Emma, “there are reasons for hope in the determination of many societies to preserve a legacy of progress that does not allow going back,” she insisted. "This is the path that shows the brave and determined positioning of civil society in Spain. Particularly, in the field of equality between women and men, as has been evident recently in the field of sport," in reference more than evident to the champions, to the winners of the soccer world cup in Australia.
He acknowledged that there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality. “None more pressing than the definitive eradication of sexist violence, whose existence some dare to question against all logic,” he stated. “There is no greater antidote to reactionary extremism than feminism, without a doubt, the great cause of our century, the century of women. Again, here is also the time to act and take sides.
Because in the spotlight is also the multilateralism that the UN defends and of which the president is a defender. But it must be applied well. "The challenge and priority is to demonstrate that the system works for everyone. Otherwise, inequality will be fertile territory for the rhetoric of the enemies of multilateralism to germinate," he clarified.
Sánchez also saw in the defense of Europe, of the European Union that Spain now presides over, another effective element against the involutionists and revisionists. “To combat the undoubted success of this integrative project, some wanted to caricature it. As? Portraying the European Union as a giant with feet of clay incapable of defending itself with determination,” he explained.
“Well, in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and contrary to what Putin thought, Europe has responded with firmness and unity to its atrocities,” he noted. “Once again, I condemn from this rostrum Russia's unjustified war of aggression. “Spain has been and will be alongside Ukraine, with political, humanitarian, military and financial support,” he added.
And he reflected: “If the nightmare of war has shown anything, it is the strength and nobility of the European dream. I believe in a Europe at the forefront in the defense of global public goods, democracy, labor and social protection and economic openness, a Europe that leads the fight against inequalities and defends individual rights and public freedoms," he said. .
This Europe must face two crucial events, he predicted, a more supportive collective agenda and the unity and forcefulness with which it has responded to the critical events of the last four years, such as the pandemic and the war. And it is his turn to lead the agenda to combat the climate emergency and adaptation to new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). That progress will be of little use without the Emmas who put their humanity at the service of others.
