to commemorate United Nations Charter Day
Intervention by H.E. Jeem Lippwe, Permanent Representative
New York, 26 June 2026
Madame President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues,
For Micronesia, the Charter of the United Nations is a quiet heartbeat within our national story, a steady rhythm that has guided our islands through the tides of history. Our modern journey unfolded beneath its sheltering promise. From 1947 until our independence, Micronesia grew within the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, administered by the United States through the Trusteeship Council. Under the Charter’s watchful spirit, our islands learned to lift their voices, to dream of self‑government, and to walk with confidence toward the horizon of self‑determination. When Micronesia joined the United Nations in 1991, we did so not only as a new Member State, but as a nation born from the very principles the Charter enshrines, shaped, protected, and empowered by its vision.
Eighty‑one years after its signing, we stand at a moment of profound challenge. The world faces rising conflict, widening inequalities, accelerating climate impacts, and a troubling erosion of respect for international law. The United Nations is under political and financial pressure, and the principles of the Charter are being tested in ways not seen in generations.
Yet for Micronesia, the United Nations remains indispensable. Without this Organization, there would be more wars, less humanitarian relief, and no credible path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. For small island developing States, the UN is our life insurance, the guarantor that our voice carries equal weight, and that the rule of law protects the smallest as firmly as the largest.
Today’s commemoration must therefore be more than reflection. It must be a recommitment. Micronesia calls on all Member States to defend the Charter, uphold its principles, and strengthen the multilateral system that has delivered peace, dignity, and opportunity to our peoples.
The Charter guided our past. It safeguards our present. And it remains essential to securing a peaceful, just, and sustainable future for the generations yet to come.