Delivered by His Excellency,
Joseph Vella Gauci, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Malta to UNESCO
Malta extends its heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected Director-General and expresses deep appreciation to the outgoing Director-General for her leadership and commitment to UNESCO’s values.
Malta fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and reaffirms its unwavering support for multilateralism, peace through education, science, culture, and communication, and the protection of human dignity worldwide.
This year marks a proud milestone: the 60th anniversary of Malta’s membership in UNESCO. For six decades, Malta has stood shoulder to shoulder with this Organisation, united by the belief that education, science, culture, and communication are the cornerstones of peace and progress. Malta has been a strong advocate for the preservation of heritage, the advancement of education, and the promotion of international cooperation built on respect and solidarity.
Malta’s World Heritage Sites, Intangible Cultural Heritage, and Memory of the World inscriptions stand as enduring symbols of human creativity and resilience. They remind us that heritage belongs to all humankind and that we are its custodians for future generations. Malta looks forward to having more of its treasured sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding the heritage that connects our past to our future.
For Malta, culture and nature are inseparable, the living heart of our identity and the foundation of sustainable growth. We are deeply committed to protecting both, from the restoration of historic sites to the preservation of marine ecosystems and open spaces that sustain communities. Our national strategy, Malta Vision 2050, embodies this philosophy. It ensures that all policies align with today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges, promoting sustainability, resilience, and wellbeing in harmony with European and global priorities and in full alignment with UNESCO’s holistic approach to development.
Education remains at the core of Malta’s development agenda and its collaboration with UNESCO. We are committed to ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all, empowering learners to think critically, act ethically, and engage as responsible global citizens. As the most powerful instrument for peace, Education fosters dialogue, combats prejudice, and builds understanding. In this digital age, Malta prioritises digital literacy and lifelong learning, ensuring that everyone has the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Malta also believes in the transformative power of science diplomacy. We commend UNESCO’s leadership in promoting science as a bridge for cooperation and peace and join the EU in welcoming the outcomes of the Global Ministerial Dialogue on Science Diplomacy. Through research collaboration and sustainable innovation, Malta remains committed to advancing solutions that unite knowledge with compassion. Science must continue to serve as a universal language that transcends boundaries and empowers all people.
As an island state, Malta strongly supports UNESCO’s Global Priority on SIDS, recognising their unique vulnerabilities to climate change, resource constraints, and heritage preservation.
In a time of geopolitical uncertainty, multilateralism remains our strongest foundation for peace and progress. Malta remains steadfast in its belief that the global challenges we face, from climate change to digital transformation, can only be addressed through cooperation and shared purpose.
As we mark 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and 25 years since UN Security Council Resolution on Women, Peace and Security, Malta reaffirms its commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, recognising that their full, equal, and meaningful participation is essential for peace and sustainable development.
We also underline the importance of freedom of expression, access to knowledge, and media literacy. Communication must unite rather than divide. Malta, therefore, advocates for ethical digital practices and responsible innovation to ensure that progress always serves humanity and protects democracy.
As we meet here, we are reminded of the immense suffering faced by people living in conflict and instability. Malta stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and all those affected by violence and displacement. We echo the EU’s call for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace grounded in international law, human rights, and mutual respect.
Let us take a moment to commit ourselves to make peace our highest priority through education, cooperation, and shared humanity. Malta remains committed to working with all Member States, within the European Union, the United Nations, and beyond, to advance the ideals that define this Organisation.
Let us build together a future where heritage inspires innovation, education empowers all, science unites nations, and peace endures as the foundation of our shared humanity.
