Toespraak bij het bezoek van de secretaris-generaal van de Verenigde Naties, 16 april 2026

 

Secretary‑General, I warmly welcome you to The Hague and to this historic City Hall. Your visit, linked to the 80^th anniversary of the International Court of Justice, means a great deal to our city.

The relationship between The Hague and the United Nations goes back many decades and is deeply rooted.

For more than a century, The Hague has played a unique role in promoting peace and justice worldwide.

As host city to the International Court of Justice and many other international institutions, The Hague stands at the heart of the international rule of law.

This position is not only symbolic; it is a daily responsibility that we take very seriously.

We meet at a time when the international rule of law and multilateral cooperation are under growing pressure.

In such times, places like The Hague matter even more, as anchors for justice, accountability and restraint.

Our city will continue to stand firmly behind these principles, not only in words, but through concrete action.

The Hague is not only a host city, but an anchor for the international justice system.

Recognition of this role by UN leadership strengthens confidence in multilateral institutions and matters greatly to the many people who work here, often under significant pressure.

The Hague is committed to remaining a stable and reliable host city for the United Nations.

Together with our national government, we invest in safety and in the smooth functioning of international institutions, and we remain open to further responsibilities where this helps strengthen the UN system.

Cities look to the United Nations for leadership and direction.

When the role of cities such as The Hague is acknowledged, it shows how global principles are protected and applied locally.

This recognition helps cities worldwide see themselves as part of a shared responsibility for peace and justice.

Many global challenges are felt first and most directly in cities.

Local governments are often responsible for implementing international agreements and turning them into real outcomes for people.

This makes cities essential partners in the multilateral system, complementing the role of states and strengthening the effectiveness and credibility of global governance.

And it also works the other way around: from our experience, we can also feed into global policies from a very local implementation perspective. Because we see what works and what does not. In practice.

In my role as Mayor, and also through my national association VNG and my international association United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), I see a strong willingness among cities to work with the United Nations.

Cities do not seek to replace national governments, but to contribute from their experience, capacity and closeness to citizens.

Clear and structured engagement with cities helps ensure that global commitments are delivered on the ground.

Since we last met in February 2025, we have seen important progress on Our Common Agenda, with growing recognition that global goals depend on strong involvement of local governments.

We appreciated the presence of Under‑Secretary‑General Guy Ryder at UCLG’s World Council in The Hague, and we welcome the participation of Deputy Secretary‑General Amina J. Mohammed at our upcoming Congress in Tangier.

This shows a strong sign of alignment and shared purpose.

We also value your report on Action 55, which confirms the role of local governments in delivering global commitments.

We actively mobilize our Member States (also the Netherlands) to support an ambitious outcome in the review of ECOSOC and the HLPF. We value the continued support of your office in this process.

What we propose: a meaningful and permanent seat at the table for local governments in local governance, in line with our responsibilities in implementation.

The members of Advisory Group, in which my dear colleague Sharon Dijksma from Utrecht participated, also remain committed to ensure continuity and alignment.

It is time that local governments get a Forum under ECOSOC as a formal mechanism, that they get a formal differentiated status (such as the parliamentarians), and enhanced participation in the HLPF.

I believe that the current momentum may also allow us to explore the possibility of pursuing the observer status within the UN system, as a natural next step in the evolution.

Secretary‑General, The Hague is guided in its international work by a clear vision.

One expression of this is The Hague Charter for Municipal Peace, developed within United Cities and Local Governments, and together with my city and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), which highlights the responsibility of cities in promoting peace, prevention and social cohesion at the local level.

In addition, our International Policy Framework sets out how The Hague, as an international city of peace and justice, contributes in a consistent and long‑term way to the international legal order and to multilateral cooperation.

I am pleased to share both documents with you as a reflection of how our city translates global values into local commitment.

Again thank you for your visit to The Hague.