Bangladesh has urged the international community to address vaccine inequality holistically to ensure a smooth post-pandemic recovery, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.
"Bangladesh Foreign Minister told a UN (United Nations) meeting that a successful pandemic recovery must involve universal vaccination," he cited.
"The minister also referred to the unfortunate manifestation of the vaccine nationalism and called the world to stand united against such vaccine inequity."
Mr Momen was addressing the 'United Nations High-level Forum on the Culture of Peace' hosted at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday.
"It's time for development partners to be more humane and help the deserving without discrimination. Vaccine should be a public good," the minister said virtually.
"An essential component of our recovery effort from the pandemic must involve a peaceful environment in which all of us irrespective of our caste, creed, colour, race and religion can meaningfully contribute to our re-building efforts."
"There is no alternative (but) to inculcate the Culture of Peace in our efforts to build back better in the post-Covid recovery," Mr Momen mentioned.
This year's forum focused on transformative role of the culture of peace in promoting inclusion and resilience in the post-Covid recovery.
The day-long event included an inaugural session, a plenary session and a virtual panel discussion.
In his remarks, Mr Momen recalled Bangladesh's pioneering role in adopting the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Culture of Peace since 1999 and organising the high-level forum since 2012.
UNGA president, high representative of the UN Alliance of Civilisation, chef de cabinet of the UN secretary general and a UNESCO representative also delivered remarks at the inaugural session.
Recognising the need for creating an environment for peace for a resilient recovery from Covid, Mr Momen invited the world to mainstream culture of peace in all pandemic recovery efforts.
He underscored a strong correlation between peace and development and called for ensuring timely implementation of the Agenda 2030 in this regard.
Later in the day, a panel discussion involving civil-society organisations was held which was moderated by Ambassador Anwarul K Chowdhury, former under-secretary general and high representative of the UN.
Bangladesh permanent representative Ambassador Fatima joined the event as one of the panellists.
Ms Fatima emphasised eliminating digital divide and restructuring conventional education system in ensuring uninterrupted access to education by all children.
Voicing her concern at an alarming rise in inequality within and among societies, the envoy urged the global community to address inequality in a holistic manner.
The spokesperson said Mr Fatima also called for increased efforts, including dialogue, for elimination of hate speech, xenophobia and discrimination across the society for an inclusive recovery.
The UNGA president convened the forum, pursuant to the annual General Assembly Resolution on the 'Declaration on the Culture of Peace and Programme of Action' tabled by Bangladesh and adopted unanimously with overwhelming co-sponsorships.
A significant number of ambassadors and permanent representatives, ministers, civil-society organisations attended the meeting and delivered statements.
