The year 2020 will be remembered as a pivotal moment in history. Our actions now will have far reaching consequences. Countries around the world are experiencing a confluence of factors that are resulting in simultaneous health, economic, political, and governance crises. The novel coronavirus has revealed a fundamental truth of our age: What happens anywhere can have an impact everywhere. The same is true of systemic racism.

The protests against racism and police brutality sparked by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are concentrated in the United States, but they have spread to cities in more than 25 countries worldwide. Structural inequality, discrimination, disenfranchisement, racial injustice, and violence are experienced every day by millions of people of color across the globe. Left unaddressed, racism is an affront to human dignity. It undermines principles of human rights, security, and sustainable development—all things required for a just, peaceful, and prosperous society.

As an international think tank, headquartered in New York City, with a staff from more than 20 countries, the International Peace Institute is committed to promoting peace, security and sustainable development. Throughout the past fifty years, our work has focused on improving international responses to the risks of violence, instability, and conflict in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. These risks are universal challenges from which the United States is not immune.

The international architecture for development, humanitarian assistance, and conflict mitigation, have all too often been ineffective in addressing inequalities. The 75^th anniversary of the United Nations is a critical moment to ensure that multilateral institutions are more inclusive, able to effectively respond to universal challenges and risks, and reflect the values and ideals of the full diversity of citizens around the world.

IPI is committed to strengthening the relationship between states and citizens everywhere, so all people can live in peace, protected by the rule of law without having to fear it. IPI is committed to promoting more inclusive multilateral decision-making and to providing a platform for dialogue among diverse stakeholders on critical issues of global importance.

We stand in solidarity with all peaceful efforts to address the far reaching consequences of racism—both in the United States, and around the world.