Rebuilding public trust in governments, financial institutions, media, and other key organizations is critical to strengthen collaboration, empower communities, and drive the successful implementation of the Pact for the Future, global leaders and experts emphasized. By focusing on restoring confidence and fostering partnerships, they highlighted a pathway toward meaningful global reforms and resilient societies.
The decline of trust is a universal phenomenon, affecting both developing and developed countries. “People are not trusting systems and organizations,” said Angela Williams, CEO of the United Way. “It affects all of our very existence. It affects humanity in the way we engage with each other, the way we view each other, and how we show up as good neighbors. When trust erodes, I start distrusting you as my neighbor. And that’s a problem.”
“This pact that was signed today is really aspirational,” said Hina Jilani, Member of the Elders and a lawyer and advocate. “Impact is crucial. It’s not something states should view as optional—it is essential to fix the trust deficit.” Ms Jilani also stressed the importance of respecting civil society contributions, particularly from youth. “Beyond respect for freedoms and civil rights, we have to recognize that communities become more resilient when they value the contributions of young people.”
Former President of Senegal Macky Sall described the Pact for the Future as “a wonderful resolution” that demonstrates the collective will to make progress and implement reforms. However, he acknowledged the difficulty of driving change. “We need to act, and we need to make reforms. But reforms are very difficult because people are afraid of new challenges.” Mr Sall also called for major international reforms, including reforming the Security Council to ensure African representation.
Building trust, participants agreed, requires greater inclusiveness, particularly for youth. “We cannot speak about trust without engaging the youth,” said David Sengeh, Chief Minister of Sierra Leone. “Young people should be at the table and they should be making decisions.”
Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications, introduced the dialogue on trust by emphasizing its importance at the local level. “Trust at the local level often forms the foundation on which larger institutional trust is built,” she said. “When we have resilient communities, they become active participants in shaping their own future, which in turn builds trust and fosters confidence in broader systems of governance.”
Nudhara Yusuf, Research Associate or the Global Governance Innovation Network, highlighted the complexity of measuring trust and evaluating the effectiveness of the UN. “Trust is wedded to hope, and you have to have hope,” Ms Yusuf said. “The Summit of the Future is that hope. What does the United Nations bring to the table? It brings the table.”
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