Violence against women and girls is a global human rights challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed this issue as a global emergency requiring urgent action at all levels, in all spaces and by all people. The social and economic fallout from the pandemic is disproportionately pushing women and girls into poverty, and the risk of violence against them is rising. Continue reading
Category Archives: Message
UN Secretary-General’s opening remarks to the 11th UN-ASEAN Summit
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour to join you for the 11th ASEAN-UN Summit, and I want to congratulate Viet Nam for its solidarity as ASEAN Chair and as member of the UN Security Council.
I wish to start by expressing my deepest condolences on the loss of lives caused by the recent floods and landslides in Viet Nam. The United Nations stands with you.
Secretary-General’s video message to launch Policy Brief on Education and COVID-19
Education is the key to personal development and the future of societies.
It unlocks opportunities and narrows inequalities.
It is the bedrock of informed, tolerant societies, and a primary driver of sustainable development. Continue reading
Secretary General’s message on the World Day against Trafficking in Persons
This year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons honours the first responders helping to end the crime of human trafficking: law enforcement officers, social workers, healthcare professionals, NGO staff and many others working around the world to protect the vulnerable. Continue reading
Secretary-General’s video message for the Launch of the Policy Brief entitled “COVID-19 in an Urban World”
Urban areas are ground zero of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 90 per cent of reported cases.
Cities are bearing the brunt of the crisis – many with strained health systems, inadequate water and sanitation services, and other challenges.
This is especially the case in poorer areas, where the pandemic has exposed deeply rooted inequalities. Continue reading
Secretary-General’s remarks to Tsinghua University – “Global Lecture on Climate Change – Recover Better Together”
Watch the video: https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergr…
Let me begin by thanking Minister Xie Zhenhua, President of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Tsinghua University.
Thank you for your kind invitation and even more for your global leadership.
And it is a pleasure to greet the students of Tsinghua University — and your partners around the world. Continue reading
Secretary-General António Guterres message on Policy Brief on Arab Region
COVID-19 and the Arab Region: An Opportunity to Build Back Better
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed fault lines, fissures and fragilities in societies and economies around the world – and the Arab region is no exception.
The region is blessed with tremendous diversity and potential. Yet all Arab countries – whether oil-rich, middle-income or least developed – face difficulties in responding. Continue reading
UNAIDS to launch 2020 Global AIDS Update
Seizing the moment: tackling entrenched inequalities to end epidemics
Like the HIV epidemic before it, COVID-19 is exploiting the extreme inequalities between countries and within them to take root among disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. I am proud that decades of experience in responding to HIV are being used in the fight against the coronavirus and that activists all over the world are working hard to make sure that the disruption to HIV services is minimized. Continue reading
Op-ed from the Heads of UN Environment Programme and UN ESCAP: Direct COVID stimulus and recovery funding toward green and climate-friendly investments
We should not aim to return to normal
Armida Alisjahbana and Inger Andersen
The world before COVID-19 looks very attractive right now. In light of the disease, mass unemployment and social distancing, a return to pre-pandemic normality seems appealing. Yet we should remember what normal was. Continue reading
UN action joins the call of the Secretary-General for a global ceasefire
JOINT STATEMENT
On the occasion of this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, the member entities of United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict1 express their grave concern at the continued use of sexual violence as a tactic of war, terrorism and political repression, and call on all parties to conflicts to commit to ceasing such acts as part of the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire made in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading