As the United Nations undergoes a profound reform meant to increase its agility while spending less, the role of its oversight bodies is critical to assess the accompanying risks, delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) warned today. Switzerland’s representative, speaking also for Liechtenstein, said the UN80 Initiative aims to make the Organization more […]

With the international financial system still an impediment to driving forward action on the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and adaptation to the climate crisis, speakers stressed the need to reform its accessibility and architecture, while still others warned that conflict also reverses development, as the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) continued its general debate today. The […]

Developing countries paid almost a trillion dollars in net interest on public debt last year, nearly three times what they paid in 2010, due to rising borrowing costs, leaving less for health, education and other priorities, UN Trade and Development warns.

Poverty, widening inequality, conflict and violence against women are threatening hard-won social gains, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today, as speakers warn that development cannot endure when women and girls are denied fundamental rights. That link was starkest in Afghanistan, whose representative said that, five years after the Taliban’s forced takeover, poverty, […]

While detailing national efforts to prevent and combat terrorism, speakers also underlined the need for an international framework to unite them as the Sixth Committee (Legal) continued its debate on “measures to eliminate international terrorism” today. “Iraq has suffered the brunt of terrorism and has sought to combat it with all its capacities and resources,” […]

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today heard speakers from New Caledonia call on France to stop criminalizing those fighting for freedom. As petitioners from Non-Self-Governing Territories continued to address the Committee, several speakers raised the situation in New Caledonia, a Pacific archipelago administered by France. In May2024, there was unrest in that Territory […]

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Ramiz Alakbarov of Azerbaijan as his new Assistant Secretary-General for Safety and Security, in the UN Department of Safety and Security. Dr.Alakbarov will assume his functions in January2027, succeeding Unaisi Vuniwaqa of Fiji upon the completion of her term of office in December2026. The Secretary-General […]

(Based on information provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service) The FourthCommittee (Special Political and Decolonization) elected Coly Seck (Senegal)Chair on 2June.(See Press Release GA/12761.) Prior to his appointment as Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr.Seck served as Senegal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva between October2016 and August2024.Between January and […]

Dialogue, political will and respect for international law must continue to guide the decolonization process, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today. Established in1961, theSpecial Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples— also known as Committee of24 — […]

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of the Girl Child, observed on 11October: Every three seconds, child marriage cuts a girl’s childhood short. One in five girls worldwide is married before the age of18. Child marriage compromises the education, health and safety of millions of girls across the globe. Fundamentally, […]

Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message on World Food Day, observed on 16October: Food is a basic human right. Yet around 645million people faced hunger last year. And nearly 2.7billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. Overlapping shocks and crises are adding to these pressures.Disrupting production and supply chains.Driving up […]

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Mental Health Day, observed on 10October: On this year’s World Mental Health Day, we reaffirm the expertise and leadership of people with lived experience of mental health challenges. This year’s theme — “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change” — reflects the fact that people are […]

Climate change, poverty, conflict and rapid technological change are placing mounting pressure on social development and human rights, the Third Committee heard today, amid concerns over the role of the United Nations human rights system and the devastating toll of war on civilians. The social consequences of environmental change took centre stage, as Mongolia’s representative […]

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres: The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the serious incident involving a Tel Aviv-bound FlyDubai flight. He is relieved that tragedy was averted. The Secretary-General strongly condemns any act that places civilian lives and the safety of civil aviation at risk. The […]

Pursuant to itsveto initiative, speakers in the General Assembly today weighed in on the vetoesrecently cast by China and the Russian Federation concerning a Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of thePanel of Experts tasked with monitoring implementation of United Nations sanctions on Iran. At the centre of this issue is disagreement […]