Environmental issues and sustainable development

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict urged Ethiopia to promptly sign an agreement with the United Nations to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence.  She noted that extreme brutality is a hallmark of the ongoing conflict in the country’s Tigray region.

Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message to the Planet Budapest 2021 Sustainability Expo and Summit, in Budapest today:

Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message to the General Assembly of the World Trade Organization (UNWTO), in Madrid today:

Osnat Lubrani, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, today launched the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan seeking $190 million in education, food, shelter, water and other aid to alleviate the suffering of 2.9 million conflict-weary people in the eastern part of the country.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, to the Building Bridges Summit, in Geneva today:

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at a briefing to Member States, in Geneva today:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Satellite Centre, today:

A new report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveals that Governments and detaining authorities in at least 84 countries have released more than 45,000 children since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Some 261,000 children in conflict with the law are still being held in detention worldwide.

Following is Secretary-General António Guterres’ statement on the conclusion of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), today:

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta Fore voiced deep concern over reports that child marriage in Afghanistan is on the rise, with families offering daughters as young as 20 days old for future marriage in return for a dowry.  Some 28 per cent of Afghan women aged 15–49 were married before 18.