As the General Assembly marked the twentieth anniversary of the responsibility to protect, the UN Chief emphasized that the principle remains a moral imperative amid growing global turmoil, escalating identity-based violence, widespread breaches of international law and deepening impunity.
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the General Assembly on the twentieth anniversary of the responsibility to protect, in New York today:
Adopting a text aimed at promoting awareness about unilateral coercive measures, the General Assembly today also elected members to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
The General Assembly today considered the annual report of the Security Council for the period covering 1 January to 31 December 2024, with delegates assessing its functionality and also highlighting various aspects of the organ’s operations that require improvement, particularly those bordering on its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.
While the world is tantalizingly close to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, the risk of backsliding is great due to shortfalls in funding, lack of political will and intersecting inequalities, the General Assembly heard today.
The General Assembly elected a total of 20 new members to the Economic and Social Council today who will begin their terms on 1 January 2026.
The General Assembly today elected Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia as non-permanent members of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning on 1 January 2026.
In Nigeria, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and humanitarian partners continue to support the response to the devastating floods in the north-central part of the country. More than 500 households were impacted and over 3,000 people displaced.
Pledging to serve the international community as “an honest broker and unifier”, Annalena Baerbock of Germany was elected as President of the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly — the fifth woman to serve in that post in 80 years.
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks on the election of the President of the eightieth session of the General Assembly, in New York today:
