Human rights

The Food and Agriculture Organization said it is working to bolster the global response to the Fall Armyworm, considered one of the top 10 devastating plant pests, which places at risk up to 80 million metric tons of maize worth $18 billion per year in Africa, Asia and the Near East.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports it is providing supplies such as mosquito nets, solar lamps, and blankets for 36,000 people in Somalia’s Puntland region who have been affected by Cyclone Gati, the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the country, which made landfall in November.

Following is UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ message for International Migrants Day, observed on 18 December:

Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message to the closing session of the World Press Freedom Conference 2020 “Journalism without Fear or Favour”, in The Hague today:

This morning, David Beasley, the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Executive Director, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on his organization’s behalf.  With 270 million people approaching starvation and only $5 billion needed to save 30 million from famine, he said, in the Nobel spirit of peace and brotherhood, let’s feed them all.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks, as delivered, on the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide, observed today:

Following is UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ message on the Human Rights Day 2020 theme “Recover Better:  Stand Up for Human Rights”, observed on 10 December:

Following is UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ message on the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, observed 9 December:

The Mission in South Sudan deployed a Nepalese Quick Reaction Force Team to Cueibet to support local police protecting civilians from a potential conflict between armed groups, following the killing of a young man.  The peacekeepers intercepted the groups and remained in the area until the situation was stable. 

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the launch of the report “From Promise to Action:  The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration”, today: