Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for United Nations Public Service Day, observed on 23 June:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Refugee Day, observed on 20 June:

The General Assembly adopted on 18 June a resolution on peacekeeping operations and a decision extending its “silence procedure” through July, allowing it to continue its work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Forced displacement is now affecting more than one percent of humanity, or 1 in 97 people, and fewer of those who flee are able to return home, according to a report issued today by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for International Widows Day, observed on 23 June:

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the China‑Africa Summit on solidarity against COVID-19, in New York today:

A new United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report finds that universal child benefits such as cash payments or tax transfers — crucial to fighting child poverty — are only available in 1 out of 10 countries.  Officials say that they are needed now more than ever amid the economic fallout of COVID-19.

More than 55 million domestic workers — 37 million of whom are women — are at risk of losing their jobs and income amid COVID-19 lockdowns, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is warning.  Only about 10 per cent of domestic workers globally have access to social security safety nets.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of Family Remittances, to be observed on 16 June:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched the ZODIAC project to strengthen global preparedness for future pandemics by establishing a network to help with monitoring, surveillance, early detection and control of animal and zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola, avian influenza and Zika.