Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the town hall meeting with civil society on the occasion of the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, in New York today:
The Commission on the Status of Women continued its sixty-ninth session today holding a ministerial roundtable discussion, with speakers sharing best practices and challenges in regard to their national strategies aiming to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message on the International Day of Nowruz, observed on 21 March:
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the launch of the Children and Armed Conflict Campaign “Prove It Matters” in Geneva, Switzerland, today:
The Commission on the Status of Women opened its sixty-ninth session today in the General Assembly, marking 30 years since the landmark 1995 Beijing Conference on Women, which pledged to achieve gender equality and uphold women’s rights. Speakers emphasized the critical work still needed to advance these goals “in the face of immense obstacles”.
In South Sudan, the UN peacekeeping mission (UNMISS) there is intensifying efforts alongside international peace partners to de-escalate the tensions following clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and armed youth in Upper Nile, as well as conflict between organized forces in Western Equatoria state.
Pointing to growing frustration over the lack of progress in political engagement with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities — compounded by cuts to humanitarian-aid funding that are placing additional pressure on the Afghan people — the top UN official there told the Security Council today that the Taliban must clearly demonstrate their commitment to Afghanistan’s international reintegration.
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, observed on 15 March:
Noting the approach of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on 15 March, Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) delegates today began reviewing the proposed 2025 budget of $870,000 to support the mandate of a Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, including the creation of professional posts within the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) to assist its High Representative, who is recommended to double as the Special Envoy.
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for Earth Hour, observed at 8:30 p.m. local time, on 22 March:
