Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, in New York today:
The following statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres was issued today:
The United Nations Development Programme, launching their policy brief, “The Human Cost of Inaction: Poverty, Social Protection and Debt Servicing, 2020–2023”, and noting that an 165 million additional people fell into poverty as a result of the cumulative crisis, proposed a “debt-poverty pause” for developing economies.
With only 15 per cent of the Global Goals’ targets on track, a vibrant civil society is crucial to push Governments towards more ambitious efforts and ensure the participation of marginalized and vulnerable communities, speakers stressed, as the high-level political forum on sustainable development — held under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council — continued its discussion today.
With gang rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence used as tactics of war amid rising militarization and weapons proliferation, the Security Council must close the gap between its commitments to address conflict-related sexual violence and the shocking realities for victims and survivors, delegates heard today during the 15-nation organ’s open debate on sexual violence in conflict situations.
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) until 15 July 2024, deciding that its police and corrections unit will include up to 70 civilian and seconded personnel serving as police and corrections advisers to scale up its strategic and advisory support to the training and investigation capacities of the Haitian National Police, and that its human rights unit will include dedicated capacity to address sexual and gender-based violence including the identification of women’s protection advisers.
As cities grow exponentially, Governments, the private sector and civil society will have to urgently work together to ensure that urban communities of the not-so-far-future are sustainable, resilient and inclusive for all, speakers stressed, as the high-level political forum on sustainable development — held under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council — continued its discussion today.
The United Nations team in the Federated States of Micronesia has launched a new joint programme, financed by a $3.8 million grant from the UN Joint SDG Fund, to help small island developing States in the Pacific pool resources, expertise and networks, spur economic activities and strengthen climate change resilience.
The intercontinental ballistic missiles being developed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea “can reach most points on Earth”, a senior United Nations official warned today, urging Pyongyang to fully comply with its international obligations under all relevant resolutions adopted by the Security Council.
Calling on the Security Council to deliver justice to the people of war-torn Sudan or risk irrelevance, the International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor today detailed plans to investigate alleged violations of international law emanating from Sudan’s latest conflict, as well as the serious crimes committed in Darfur two decades ago.
