Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message on World Habitat Day, observed on 5 October:

Following is UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ message on the International Day of Older Persons, observed on 1 October:

Devastating flooding along the White Nile River has affected some 625,000 people in South Sudan since July, United Nations humanitarian officials in that country report.  The United Nations and partners are providing food, temporary shelter, fishing kits, water purification tablets, medicine and other supplies.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on World Tourism Day, observed on 27 September:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, observed on 26 September:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Maritime Day, observed on 24 September:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of Sign Languages, observed on 23 September:

On the International Day of Sign Languages, this year, we find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic that has disrupted and upended lives everywhere, including the lives of the deaf community.

The Human Rights Council held an urgent debate on conditions in Belarus, with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement, noting the continuation of mass demonstrations and expressing alarm over hundreds of claims of torture and ill treatment while in police custody.  She urged authorities to facilitate independent, prompt and impartial investigations.

The Secretary-General expressed concern over the number of restrictions and attacks against journalists, as many face harassment, intimidation, killing and arbitrary detention.  He called on Governments to immediately release journalists detained while exercising their profession, stressing:  “No democracy can function without press freedom.”

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the virtual student observance of the International Day of Peace, in New York today: