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 is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of Peace, observed on 21 September:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the first International Equal Pay Day, observed on 18 September:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of Democracy, observed on 15 September:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, observed on 12 September:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message at the high-level virtual event on the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, observed today:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, observed on 16 September:

The United Nations and humanitarian partners today released a tri-national action plan seeking $10.4 million to support Government responses over the next year to urgent needs in the border area between Colombia, Peru and Brazil, which currently has the world’s highest COVID-19 mortality rates per 100,000 people.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, observed today:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day against Nuclear Tests, observed on 29 August: