Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, observed on 6 February:

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the high-level event hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on the occasion of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, held today:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the International Day of Human Fraternity, observed today:

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to a virtual meeting on the occasion of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, held today:

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, raised concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic’s adverse impact on children in conflict zones.  In her annual report to the Human Rights Council, she urged States to incorporate child rights in virus containment plans and ensure that protection services continue to operate.

Following is UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, observed today:

United Nations personnel in the Central African Republic say they have stepped up security patrols following the arrest of former Séléka commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani.  Mr. Kani, who is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity, was surrendered to the International Criminal Court on 24 January.

Following is UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of Education, observed on 24 January:

More than 100 people were killed and over 25 others injured following the 2 January attacks in Niger’s Tillaberi Region, according to local authorities.  A United Nations inter-agency assessment mission arrived in the town of Ouallam yesterday, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed.

Despite slightly improved humanitarian access into some areas of Tigray, the region remains critically challenged by the prevailing insecurity and bureaucratic constraints, United Nations humanitarian officials in Ethiopia report.  Health facilities in major cities are working with limited supplies and without staff.