Social issues

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the briefing to Member States, in Geneva today:

​​​​​​​Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the International Forum on Government Audit:  “How Supreme Audit Institutions May Contribute to Reach Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2 — No Poverty and Zero Hunger”, in Rio de Janeiro, today:

​​​​​​​Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ opening remarks to the Transforming Education Summit, in New York today:

​​​​​​​United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Li Junhua of China as the next Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.  He will succeed Liu Zhenmin of China, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his commitment and dedicated service to the Organization.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today released new data showing that while reported numbers of refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe are fewer than in 2015, journeys are becoming more fatal.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Navid Hanif of Pakistan as Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the Global Disability Summit, held virtually today:

The Commission for Social Development concluded its sixtieth session today, forwarding three texts to the Economic and Social Council, including a draft resolution focused on an inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19 and the eradication of poverty and hunger to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this year’s priority theme.

The Commission for Social Development resumed its general discussion in virtual format today, with representatives of Government and civil society responding to this year’s theme — addressing food insecurity and eradicating poverty, including through the promotion of sustainable food systems — by highlighting national programmes for a resilient post-pandemic recovery and identifying structural gaps and impediments to overcome.

With the COVID-19 pandemic casting a pall over the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, delegates in the Commission for Social Development called for greater international cooperation today, highlighting national efforts towards resilient inclusive recovery and growth.