Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council open debate on “Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter through Effective Multilateralism: Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine”, in New York today:
Urging dialogue, diplomacy and a just peace among Member States, the United Nations chief called on world leaders today to use tools at their disposal provided for by the Charter of the United Nations to prevent the further escalation of the war in Ukraine, during the Security Council’s high-level open debate on effective multilateralism and the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.
A report released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its partners is offering solutions to decarbonize the building and construction sector. The report says that the construction sector is currently responsible for 37 per cent of global emissions.
Amid the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, defensive military assistance to Kyiv has continued while weapons and ammunition have been reportedly transferred to the Russian Federation Armed Forces, a top United Nations disarmament official told the Security Council today, stressing that such actions risk escalating the conflict.
A report released over the weekend by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows that methamphetamine trafficking in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries is surging.
The Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon warned today that the continuing clashes in the Ein El-Hilweh Palestine Refugee Camp, along with the ongoing takeover of eight schools, are preventing the access of nearly 6,000 children who are about to begin their school year.
The Russian Federation’s latest illegal attempts to organize new so-called electoral processes in the occupied areas of Ukraine further undermine the prospects for peace, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as speakers challenged the validity of the ongoing polls while others called for de-escalation and negotiation.
In Costa Rica, Resident Coordinator Allegra Baiocchi and the UN Team launched a new guide addressing online hate speech against women in politics, ahead of the country’s local elections scheduled to take place in February 2024. Online hate crime specifically targeting women jumped 72 per cent in the past year.
In Liberia, the United Nations team there is boosting its response to national efforts to address food insecurity. This follows a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) showing that over half a million people are currently facing acute food insecurity in the country.
In Mali, armed conflict, internal displacement and restricted humanitarian access risks pushing nearly 1 million children under age five into acute malnutrition by the end of 2023. The UN Children’s Fund and the World Food Programme urgently seek $184.4 million to reach 8.8 million people, including 4.7 million children.