I condemn Israel’s actions which killed scores of innocent civilians who were only seeking shelter from this deadly conflict. There is no safe place in Gaza. This horror must stop.
We have witnessed too much suffering and destruction in Gaza. It is time to stop. I welcome @potus Biden’s initiative and I encourage all parties to seize this opportunity for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, guaranteed unhindered humanitarian access and ultimately a durable peace in the Middle East.
I had the privilege of growing up near the ocean. It pains me to see how our ocean is now in trouble. Record sea temperatures are sparking extreme weather events that affect us all. Ocean acidification is destroying coral reefs, breaking a vital link in food chains and threatening tourism and local economies. And unsustainable coastal development, overfishing, deep-sea mining, unchecked pollution and plastic waste are wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. Now is the time for governments, businesses, investors, scientists and communities to come together to #SaveOurOcean. On World Oceans Day, let’s awaken new depths of action for our ocean. 📷: UN Photo / Mark Garten
This week we paid tribute to 188 @unitednations colleagues who lost their lives in the line of duty last year. 135 of them worked for @unrwa – by far the highest number of our personnel killed in a single conflict. Since this memorial scores of Palestinian civilians continued to be killed in Israeli military operations. This horror must stop.
It is high time for a ceasefire in Gaza along with the unconditional release of all hostages. I welcome the peace initiative recently outlined by @POTUS Joe Biden and urge everyone to seize this opportunity and respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. The only way forward in the Middle East is through a political solution that opens a path to sustained peace, based on two states, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
I am profoundly concerned about escalation between Israel and Hezbollah along the Blue Line. Escalation in continued exchanges of fire. Escalation in bellicose rhetoric from both sides as if an all-out war was imminent. Further military escalation will only guarantee more suffering, more devastation to communities in Lebanon and Israel, and more potentially catastrophic consequences for the region. The risk for the conflict in the Middle East to widen is real – and must be avoided. The world must say loudly and clearly: immediate de-escalation is not only possible – it is essential. There is no military solution. It is time for reason and rationality.
Today I met again with families of people kidnapped and held by Hamas in Gaza, as well as a former hostage. I was deeply moved by their harrowing testimonies. I share their pain and grief. I reiterate my call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Now. 📷: UN Photo/Mark Garten
Today I met again with families of people kidnapped and held by Hamas in Gaza, as well as a former hostage. I was deeply moved by their harrowing testimonies. I share their pain and grief. I reiterate my call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Now. 📷: UN Photo/Mark Garten
Today I met again with families of people kidnapped and held by Hamas in Gaza, as well as a former hostage. I was deeply moved by their harrowing testimonies. I share their pain and grief. I reiterate my call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Now. 📷: UN Photo/Mark Garten
Congratulations to Major Radhika Sen of India, our @unitednations Military Gender Advocate of the Year. During her deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she led her unit on countless patrols, during which her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls. During this time, Major Sen also served as gender focal point, and took on civil military tasks — including vocational trainings for women and young people. Major Sen is a true leader and role model. Her achievements #ServingForPeace underscore the essential role women play for peace and security. Join me in congratulating her for her service, leadership, and commitment. 📷: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas
Hate speech is massively amplified by the power of digital platforms and tools that enable it to spread across borders and cultures – targeting a broad range of groups, often based on grounds of race, ethnicity, religion, belief, or political affiliation. As young people are often most affected by hate speech, particularly online, they must also be part of the solution. The participation of young people, particularly girls and young women, and youth from indigenous, minority and LGBTIQ communities, as well as young people with disabilities, is crucial to create public and online spaces free from hate speech. As we mark the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, let’s redouble our efforts to promote human rights education, bring young people into democratic decision-making, and counter intolerance, discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes, wherever they are found.
My message to young people, civil society & other climate activists: You’re on the right side of history. You speak for the majority. Keep it up. Don’t lose hope. It’s We the Peoples vs. the polluters and the profiteers. Together, we can win.
Like the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs, humanity is having an outsized impact on our planet. In the case of the climate crisis, we are not the dinosaurs. We are the meteor. We are not only in danger. We are the danger. But we are also the solution.
We need an exit ramp off the highway to climate hell. We have control of the wheel. The 1.5 degree limit of global warming is still just about possible. But we need to fight harder. Now. Now is the time to mobilise, now is the time to act, now is the time to deliver.
This #PKDay I pay tribute to the more than 76,000 men and women of @unpeacekeeping. They embody humanity’s highest ideal: peace. Coming from over 120 countries, our Blue Helmets bravely work in some of the most dangerous and unstable places on earth to protect civilians, uphold human rights, support elections and strengthen institutions. Achieving peace takes hard work. On this important day, join me in thanking those who are #ServingForPeace.
This #WorldEnvironmentDay I spoke about the state of the fight against the climate crisis at the @amnh, an impressive location that tells the story of our natural world and the vast forces that have shaped life on earth over billions of years. Humanity is just one small blip on the radar, but like the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs, we’re having an outsized impact. In the case of climate, we are not the dinosaurs, we are the meteor. And we are not only in danger, we are the danger. But we are also the solution. I thank young people, civil society, and all who have been leading the charge towards a safer, cleaner world. You are on the right side of history. It’s time for leaders to decide whose side they’re on. It’s time to mobilise, to act, and to deliver. 📷: UN Photo/Mark Garten; UN Social Media.
This #WorldEnvironmentDay I spoke about the state of the fight against the climate crisis at the @amnh, an impressive location that tells the story of our natural world and the vast forces that have shaped life on earth over billions of years. Humanity is just one small blip on the radar, but like the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs, we’re having an outsized impact. In the case of climate, we are not the dinosaurs, we are the meteor. And we are not only in danger, we are the danger. But we are also the solution. I thank young people, civil society, and all who have been leading the charge towards a safer, cleaner world. You are on the right side of history. It’s time for leaders to decide whose side they’re on. It’s time to mobilise, to act, and to deliver. 📷: UN Photo/Mark Garten; UN Social Media.
This #WorldEnvironmentDay I spoke about the state of the fight against the climate crisis at the @amnh, an impressive location that tells the story of our natural world and the vast forces that have shaped life on earth over billions of years. Humanity is just one small blip on the radar, but like the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs, we’re having an outsized impact. In the case of climate, we are not the dinosaurs, we are the meteor. And we are not only in danger, we are the danger. But we are also the solution. I thank young people, civil society, and all who have been leading the charge towards a safer, cleaner world. You are on the right side of history. It’s time for leaders to decide whose side they’re on. It’s time to mobilise, to act, and to deliver. 📷: UN Photo/Mark Garten; UN Social Media.
From Sudan to Ukraine, from the Middle East to Myanmar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond, conflict, climate chaos and upheaval are forcing record numbers of people from their homes and fueling profound human suffering. The latest figures show that a total of more than 120 million people around the world are forcibly displaced, including 43.5 million refugees. #WorldRefugeeDay is about honouring their strength and courage – and stepping up efforts to protect and support refugees. They need global solidarity and the ability to rebuild their lives in dignity. Let’s reaffirm the world’s collective responsibility in assisting and welcoming refugees, in upholding their human rights – including the right to seek – and ultimately, in resolving conflicts so that those forced from their communities can return home.
On #AfricaDay, we celebrate this dynamic and diverse continent and the contributions of Africans to our world. The continent’s young and growing population, its rich natural resources, its breathtaking beauty and cultural diversity give it outsize potential. I renew my pledge to stand with all Africans in their quest to lead their continent — and our world — into a peaceful and prosperous future for all. 📷: UN Photo/Duncan Moore; Eskinder Debebe; Mark Garten.
On #AfricaDay, we celebrate this dynamic and diverse continent and the contributions of Africans to our world. The continent’s young and growing population, its rich natural resources, its breathtaking beauty and cultural diversity give it outsize potential. I renew my pledge to stand with all Africans in their quest to lead their continent — and our world — into a peaceful and prosperous future for all. 📷: UN Photo/Duncan Moore; Eskinder Debebe; Mark Garten.
On #AfricaDay, we celebrate this dynamic and diverse continent and the contributions of Africans to our world. The continent’s young and growing population, its rich natural resources, its breathtaking beauty and cultural diversity give it outsize potential. I renew my pledge to stand with all Africans in their quest to lead their continent — and our world — into a peaceful and prosperous future for all. 📷: UN Photo/Duncan Moore; Eskinder Debebe; Mark Garten.
On #AfricaDay, we celebrate this dynamic and diverse continent and the contributions of Africans to our world. The continent’s young and growing population, its rich natural resources, its breathtaking beauty and cultural diversity give it outsize potential. I renew my pledge to stand with all Africans in their quest to lead their continent — and our world — into a peaceful and prosperous future for all. 📷: UN Photo/Duncan Moore; Eskinder Debebe; Mark Garten.
Digital technology offers an incredible opportunity to create a more just, equal, sustainable and peaceful future for all. Digital advances are revolutionizing economies and societies, they are bringing people together, delivering information, news, knowledge, and education at the tap of a screen or click of a mouse. They are providing citizens with access to government services and institutions, and supercharging economies, trade and financial inclusion. But the very quality of seamless, instant connectivity that powers the enormous benefits of cyberspace can also leave people, institutions and entire countries deeply vulnerable. Malicious activity in cyberspace is on the rise. Malicious activity that undermines public institutions, electoral processes and online integrity erodes trust, fuels tensions, and even sows the seeds of violence and conflict. As I told the Security Council today, there are clear and growing links between cyberspace and global peace and security. We need to make sure that technology is focused on the progress and security of all people and the planet we share. 📷: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
