The war in Gaza is an open wound that threatens to infect the entire region. In its speed and scale, it is the deadliest conflict in my time as Secretary-General – for civilians, aid workers, journalists, and our own @unitednations colleagues. Of course, nothing can justify the abhorrent 7 October terror attacks by Hamas. And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. It’s high time for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza. The only permanent way to end the cycle of violence and instability is through a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
The escalation of military activity in and around Rafah by the Israeli Defense Forces is further impeding humanitarian access & worsening an already dire situation. At the same time, Hamas goes on firing rockets indiscriminately. Civilians must be respected and protected at all times, in Rafah and elsewhere in Gaza. I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages. I call for the Rafah crossing to be re-opened immediately and for the UN to have unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza.
I reiterate my appeal for Israel and Hamas to show political courage and spare no effort to secure an agreement now. To stop the bloodshed. To free the hostages. To help stabilize a region which is still at risk of explosion. This is a crucial opportunity that the region – and indeed the world – cannot afford to miss. After more than 1,100 Israelis were killed in the Hamas terror attacks of 7 October, after more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, haven’t we seen enough? Haven’t civilians suffered enough death and destruction? A full-scale assault on Rafah will be a human catastrophe. Countless more civilian casualties. Countless more families forced to flee yet again – with nowhere safe to go. Meanwhile, the repercussions will be felt far beyond, in the occupied West Bank, and across the region. Even the best friends of Israel are clear: An assault on Rafah would be a strategic mistake, a political calamity, and a humanitarian nightmare. I appeal to all those with influence over Israel to do everything in their power to help avert even more tragedy. The international community has a shared responsibility to promote a humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and a massive surge in life-saving aid.
I reiterate my urgent call to both the government of Israel and the leadership of Hamas to go the extra mile needed to come to an agreement and stop the present suffering. I am deeply concerned by the indications that a large-scale military operation in Rafah may be imminent. We are already seeing movements of people in desperate humanitarian conditions, many of whom have been repeatedly displaced, in search of safety that has been so many times denied. I remind everyone that the protection of civilians is paramount in international humanitarian law.
11 July marks the first International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. 29 years ago, the UN and the world failed the people of Srebrenica. Over 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were systematically murdered, and their remains buried in mass graves. The genocide in Srebrenica stands as a harrowing testament to the devastating consequences of inaction in the face of hatred. We must fight against division and intolerance, stand up for human rights, and promote mutual understanding and reconciliation. May the memory of Srebrenica strengthen our resolve to build a world free from the scourge of genocide – a world where justice and peace prevail, where “never again” is a solemn promise fulfilled for all humanity.
As Secretary-General of the @unitednations, I have had the privilege of seeing the magnificent biological diversity of our planet up close. But I have also seen how human activity is decimating it at alarming speed. We are contaminating land, oceans, and freshwater with toxic pollution, wrecking landscapes and ecosystems, and disrupting our climate with greenhouse gas emissions. Governments must lead, but we all have a role to play to protect & restore biodiversity in a way that benefits everyone. We must act urgently to put biodiversity on a path to recovery. #BiodiversityDay 📷: UN/Daniela Gross de Almeida; UN Photo/Mark Garten
As Secretary-General of the @unitednations, I have had the privilege of seeing the magnificent biological diversity of our planet up close. But I have also seen how human activity is decimating it at alarming speed. We are contaminating land, oceans, and freshwater with toxic pollution, wrecking landscapes and ecosystems, and disrupting our climate with greenhouse gas emissions. Governments must lead, but we all have a role to play to protect & restore biodiversity in a way that benefits everyone. We must act urgently to put biodiversity on a path to recovery. #BiodiversityDay 📷: UN/Daniela Gross de Almeida; UN Photo/Mark Garten
As Secretary-General of the @unitednations, I have had the privilege of seeing the magnificent biological diversity of our planet up close. But I have also seen how human activity is decimating it at alarming speed. We are contaminating land, oceans, and freshwater with toxic pollution, wrecking landscapes and ecosystems, and disrupting our climate with greenhouse gas emissions. Governments must lead, but we all have a role to play to protect & restore biodiversity in a way that benefits everyone. We must act urgently to put biodiversity on a path to recovery. #BiodiversityDay 📷: UN/Daniela Gross de Almeida; UN Photo/Mark Garten
As Secretary-General of the @unitednations, I have had the privilege of seeing the magnificent biological diversity of our planet up close. But I have also seen how human activity is decimating it at alarming speed. We are contaminating land, oceans, and freshwater with toxic pollution, wrecking landscapes and ecosystems, and disrupting our climate with greenhouse gas emissions. Governments must lead, but we all have a role to play to protect & restore biodiversity in a way that benefits everyone. We must act urgently to put biodiversity on a path to recovery. #BiodiversityDay 📷: UN/Daniela Gross de Almeida; UN Photo/Mark Garten
As negotiations are once again underway, I strongly encourage the government of Israel and the Hamas leadership to reach an agreement. For the sake of the people of Gaza. For the sake of the hostages and their families. For the sake of the region and the wider world. This is the moment to reaffirm our hope for, and contributions to, a two-state solution — the only sustainable path to peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region. The @unitednations is totally committed to supporting a pathway to peace, based on an end to the occupation and the establishment of a fully independent, democratic, viable, contiguous and sovereign Palestinian State, with Gaza as an integral part.
Around the world, media workers are more and more risking their lives trying to bring us news on everything from war to democracy. The @unitednations recognizes the invaluable work of journalists and media professionals to ensure that the public is informed and engaged. Without facts, we cannot fight mis- and disinformation. Without accountability, we will not have strong policies in place. Without press freedom, we won’t have any freedom. A free press is not a choice, but a necessity. On Friday’s #WorldPressFreedom Day, I call on governments, the private sector and civil society to reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding press freedom and the rights of journalists and media professionals around the world.
The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace highlights a fundamental truth: no country can solve today’s challenges alone. But around the world, conflicts, climate catastrophe, poverty and inequalities create enormous obstacles to diplomacy and multilateral solutions. Collaboration is consumed by competition; dialogue is overtaken by relentless division. We need to resurrect a new spirit of global cooperation to rebuild trust, heal divisions, and place humanity on the path to peace. On this important day, join me in calling on all governments and leaders to spare no effort to bridge divides, renew dialogue and trust, and deliver a peaceful future. 📷: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas
At a time of colossal global upheaval and crises, the @unitednations Charter still points the way to a better future. It is rooted in a spirit of determination to heal divisions, repair relations and build peace. The Charter has been challenged in the past, but time after time, when the international community has rallied together in solidarity, values of the Charter have prevailed. We must continue to realize its vision of peace, human rights, justice and dignity for all. 📷: The original manuscript of the UN Charter preamble, complete with handwritten notes.
After seven days of travel across five countries in Central Asia, I leave encouraged by the profound sense of solidarity I encountered across the region. In a splintered world, it is heartening that Central Asia is choosing a different path — a path of cooperation and coming together around common solutions. My deep gratitude to the people of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan for their generosity. 📷: UN Photo/Husniddin Ato; Didor Sadulloev; Ahmet Hallyyev; Chynaly Askat.
After seven days of travel across five countries in Central Asia, I leave encouraged by the profound sense of solidarity I encountered across the region. In a splintered world, it is heartening that Central Asia is choosing a different path — a path of cooperation and coming together around common solutions. My deep gratitude to the people of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan for their generosity. 📷: UN Photo/Husniddin Ato; Didor Sadulloev; Ahmet Hallyyev; Chynaly Askat.
After seven days of travel across five countries in Central Asia, I leave encouraged by the profound sense of solidarity I encountered across the region. In a splintered world, it is heartening that Central Asia is choosing a different path — a path of cooperation and coming together around common solutions. My deep gratitude to the people of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan for their generosity. 📷: UN Photo/Husniddin Ato; Didor Sadulloev; Ahmet Hallyyev; Chynaly Askat.
After seven days of travel across five countries in Central Asia, I leave encouraged by the profound sense of solidarity I encountered across the region. In a splintered world, it is heartening that Central Asia is choosing a different path — a path of cooperation and coming together around common solutions. My deep gratitude to the people of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan for their generosity. 📷: UN Photo/Husniddin Ato; Didor Sadulloev; Ahmet Hallyyev; Chynaly Askat.
The spread of hatred and lies online is causing grave harm to people and communities around the world. Opaque algorithms push people into information bubbles and reinforce prejudices including racism, misogyny and discrimination of all kinds. Today, I presented a starting point for solutions: the @unitednations Global Principles for Information Integrity. Everyone should be able to express themselves freely without fear of attack. Everyone should be able to access a range of views and information sources. I urge governments, the tech sector, advertisers and other actors to listen to people around the world – and take action. And I urge you – parents, young people, civil society – to raise your voices. Demand accountability; demand choice; demand control.
Last year, I had the privilege of travelling to the Buddha’s birthplace of Lumbini, Nepal. This deeply inspiring visit re-affirmed my conviction that his timeless teachings of peace, compassion and service to others are the pathway to a better, more understanding and harmonious world for all. My best wishes to everyone celebrating #VesakDay.
Time and again, I have witnessed the enormous impact of civil society in every corner of the world. I see them easing suffering, pushing for peace and justice and mobilizing for change. I see them feeding the hungry, standing up for truth, advancing gender equality, and propelling sustainable development. Many of them work at great personal risk. Climate activists are being criminalised and persecuted; human rights defenders are threatened; and humanitarians killed. At the @unitednations Civil Society Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, I saluted the work of civil society around the world. It is crucial to establish dialogue between political decision-makers and civil society at national level as well as within civil society and our international institutions. This is key to rebuilding trust and restoring legitimacy; and to ensuring international decisions are shaped by the concerns, the values and the experiences of people across the globe.
Raging wars. Geopolitical divides. An epidemic of impunity. Cynicism and a crisis of trust. Deep global divisions are an obstacle to progress on two existential threats. First, the climate emergency. Our climate is breaking down, threatening water and food security, driving displacement, and fueling political instability. We need far greater ambition to slash emissions and deliver climate justice, starting with the biggest emitters. The second threat is posed by digital technologies. Artificial Intelligence is racing ahead of regulation, exacerbating power imbalances, further concentrating wealth, and undermining human rights. We urgently need the full engagement of governments, working with tech companies, academia and civil society, to agree on risk management frameworks for AI – and on monitoring and mitigating harms. Multilateralism is falling behind. We must avoid the risk of further fragmentation at all cost.
As an engineer, I know from experience that young women and men are equally fascinated by technology and science. And they are equally capable. Without more #GirlsInICT, the world will continue to be designed by and for men, and the potential of girls and women will remain untapped. We must ensure that girls have access to education and that they can see a future for themselves in science and tech. 📷: Attending an event on digital coding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. UN Photo/Antonio Fiorente (2019)
I was pleased to welcome members of @theelders_org, Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon and Ernesto Zedillo, to our NY Headquarters. Their leadership & dedication to public service are profoundly inspirational to anyone striving to make the world a better place for all. 📷: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
As we reshape how we power our societies and economies, we cannot replace one dirty, exploitative, extractive industry with another. The renewable energy revolution is in full swing – and critical minerals, such as copper, lithium, nickel & cobalt, are at the core of this shift. For developing countries with large reserves, critical minerals are an opportunity to create jobs, diversify economies, and dramatically boost revenues – but only if they are managed properly. Too often, production of these minerals leaves a toxic cloud in its wake: pollution, wounded communities, childhoods lost to labour. And developing countries and communities have not reaped the benefits of their production and trade. Today, I launched my Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, tasked with the development of a set of voluntary global principles to guide governments, industry and others involved in critical minerals value chains. The aim is to address issues of fairness, transparency, investment, sustainability and human rights. Developing countries cannot be shackled to the bottom of the clean energy value chain. The race to net zero cannot trample over the poor.
