If countries fulfilled their obligations under the @unitednations Charter and international law, every person on earth would live in peace and dignity. The problem is that many governments are ignoring these commitments – and millions of civilians are paying a terrible price. There is always an opportunity to create a more inclusive, comprehensive, and effective global order that works for everyone based on the UN Charter and international law. We must work for solutions rooted in justice, with renewed urgency and solidarity. 📷: Original manuscript of the UN Charter preamble, complete with handwritten notes.
In Japan, paper cranes like this one symbolize the hope for a future without nuclear weapons. 79 years ago, nuclear weapons devastated the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nuclear weapons, and the threat of their use, are not confined to history books. The lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which once guided our collective efforts towards disarmament and peace, have been pushed aside. We must never allow such devastation again. The only way to eliminate the nuclear risk is to eliminate nuclear weapons. 📷: UN Photo/Ichiro Mae (Hiroshima, 2022)
I condemn the continued loss of life in Gaza. Amidst continued horror, displacement & suffering, we have witnessed yet another devastating strike by Israel on a school in Gaza City. I reiterate my urgent appeal for an immediate ceasefire & the unconditional release of all hostages.
On #EarthDay, we must stand for our planet. A planet threatened by climate change, by pollution, by biodiversity loss. A planet that needs to be rescued. So we must unite. And we must mobilize all our efforts for #ClimateAction.
This week the world has experienced the three hottest days on record. But let’s face facts: extreme temperatures are no longer a one day, one week or one month phenomenon. Earth is becoming hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere. Billions of people are facing an extreme heat epidemic. Heat is estimated to kill almost half a million people a year. We know what is driving it: fossil fuel-charged, human-induced climate change. Extreme heat is the new abnormal. But the good news is we can save lives and limit its impact. Today we launched a global call to action focused on on: 🔸Caring for the most vulnerable. 🔸Stepping up protections for workers. 🔸Boosting resilience. 🔸Limiting temperature rise and phasing out fossil fuels.
My message to young people worldwide: Do not accept that what we have today is inevitable. Do not accept that you cannot transform things. If we want to change the world, we need to unite, mobilize, and fight for a better future for all. #OurCommonFuture
We live in a time of turbulence for our world, for people, and for human rights. Our world is transitioning into an era of multipolarity where as powers compete, the rule of law, and the rules of war, are being undermined. The multiplication of conflicts is causing unprecedented suffering – but human rights are a constant. They bring coherence to our search for solutions, and they are fundamental to our hopes for a world at peace. The path to peace begins with full respect for all human rights – civil, cultural, economic, political and social. Building a culture of human rights is building a world at peace.
It is high time to stop the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East. I condemn any act of retaliation and appeal to the international community to work together to prevent any further development that could lead to devastating consequences for the entire region and beyond.
Recent escalations in the Middle East make it even more important to find lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. The ultimate goal remains a two-state solution – Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, on the basis of @unitednations resolutions, international law and previous agreements. The international community has a responsibility and a moral obligation to help make this happen.
Just when it seems the situation could not get worse for Palestinians in Gaza, the suffering grows – and the world watches. In recent weeks, the poliovirus has been detected in wastewater samples. The @unitednations is poised to launch a vaccine campaign for more than 640,000 children under the age of 10. But it is impossible to conduct such a campaign amid a raging war. Let’s be clear: The ultimate vaccine for polio in Gaza is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. But in any case, a Polio Pause in the fighting is a must. It is our shared obligation to defeat a vicious virus that, left unchecked, would have a disastrous effect not only for Palestinian children in Gaza, but also in neighboring countries and the region.
In Doha, we discussed the vision of an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours, respecting human rights and meeting its international obligations. The outrageous ban on girls’ access to education and the ban on women’s employment must be reversed. Women and girls must be able to fully and meaningfully participate in all aspects of Afghan life – from seats in classrooms, to the tables where decisions are made. At the same time, many Afghans are destitute, struggling to feed themselves & their families, living without access to education, healthcare or employment. Yet, our humanitarian response plan has received less than 3% of the funds needed. The global community must continue pushing for progress and ensuring that the needs and rights of all Afghans are the central priority of the de facto authorities. 📷: UN/Khava Mukhieva
Monday’s International #YouthDay celebrates the power and potential of young people. I urge leaders around the world to advance youth participation at every level, establish youth consultative bodies, promote intergenerational dialogue and scale up funding opportunities for young people everywhere. You can count on the @unyouthaffairs Office and the entire @unitednations family to stand with and for young people. Together, let us draw on their energy and ideas to shape a more sustainable future for all. 📷: UN Photo/Mark Garten, Ahmet Halliyev; UNFCCC / Kiara Worth #OurCommonFuture
Monday’s International #YouthDay celebrates the power and potential of young people. I urge leaders around the world to advance youth participation at every level, establish youth consultative bodies, promote intergenerational dialogue and scale up funding opportunities for young people everywhere. You can count on the @unyouthaffairs Office and the entire @unitednations family to stand with and for young people. Together, let us draw on their energy and ideas to shape a more sustainable future for all. 📷: UN Photo/Mark Garten, Ahmet Halliyev; UNFCCC / Kiara Worth #OurCommonFuture
Monday’s International #YouthDay celebrates the power and potential of young people. I urge leaders around the world to advance youth participation at every level, establish youth consultative bodies, promote intergenerational dialogue and scale up funding opportunities for young people everywhere. You can count on the @unyouthaffairs Office and the entire @unitednations family to stand with and for young people. Together, let us draw on their energy and ideas to shape a more sustainable future for all. 📷: UN Photo/Mark Garten, Ahmet Halliyev; UNFCCC / Kiara Worth #OurCommonFuture
Monday’s International #YouthDay celebrates the power and potential of young people. I urge leaders around the world to advance youth participation at every level, establish youth consultative bodies, promote intergenerational dialogue and scale up funding opportunities for young people everywhere. You can count on the @unyouthaffairs Office and the entire @unitednations family to stand with and for young people. Together, let us draw on their energy and ideas to shape a more sustainable future for all. 📷: UN Photo/Mark Garten, Ahmet Halliyev; UNFCCC / Kiara Worth #OurCommonFuture
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have had: 2 years of fighting 2 years of suffering 2 years of stoking global tensions and straining global relations. Enough. It is high time for a just peace – based on the @unitednations Charter, international law and #UNGA resolutions.
Refugees are strong, resilient, and for me, a source of personal inspiration. Congratulations to all the inspiring athletes who made the @refugeeolympicteam – I am rooting for you at the #Paris2024 @olympics.
Extreme heat. Floods. Droughts. Wildfires. Rising sea levels. To tackle all these symptoms of the climate crisis, we need to fight the disease that causes them. The disease is the addiction to fossil fuels. The disease is climate inaction. Leaders across the board must wake up and step up their #ClimateAction now.
Last year, the @unitednations and our partners reached 11 million people in Ukraine with humanitarian assistance. This included providing food, water, healthcare and shelter, as well as working to remove the deadly explosives that litter the Ukrainian landscape. Yet, access to around 1.5 million people is extremely restricted. That must change. Attacks against humanitarians and civilian infrastructure must stop. I urge donors to fund in full our Humanitarian Response Plan so that we can continue our vital work.
The world gathers in Paris to celebrate the power of sport to bring hope, unite people and promote mutual respect. These are also the ideals of the @unitednations. I wish every success to the Olympians and Paralympians. You inspire us to dream bigger. May the Olympic flame light the path to a world of peace and harmony. #Paris2024
As of Thursday, humankind has used up more natural resources than can be renewed this year. Humans may have unlimited needs and wants, but the planet has limited capacity to satisfy them. We must urgently rethink the way we produce and consume. We can all #ActNow to ensure sustainable choices that will add up to the change we need. #EarthOvershootDay
Indigenous Peoples are the keepers of knowledge and traditions that help safeguard some of the most biodiverse areas of our planet. Their unique way of life is a testament to the rich tapestry of humanity. But they also face serious challenges that threaten their very existence. Indigenous Peoples are often the victims of threats and violence. Ancestral homelands and natural resources that they depend on for survival are coming under siege. And their rights to self-determination and agency – enshrined in the @unitednations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – are yet to be fulfilled. Today and every day, the world must stand behind the rights of Indigenous Peoples to chart their own futures and live in peace and dignity. #indigenousday
Education is the single-most important investment any country can make. But the global crisis in education has shown little sign of abating. 84 million children are likely to remain out of school by 2030. 70% of children in sub-Saharan Africa are unable to read a basic text by age 10. Something has to change. Ahead of September’s Summit of the Future, I have put forward a plan to end the global education crisis by: Closing the financing gap. Closing the access gap. Supporting teachers. Rethinking education systems. Every child and young person deserves an education. No matter where they live. No matter who they are.
People are losing faith in multilateralism. They point to unmet commitments, double standards, and vast inequalities. The failure of countries to unite for solutions to common challenges reflects a deeper dysfunction in our world. Multilateralism is falling behind. The Summit of the Future in September is a pivotal opportunity for renewal. It will consider reforms to: – the global financial architecture to make it representative of today’s world and responsive to today’s challenges. – the Security Council, and a proposed New Agenda for Peace, would help to prevent and resolve conflict, rebalance geopolitical relations, and give developing countries a proportionate voice on the global stage. – a Global Digital Compact, including proposals on AI governance, can turbocharge the #GlobalGoals and help to close the digital connectivity gap. This is the moment for the world to move forward together.
