Source: United Nations (video statements)
Highlights:
– Secretary-General/Durban Declaration
– Ethiopia
– Sudan
– South Sudan/Unity State High Court
– Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel
– Pakistan
– Security Council
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– UN Interim Force in Lebanon
– Yemen
– Nepal
– Ukraine
– Honduras
– Venezuela
– Radio Frequency
– Forests/Report
– International Day for Universal Access to Information
– UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs/Appointment
SECRETARY-GENERAL/DURBAN DECLARATION
This morning, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at a high-level event marking the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. He stressed that the fight against racism and the fight against discrimination is even more urgent today than when the Declaration was adopted 25 years ago. He warned that racism continues to poison societies, it continues to deepen inequalities, and it continues to deny people their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Mr. Guterres added that the antidote to this poison is unity and tangible action. He urged governments to strengthen anti-discrimination laws, businesses to create workplaces where everyone can contribute, and technology companies to address bias in artificial intelligence.
He also called for concrete measures to deliver reparatory justice and urged everyone to stand against injustice and build societies where racism and discrimination have no place.
ETHIOPIA
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mr. Guang Cong, is engaging with national and regional interlocutors and is coordinating closely with partners, including the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, to support efforts toward de-escalation and dialogue in Ethiopia.
On the ground, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that worsening security conditions across northern Ethiopia are adding to humanitarian needs and disrupting humanitarian operations, as you can imagine. Humanitarian access has been severely restricted by disrupted telecommunications, suspended flights to and from the Tigray Region and some locations, as well as the in Amhara are. Restrictions on key roads are also impeding humanitarian operations. This has limited the movements of humanitarians, of relief supplies, and people.
Humanitarian operations are already under severe pressure from funding shortages, as we have been telling you. Several of the UN partners have scaled-back or suspended activities, leaving fewer humanitarian organizations on the ground, as the needs grow.
UN humanitarian partners are continuing to monitor developments and strengthen preparedness and contingency measures to ensure continued support where access remains possible. Partners also conduct rapid assessments based on reports of displacement and humanitarian needs.
It remains critical that all parties ensure the safe and unhindered access for humanitarian goods and humanitarian workers wherever they are needed.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-09-28