Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Comments to the media by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Candidate for UN Secretary-General, following her Interactive dialogue for the position of the next Secretary-General.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAnegGCuZqE

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
– Sudan
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Ebola
– Deputy Secretary-General/Travel
– Libya
– Kosovo UN Youth Assembly
– Climate/Africa
– Joint FAO-WFP Anticipatory Action Appeal
– UN Open Source Week 2026
– International Day for Countering Hate Speech
– Sustainable Gastronomy Day

SUDAN

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the escalation of fighting in and around El Obeid, North Kordofan state, including drone attacks impacting civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The Secretary-General is particularly alarmed by reports of the deployment, by the Rapid Support Forces, of substantial military reinforcements around El Obeid which may indicate an imminent ground offensive into the city. Such an offensive would potentially be placing yet another major population centre in Sudan at grave risk of large-scale violence.

The Secretary-General calls for restraint from all parties and urges them to take all necessary measures to respect and protect civilians.  

Far too many times in this conflict, clear warnings have failed to trigger concerted action by the international community. The Secretary-General urges all those with influence over the parties to exert it to prevent further bloodshed. We must not allow the horrors of El Fasher to be repeated in El Obeid.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities. He urges the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to engage with international efforts, including those of his Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, to facilitate de-escalation and to reach a negotiated settlement to end this devastating conflict.

Humanitarian organizations continue to provide assistance in El Obeid and across the Kordofan region, despite the deteriorating security situation. A humanitarian worker was among the civilians killed by drone strikes in residential neighbourhoods in El Obeid in the last week.

The Secretary-General stresses that humanitarian workers and supplies must be able to move safely wherever they need to go. Humanitarian operations must be protected and they must be facilitated. El Obeid is a crucial hub for humanitarian response efforts across the broader Kordofan state.

Civilians who wish to leave must be allowed to leave safely. Those choosing to remain must be respected, they must be protected and they must have access to the humanitarian relief that they need.

The Secretary-General reminds all parties of their clear obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the respect and protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to facilitate rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access.

As I mentioned, despite the volatile situation, our humanitarian partners, including NGOs and local responders, remain on the ground to provide rapid, essential assistance.

And also, we have a statement on the worrying situation in and around El Obeid from the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, and that is being shared with you.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-06-18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_1WSoBjT_Q

Source: United Nations (video statements)

From the use of drones and artificial intelligence to track and stop disease to other potential ways to harness the power of such advances for the global common good, innovators attending the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum at the United Nations share their vision for a better future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7X9enfq0U4

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Stephane Kulimushi Mutanda is a young social entrepreneur, basketball player and coach from the Democratic Republic of Congo, currently based in Uganda. He is the founder of the Refugee Basketball Academy (RBA), an initiative that empowers refugee and marginalized youth through sports, mentorship and education.

Stephane is one of the 17 Young Leaders for the SDGs selected by the UN Youth Office who are leading efforts to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To learn more: https://www.un.org/youthaffairs/en/stephane-kulimushi-mutanda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2qG7jl6s6U

Source: United Nations (video statements)

“Women are disappearing from peace and mediation processes. I am sure this is something we will all come to regret,” UN Women Executive Director told the Security Council.

Briefing the Council during an open debate on women, peace and security (WPS) titled “Peace is decided with women: Emerging from conflict by enhancing their participation,” Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, said, “When we pursue peace without women’s voices—without women at the table, leading alongside men—our efforts become compromised, fragile, and ultimately not serious.”

She also noted that the UN led a ‘mere’ three peace processes last year, comparing to 14 peace processes 15 years ago. “The path to genuine gender equality in the pursuit of peace matters far less when the UN’s role is increasingly being sidelined, when this multilateral system is under immense pressure,” Bahous said.

Two women civil society representatives also briefed the Council. Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate said, “Women are not victims to be protected alone. They are leaders, mediators, negotiators and architects of peace.”

Kaavya Asoka, Executive Director of NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security presented findings of a survey carried by the coalition among women’s rights activists. According to the findings, the main barriers for women’s rights activists in their participation are unbridled militarization and conflict; flagrant violations of international law; deeply rooted patriarchal norms in their societies, laws and institutions; male-dominated political structures that exclude women from peacemaking; unprecedented attacks on women’s rights, including sexual and gender-based violence and retaliation against women for participating in public and political life; lack of funding; and little political will or accountability for those perpetuating their exclusion. “In other words, they reinforced what women civil society have been telling you for 25 years,” Asoka said.

Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio chaired the meeting, which is a signature event of Colombia’s June Council presidency. She said, “Colombia presides today drawing on the experience of a country that has learned a fundamental lesson: sustainable peace is not possible without the full, effective, meaningful and safe participation of women, young women, adolescents and girls.”

She added, “Colombia urges States to develop and implement national action plans and participatory peace processes. Because nothing about us, without us. Nothing without us when it concerns our peace, our security and our rights.”

Speaking to reporters before the Council’s debate she urged all States “to fully implement Resolution 1325 and subsequent Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security through concrete and verifiable actions.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E98VXX-k60M