Dr. Jane Goodall (1934-2025) began her landmark studies on chimpanzees in 1960. For over 60 years, she dedicated herself to wildlife conservation and animal welfare. Her Roots & Shoots programme fostered young conservation leaders in over 60 countries.
In 2002, Dr. Goodall was appointed as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. She continued to speak about the threats facing endangered species and environmental crises and urged people to take actions for a more sustainable world.
Opening remarks by Courtenay Rattray, Chef de Cabinet, on behalf of António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the High-level Meeting on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar.
Secretary-General António Guterres said that the Rohingya, and all of Myanmar’s people “deserve justice, dignity, and a safe return home,” reiterating “there can be no durable peace without a genuine cessation of hostilities and a path to de-escalation and dialogue.”
Courtenay Rattray, Chef de Cabinet of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General delivered the UN chief’s remarks at the High-level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar today (30 Sep).
The Secretary-General called on the international community to “contribute to efforts for a comprehensive, innovative and concrete plan for a sustainable resolution of this crisis.”
Chef de Cabinet Courtenay Rattray reiterated the UN chief’s demand for immediate action in three crucial areas: “First, all parties must respect international humanitarian law and human rights law. The protection of civilians must be an immediate priority.”
Second, Rattray said, “unhindered humanitarian access inside Myanmar must be guaranteed. No community should be cut off from food, medicine, and lifesaving assistance.”
And the third, “we need reinvigorated humanitarian and development investment. To meet basic needs. To help refugees transition from dependence to self-reliance. And to ease the strain on host communities,” Chef de Cabinet Courtenay Rattray added.
Jane Goodall died on Wednesday 1 October 2025.
Primatologist and environmentalist Jane Goodall was designated a UN Messenger of Peace by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 10 April 2002.
A pioneer in the study of chimpanzees, she had created the Jane Goodall Institute, widely recognized for creating innovative conservation and development programmes in Africa, where she began her landmark studies in 1960. Her global Roots & Shoots programme supports tens of thousands of young people in nearly 100 countries with projects that help people, animals and the environment. As a Messenger of Peace since 2002, she continued to help the United Nations focus attention on environmental issues.
Jane Goodall died on Wednesday 1 October 2025.
Primatologist and environmentalist Jane Goodall was designated a UN Messenger of Peace by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 10 April 2002.
A pioneer in the study of chimpanzees, she had created the Jane Goodall Institute, widely recognized for creating innovative conservation and development programmes in Africa, where she began her landmark studies in 1960. Her global Roots & Shoots programme supports tens of thousands of young people in nearly 100 countries with projects that help people, animals and the environment. As a Messenger of Peace since 2002, she continued to help the United Nations focus attention on environmental issues.
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
-Afghanistan
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Haiti/Political
-Haiti
-Lebanon
-Philippines
-Global Cybersecurity Forum
-International Day Of Older Persons
-Financial Contribution
-Briefing/Tomorrow
AFGHANISTAN
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says that in the last few hours, a nearly 48-hour cut in the Internet and telecommunications connectivity across the country appears to have been reversed, with services resuming nationwide. The cut was implemented without clear explanation from the de facto Taliban authorities and appears to have been reversed also without an explanation. UNAMA adds that in addition, it appears that commercial air traffic, in addition to United Nations flights, are also now cleared to resume normally. As mentioned yesterday, the communications cut has risked inflicting multiple negative impacts on the Afghan people: on economic stability, on the continued grave situation for Afghan women and girls, and on the rights of all Afghan people to freedom of expression and access to information and privacy.
The cut has also disrupted our own work, ranging from the Security Council-mandated work of the UN Mission in Kabul to the vital and lifesaving humanitarian assistance and basic human needs work of the multiple UN agencies, funds, and programmes who are all operating in Afghanistan, as well as their own international and local partners. That work includes critical assistance to victims of the recent earthquakes.
The UN welcomes the reversal of this ban, and will continue to watch developments closely.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=01%20October%202025
More than eight years after over 750,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar for sprawling camps in Bangladesh, the crisis remains unresolved. On Tuesday, world leaders, UN officials and civil society groups convened in New York for a high-level summit to confront not just the humanitarian emergency, but the geopolitical deadlock that perpetuates it.
"Europe has strength, Europe has huge potential, but we have to unleash it." – President von der Leyen
On 1 October 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participated in the Copenhagen Competitiveness Summit.
For the full transcript of the speech, see here:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_25_2272
Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission:
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Briefing by Bintou Keita, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bintou Keita, said “peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still mostly a promise,” and “will not last if the underlying drivers of conflict are not addressed.”
Presenting the Secretary-General’s latest report, Keita told the Security Council in New York that “there are discrepancies between the progress we see on paper and the reality we observe on the ground which continues to be marred with violence.”
She stated that the key provisions of Security Council resolution 2773 “remain largely unimplemented,” and despite the Council’s requests, the AFC/M23 armed group has “continued to pursue a logic of territorial expansion and consolidation.”
This and other issues, Keita said, underscore “the persisting gap between the decisions of this Council and the realities on the ground.”
She called upon the Council “to bring about a permanent ceasefire and a durable peace agreement that will establish stability in eastern DRC,” adding that “only then, will commitments be translated into meaningful progress for the people.”
Keita stressed that “illegal mining, looting of natural resources and illicit financial flows continue to fuel violence,” and said, “these activities must be stopped.”
