Source: United Nations (video statements)
Too often, children are casualties of war. Sometimes, they’re even forced to fight.
That’s the case in South Sudan, where UNICEF – the UN Children’s Fund, together with the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – work with the Government to support the release and reintegration of underage fighters. The agency’s Chief of Child Protection, Brendan Ross, explains from the capital Juba.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– UN/Organization of Islamic Cooperation
– Security Council
– Nicaragua
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Central African Republic
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Ukraine
– Guests Tomorrow
– Financial contribution
UN/ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION
Starting today until 24 July, the General Cooperation Meeting between the Unoted Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and their specialized bodies is taking place at our own Offices in Geneva. This is a gathering that takes place every two years.
Co-chaired by Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, the Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs for the OIC, and Khaled Khiari, the Assistant Secretary-General in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the meeting will see high-level representatives from nearly 50 UN and OIC agencies, funds and programmes.
In his opening comments, Mr. Khiari emphasized the great value that the UN places on the support it receives from the OIC.
During the meeting, representatives of the two organizations will hold discussions on a full range of issues of common concern relevant to OIC Member States, including political, economic, and social issues.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Secretary-General addressed the Security Council debate on natural resource governance and he said that, across our world, the control and exploitation of natural resources are dramatically altering the causes, dynamics, and the outcomes of conflict.
Mr. Guterres said that critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements are gaining in strategic importance. He noted the illegal mining and mineral smuggling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the exploitation of gold and gum arabic that has been taking place in Sudan, which have flagged to you not too long ago.
The Secretary-General stressed four urgent priorities for the way ahead: ensuring justice for countries and communities that have resources; curbing illicit flows and strengthening transparency across mineral supply chains; the peaceful settlement of disputes over natural resources; and taking climate analysis into account.
The Council also heard remarks from the head, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.
NICARAGUA
In answer to question on the recent statements made by the Government of Nicaragua on elections, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General is closely following developments in Nicaragua and is concerned about the continuing erosion of civic and political space in that country. The High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk earlier released a statement deploring Nicaragua’s deepening restrictions on civil and political freedoms.
The Secretary-General recalls that authorities have a responsibility to uphold human rights and ensure that all citizens can participate freely and safely in public life, including by exercising their right to vote in elections that guarantee the free expression of the will of the electorate.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-22
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Sudan is facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis – and gold is helping pay for it.
Armed groups are competing for control of Sudan’s natural resources. According to an independent UN panel of experts, the Rapid Support Forces have seized a number of gold mines in Darfur, giving them a steady source of money, weapons and influence. Both the RSF and the rival Sudanese Armed Forces are backed by outside supporters, and those revenues have helped both sides bring in drones and heavy weapons — escalating the war while civilians are trapped in the crossfire.
More than 14 million people have been forced from their homes. The UN has imposed an arms embargo and targeted sanctions, and is delivering relief aid, but far more funding is needed to save lives.
After more than a thousand days of war, the world’s largest displacement crisis is still not getting the attention it deserves.
▸ Part of the "Minerals, Conflict and Peace" collection: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBylw2Xwpq-g&si=O5DpwWdPH0aNt59F
#Sudan #Darfur #GoldMining #ConflictMinerals #HumanitarianCrisis #Displacement #UnitedNations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Briefing by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), on on Natural resources governance: the foundation of peace, security and prosperity.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on Natural resources governance: the foundation of peace, security and prosperity during the Open debate of the Security Council.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Minerals mined in conflict zones enter the global supply chain quietly – mixed in with legal shipments, sold by traders who may never know their origin.
Yvette Mwanza, CEO of Kivu Natural Resources, explains why the trade continues despite a long series of UN Security Council resolutions that have been in place for sixteen years.
This is not a problem of missing rules. The gap is implementation – and implementation depends on stability. She sets out what necessary changes: a comprehensive peace agreement, a stronger ceasefire verification mechanism with MONUSCO support, and a return by Member States to the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region, which marks its 20th anniversary in 2026.
She also points to what is too often missing from the conversation – the people of the Kivus themselves, whom she describes as enterprising and entrepreneurial, asking above all for peace. Where there is peace and stability, she says, the rest will follow.
▸ Part of the "Minerals, Conflict and Peace" collection: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBylw2Xwpq-g&si=1xgMvjbRIvXaXFbT
#DRCongo #ConflictMinerals #Kivu #GreatLakes #NaturalResources #MONUSCO #Peacebuilding #UnitedNations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Resumed open debate of the Security Council under the agenda item "Maintenance of international peace and security".
Natural resource governance lies today at the heart of the challenges of peace, security and prosperity. The central question is whether minerals intensify conflicts or, conversely, can become instruments for ending them when they are effectively governed.
Objectives of the debate
To recognize the link between natural resource governance, conflict prevention and sustainable peace, and to affirm the relevance of a more coherent and universal approach.
Mapping the volume and types of conflict-affected natural resources.
Formulating conclusions and recommendations on the prevention and management of natural resource-related conflicts.
To move beyond the fragmented and largely national responses currently in place by laying the foundations for a common framework of resource governance and traceability as instruments for conflict prevention and resolution.
To mobilize the United Nations system, regional organizations and relevant partners around a shared vision in which natural resources and ecological capital become drivers of peace and shared prosperity.
The meeting will be presided over by the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Briefing reporters in New York on the findings of the 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Chief Economist Máximo Torero said, “the latest estimates indicates that 7.8 percent of the global population was undernourished in 2025, equivalent to 645 million people.”
Torero said these figures compare with 8.1 percent in 2024 and 8.6 percent in 2022, “which means in terms of numbers, that there has been a reduction of 40 million between 2024 and 2025 and 43 million compared with a 2022 peak.”
However, he noted “the numbers remain approximately 50 million higher than in 2015, when the SDGs were adopted.”
The FAO official noted that “important inequalities also persist” and said, “moderate or severe food insecurity affected approximately 30 percent of the population in rural areas, compared to 22 percent in urban areas, and it also affected in the 24 percent of women, compared to 23 percent of men.”
He told reporters that for the first time the prevalence in Africa has been reduced, which he said, “is good news,” but pointed out that “the absolute numbers are increasing even more that Asia because of the population growth and the conflicts and the different problems that this region is facing.”
Torero emphasized “the importance of increasing the access and affordability to healthy diets, because 2.7 billion people is creating significant problems to health because of undernourishment and overnutrition.”
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Unhealthy diets contribute to diabetes and other non-communicable diseases which cost the world $8.1 trillion annually, according to a new report on the State of Food Security by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. It argues for making fruits and vegetables more accessible as a way to promote health and avoid costs.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The phone in your hand runs on minerals most people can’t name – but who benefits from extracting them, and who pays the price?
Kaveh Madani, Director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), explains what critical minerals are, why supply chain disruptions carry major economic and security consequences, and how the absence of global governance risks creating new "sacrifice zones" – communities left with pollution and human rights violations while the benefits flow elsewhere.
From extraction to electronic waste, he sets out what governments, companies and consumers can each do to make these supply chains fairer and more transparent.
#NaturalResources #ConflictMinerals #CriticalMinerals #DRC #SecurityCouncil #Peacebuilding #unitednations
0:00 The minerals behind our technology
0:09 What are critical minerals?
0:20 Why are they "critical"?
0:38 Who gains — and who pays
1:01 The governance gap and "sacrifice zones"
1:21 What governments and consumers can do
