UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, said that the support from the entire international community “will be critical for efforts to rid Syria of all chemical weapons.”
Addressing the Security Council today (12 Sep), Izumi Nakamitsu said, “Since 2014, the OPCW Technical Secretariat has not been able to confirm that the declaration submitted by the previous Syrian authorities was accurate and complete, because of the insufficient and inaccurate information it contained. A total of 26 outstanding issues were reported, of which 19 remain unresolved.”
She reported, “The OPCW Technical Secretariat reported that in addition the 26 declared chemical weapons-related sites, information made available to the OPCW suggests that there are more than 100 other sites that may have been involved in chemical-weapons related activities.”
She continued, “During the deployment that took place in April, the OPCW collected three samples at one of the visited locations. The OPCW has reported that the analysis of these samples conducted by OPCW designated laboratories revealed indicators of nerve agents. This is a concerning finding, and the OPCW has shared the results with the Syrian authorities and intends to address the issue in subsequent deployments.”
She stressed, “There are significant challenges ahead, and consistent support from the entire international community will be critical for efforts to rid Syria of all chemical weapons.”
She highlighted, that the commitment of the new authorities in Syria “to fully and transparently cooperate with the OPCW Technical Secretariat is commendable.”
Ibrahim Alabi, Syrian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said, “Syria will continue to resolutely proceed with rebuilding in order to overcome this legacy and spare no effort to destroy the arsenal of chemical weapons used against our unarmed people. This matter is receiving great attention from the highest levels of decision-making in the State in order to turn it into a ray of hope in the history of Syria.”
Joint Press Encounter ahead of the Security Council Meeting on "Threats to International Peace and Security", delivered by Marcin Bosacki, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland.
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Speaking to reporters before the meeting Bosacki said, “For the first time since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion against Ukraine in 2022, Poland’s territorial integrity and, simultaneously, NATO and EU airspace were violated on such an unprecedented and massive scale.”
The future is young. Half the world is under 30 and this generation is emerging as a powerful force for peace in a world marred by conflict and injustice.
Across the globe, young people are organizing protests, sparking global movements, and forging bonds of solidarity. In communities ravaged by violence, they serve as peacemakers, peacekeepers, and peacebuilders, laying the groundwork for a resilient tomorrow.
These are some of their many voices – calling for change, hope and a world that is fit for their generation. They have the greatest stake in our common future, yet they are too often excluded from the spaces where solutions are shaped.
It’s time to hear their voices and act now.
Learn more about the UN campaign guided on the powerful agency of young peacemakers – https://www.un.org/en/peace-and-security/hear-us
Today, democracy faces mounting challenges: mis and disinformation, shrinking media freedom, and weakening accountability. The remedy is engagement—vote, participate, and follow up with representatives so that promised policies guide governance. The United Nations has upheld democratic principles from the Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the Sustainable Development Goals. Through the United Nations Democracy Fund, the UN has supported more than 1,000 projects in over 130 countries, from voter education to civic monitoring. Democracy is not a destination; it is a daily act.
Joint Press Encounter ahead of the Security Council Meeting on "Threats to International Peace and Security", delivered by Marcin Bosacki, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland.
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Peace Bell
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– UNIFIL
– Ukraine
– Security Council/Afternoon
– Syria/Security Council
– South Sudan
– Afghanistan
– Myanmar
– Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
– South-South Cooperation
– Financial Contribution
PEACE BELL
The Secretary-General this morning rang in the 80th session of the General Assembly by ringing the Peace Bell at UN Headquarters.
He warned that today, peace is under siege. Conflicts are multiplying. Civilians are suffering. Human rights and international law are being trampled.
He said that we must act to silence the guns and amplify diplomacy.
Mr. Guterres said that the Peace Bell reminds us that even the smallest contributions can forge something enduring. Even in a fractured world, we can come together to let peace ring, he said.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that heavy strikes continue across Gaza City, hitting buildings, houses and tents, and further adding to the already devastating toll on civilians. Over a span of 24 hours – by yesterday at 2 p.m. local time – colleagues monitoring population movements counted almost 11,000 people moving from northern Gaza southwards.
Along those displacement routes, our teams are stationed at three points, providing direct support or referral services to children who have been injured, orphaned or separated from their caregivers.
While multiple sites providing services have had to suspend operations or relocate, we are helping humanitarian partners keep community kitchens open, distribute clean water, and provide healthcare to people in Gaza city and elsewhere across the Strip.
Yesterday, a UN team successfully delivered fuel to a series of critical service providers in Gaza City. This included hospitals and other health facilities, as well as installations supporting water pumping, trucking and desalination, and the management of solid waste.
OCHA says that the humanitarian community remains committed to serving people in need wherever they are, based on what they need, and regardless of whether parties have labelled the area they’re sheltering in as “dangerous,” “humanitarian” or otherwise.
In a statement today, UNICEF reported that over 10,000 children in Gaza City have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition in the past two months alone. The agency warned that if disconnected from their treatment, there is a high risk some of the 2,400 children currently being treated for severe acute malnutrition in the area could starve to death.
U.N.I.F.I.L.
In southern Lebanon, following request from the Government of Lebanon, UNIFIL deminers started humanitarian demining in two minefields this week, near Blida and Maroun ar-Ra’s. Together, these minefields spread across 18,000 square metres. Such operations are crucial in minimizing risks to civilians who live in or visit areas close to the Blue Line.
As part of the Mission’s ongoing efforts to build capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces, UNIFIL Maritime Task Force ships started hosting Lebanese Navy officers this week for maritime operations. In another training activity this week, Lebanese Army personnel learned about detecting and handling unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and other landmines.
UNIFIL peacekeepers yesterday discovered an unauthorized sub-munition and a 120mm grenade in Sector East.
Earlier this week peacekeepers found a weapons cache in Sector East, containing an artillery canon, sub-munitions, aviation bombs and explosives. All of them were referred to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
UNIFIL peacekeepers continue to observe daily Israel Defense Forces military activities in the area of operations. Yesterday, they observed 71 Israel Defense Forces vehicles moving near Aarab el Louaize. They also reported direct fire across the Blue Line from Israeli positions, impacting in Markaba and Houla in Sector East.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=12%20September%202025
Whenever a new cancer patient entered her office in the U.S., Dr. May Abdel-Wahab knew she could probably save their life. Now, as Director of the Division of Human Health at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), she delivers hope to patients in places where treatment has until now been unavailable.
“So much can be done to treat cancer, but too many people in the developing world have no access to care. It’s unthinkable. It’s unfair.”
With global cancer cases expected to mount in the next two decades, the IAEA is equipping low- and middle income countries with training and radiotherapy to help more people survive the disease. In this episode, Dr. May Abdel-Wahab reflects on the outlook for cancer outcomes around the world, the challenges of anchoring new treatment centres, and shares how her upbringing taught her to see the world as one human family.
“Every person that walks through the door is a new person, a new friend […] if they leave the exam room with a smile and feeling hope, then you’ve done a good job.”
