Secretary-General’s video message on the occasion of the beginning of Ramadan.
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For Muslims around the world, the holy month of Ramadan is a sacred period of reflection and prayer.
Ramadan also represents a noble vision of hope and peace.
But for too many members of the human family, this vision remains distant.
From Afghanistan to Yemen, from Gaza to Sudan and beyond, people are suffering the horrors of conflict, hunger, displacement, discrimination and more.
In these difficult and divided times, let us heed Ramadan’s enduring message.
To bridge divides.
To deliver help and hope to those who are suffering.
And to safeguard the rights and dignity of every person.
Every year, I pay a special solidarity visit to a Muslim community and join in the fast.
And every year I come away heartened by Ramadan’s spirit of peace and compassion.
May this Holy Month inspire us to work as one to build a more peaceful, generous and just world for all people.
Bintou Keita knows instinctively that some moments call for a more human response than words alone can offer. Once, at a ceremony to mark the end of the devastating Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, she found herself hesitating to deliver her pre-prepared statement to a grief-stricken crowd.
“I have my statement, but I can’t deliver [it] because there’s something else I have to do before. And in that moment, what came to me was humming, so I did it. And at that moment, the tears – my own, the tears in the audience – came out. These people were grieving, were still mourning.”
Bintou Keita has retired after 36 years with the UN, most recently the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and head of the peacekeeping mission there. In this episode, she reflects on times when peacekeepers saved thousands of lives, on hopes for a people reeling from decades of violence, and shares why she learned to never say never again.
Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
#podcast #UnitedNations #AwakeAtNight #Peacekeeping
About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global organization of parliaments, will present the findings of a major new study on political violence against lawmakers by the public, both online and off.
Presented by IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong with IPU Human Rights Manager Mr. Rogier Huizenga.
Moderated by the Permanent Observer of the IPU at the UN Paddy Torsney.
Drawing on a survey of hundreds of parliamentarians worldwide, and in-depth case studies in Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands, the research reveals what kind of intimidation legislators face, where and against whom it occurs, and how hostility from the public harms not only the elected representatives themselves but democracy a whole.
The report will be discussed at the 2026 Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations on Thursday, 12 February 2026 – Friday, 13 February 2026 in co-hosted by the President of the General Assembly.
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71 percent of lawmakers globally report having experienced violence from the public, “whether online or offline or both,” according to a new report on political violence against parliamentarians issued by the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union speaking at United Nations Headquarters in New York outlined findings from the report entitled When the Public Turns Hostile: Political Violence Against Parliamentarians, which examines rising intimidation and harassment of elected representatives by members of the public.
He said, “violence is heavily concentrated online, with between 65 and 70 percent of MPs in the five countries reporting online abuse.” The report draws on a survey of hundreds of parliamentarians and five in-depth country case studies in Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia, and the Netherlands.
“The most common forms of public intimidation reported by the Members of Parliament are insults and degrading language, the spread of false or misleading information, and threats,” Chungong said. “Most respondents believe that the situation is deteriorating. In Argentina and the Netherlands, eight out of ten MPs, up to 80 percent, reported an increase in violence over the past five years.”
He added, “Online violence is frequently triggered by elections, high-profile legislative debates or polarizing political or cultural issues.” According to the findings, “Women are more affected than men. 76 percent of women MPs across the case studies presented in this report reported exposure to violence, compared to 68 percent of men.”
Referring to the United States, Chungong said, “When we look at the situation in the United States, which then are revealing, we see that the phenomenon is very acute, where we are seeing more attacks against politicians and even their families.” He cited an arson attack targeting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, an assault on the husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and a recent physical attack on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar during a town hall event.
Chungong warned, “This phenomenon has the potential to impact negatively on democracy.” He said increasing public hostility has “serious consequences, not only for the safety and well-being of the individual lawmakers, but also for the functioning of Parliament and the quality of democratic debate.”
“Many lawmakers we surveyed report that they are self-censoring online, being more careful about what they say in public,” he added.
The IPU, headquartered in Geneva, is convening its annual Parliamentary Hearing this week at UN Headquarters in New York, co-organized with the Office of the President of the General Assembly. The meeting is expected to bring together around 250 participants, including approximately 150 Members of Parliament from around the world.
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Trip Announcement/AU Summit
Canada
Sudan/Quintet
Sudan/Humanitarian
Democratic Republic Of The Congo
Democratic Republic Of The Congo/Humanitarian
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Ukraine
Women And Girls In Science
Financial Contributions
Briefings
TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT/AU SUMMIT
Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to take part in the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit.
While there, he is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ethiopian authorities as well as heads of State and Government from the continent.
On Friday, the Secretary-General has also been invited to take part in the Second Italy-Africa summit, organized on the sidelines of the African Union Summit.
On Saturday Mr. Guterres will address the opening session of the African Union Summit. In his remarks to the continent’s leaders, he will highlight that the African Union is a flagship for multilateralism.
He will also reflect on the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, which in the past decade has reached new heights.
Also on Saturday, the Secretary-General will hold a press conference that is scheduled to take place at 3pm.
We will keep you posted on the Secretary-General’s activities, and he will be back in the office on Monday [16 February].
CANADA
The Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the tragic shooting in Tumble Ridge, British Columbia. He extends his deepest condolences to those affected and his sympathies to the Government and people of Canada.
SUDAN/QUINTET
In a statement released today, the Quintet, comprising the African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, League of Arab States, European Union and the UN, expressed grave concern at the continued escalation of the conflict in the Sudan and called for the immediate halting of any further military escalation.
The group also emphasized the need for coordinated international efforts to de-escalate the conflict and halt the flow of weapons and fighters sustaining the violence. As Ramadan approaches, it urged support for efforts to secure a humanitarian truce consistent with international law and Security Council resolution 2736.
The Quintet reaffirmed its commitment to supporting a Sudanese-led, inclusive political dialogue toward ending the war.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-02-11
UN Secretary-António Guterres said he is was saddened to learn of the tragic shooting that took place in Tumble Ridge, British Columbia in Canada. He extends his deepest condolences to those affected and his sympathies to the Government and people of Canada.
Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, paid an official visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on the security crisis and the monitoring of the ceasefire.
His visit began in Kinshasa with high-level talks with the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and the President of the Senate. These discussions addressed MONUSCO’s role in upholding the ceasefire, in accordance with Security Council resolutions, as well as the Mission’s support to the Congolese authorities for the stabilization of the East and the protection of civilians.
Anthéa Bourhis, an AI and plankton imaging analyst, collects plankton from the depths of the Mediterranean Sea and brings the samples back to the Villefranche Oceanography Lab (LOV) for storage and imaging.
Plankton sustain life on Earth: phytoplankton have produced more than half the oxygen we breathe, and zooplankton form the foundation of the marine food chain. Climate change threatens this fragile world, making research on plankton more important than ever.
Today, February 11 marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix stated, “The trends we are currently observing are clear: the presence of UNMISS continues to matter a lot.”
Addressing the Security Council about South Sudan, Lacroix said, “Political deadlock among the main signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement continues to drive heightened tensions, manifesting in armed confrontations in many parts of the country. In recent weeks, we have witnessed a sharp escalation of violence, particularly in Jonglei, with clashes between Government and opposition forces. Both sides claim to be acting in self-defense, while at the same time preparing for the possibility of large-scale hostilities.”
He continued, “The reports of aerial bombardments, inflammatory rhetoric, mass displacements and severe restrictions on humanitarian access observed in Jonglei are of great concern. Communities that remember all too well the violence of 2013 and 2016 are again on the move – over 280.000 people displaced from fighting in Jonglei alone as per government sources.”
He highlighted, “South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for humanitarian workers. In 2025, 350 attacks on humanitarian staff and facilities were recorded, up from 255 the previous year. Despite government assurances, partners report persistent access constraints, particularly to opposition-held areas. These constraints are unfolding amid the country’s worst cholera outbreak, with over 98,000 reported cases since the outbreak began in September 2024.”
He said, “Amid these rising needs, the cost reduction measures have already resulted in significant operational capacity constraints to deliver fully on mandated tasks. For example, protection patrols have been reduced by up to 40 per cent where Force deployment is decreasing and by up to 70 per cent in areas where bases have closed. Long-duration ground patrols have dropped from three or four per month to one or two. Around 40 human rights monitoring missions have been cancelled. Areas where bases have closed are seeing increased tensions and clashes.”
He stressed, “Today, the situation in Akobo shows the difficult balance we face. Although the base is scheduled for closure by March under the reduction plan, escalating fighting in Jonglei required the Mission to send reinforcements instead.”
He concluded, “The trends we are currently observing are clear: the presence of UNMISS continues to matter a lot. It matters to the people that we protect, it matters to our humanitarian partners that we assist, and it matters to the peace process that we actively support and engage in.”
Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council on Tuesday, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said instability had risen sharply in recent weeks, driven by political deadlock among signatories to the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement.
Fighting has intensified most dramatically in Jonglei state, where clashes between Government forces and opposition elements displaced more than 280,000 people, according to government sources.
Reports of aerial bombardments, inflammatory rhetoric and severe restrictions on humanitarian access have raised fears of a return to the widespread violence seen in 2013 and 2016.
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Deputy Secretary-General
South Sudan/Security Council
South Sudan/Humanitarian
Syria
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Mozambique
Ethiopia
Venezuela
International Days
Briefing Tomorrow
Financial Contributions
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will travel to Abuja tonight, where she will deliver a keynote address at the 18th Annual Leadership Conference and Awards Ceremony and meet with senior Government officials.
From Abuja, she will proceed to Addis Ababa to attend the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government. During her time there, she will co-chair the 6th High-Level Strategic Dialogue on Sustainable Development, together with the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission.
She will return to New York next Tuesday.
SOUTH SUDAN/SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed Security Council members on South Sudan via VTC from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He noted that political deadlock among the main signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement is driving tensions and fueling armed clashes, particularly in Jonglei.
Mr. Lacroix emphasized that the Mission continues to engage political leaders at all levels, conducts patrols and remains actively deployed to protect civilians. He called on the International Community, including the Security Council, to urge South Sudanese political actors to engage in dialogue and seek consensus on the way forward.
SOUTH SUDAN/HUMANITARIAN
The humanitarian situation in South Sudan continues to deteriorate. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that families fleeing their homes in Jonglei State urgently need food, safe water, healthcare and emergency shelter.
As previously mentioned, since late December, renewed violence and airstrikes have uprooted an estimated 280,000 people, according to the authorities.
Aid delivery continues to be disrupted by insecurity, and essential services are shutting down. Road and river traffic is blocked, and humanitarian flights have not been allowed to take place.
The displacements are driving up the risk of cholera spreading: 55 cases and seven deaths reported in a week in Ayod and Duk counties.
Since 28 September of 2024, South Sudan has recorded more than 98,000 cholera cases and 1,612 deaths across nine states. OCHA warnsthat transmission of cholera is likely to intensify ahead of the rainy season if humanitarian teams and supplies continue to be restricted.
SYRIA
This week, an assessment mission led by our UN teams entered Ain Al Arab/Kobani in Aleppo Governorate in northern Syria. And that was for the first time since clashes there began in January.
Yesterday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Department of Safety and Security carried out anassessment mission to the city. Local humanitarian teams on the ground say the situation remains relatively calm.
The UN and its partners have previously delivered two convoys to the city carrying 52 trucks of aid and one mobile clinic. Goods and fuel are entering through limited commercial routes, though not at the scale that is needed. Basic services are continuing to be severely disrupted. Water systems are only partially functioning using diesel, and hospitals and bakeries are operating with limited fuel.
UN partners on the ground have reported that public electricity was restored yesterday evening.Water, sanitation and hygiene conditions continue to be a great concern, with some families relying on unsafe water sources, which as you can imagine, is increasing the risk of any water-borne diseases. More assessment missions are planned to identify people’s most needs.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-02-10
