Source: United Nations (video statements)
On #NelsonMandelaDay, we honor a legacy of service, justice, and hope. This year’s theme is a reminder that the power to combat poverty and inequality is still in our hands.
More information: https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/page/building-legacy-nelson-mandela
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Former Zimbabwean journalist Newton Kanhema’s life changed the day he met Nelson and Winnie Mandela, upon their first trip abroad after Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.
This encounter resonated with Kanehma’s personal story, as the son of a man who was imprisoned for ten years without trial, in Zimbabwe.
Meeting Mandela and covering his political life shaped Kanehma’s career that ultimately led him to serve with the United Nations.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Remarks by Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, on Taking Stock of the Pact for the Future – Informal meeting of the General Assembly, 80th session.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
On Saturday, 18 July 2026, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS) presents “Madiba” with Wouter Kellerman, a three-time Grammy Award-winning South African flautist, producer, and composer, who has also earned nine South African Music Awards. The event will be broadcasted internationally through the global platforms of the United Nations: UN Web TV and UN YouTube.
Honouring the enduring legacy of the former South African President and his commitment to peace, freedom, and service, “Madiba", a musical prayer, offers a heartfelt tribute that blends power and tenderness. Founded in 2016 by Brenda Vongova, the UN Chamber Music Society is dedicated to promoting the United Nations’ goals and values at large – through the universal language of music.
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Learn more about Mandela Day at the United Nations:
https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/
Listen to the “Madiba” on Spotify, Apple, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube, TikTok, Pandora, and all the major music distribution platforms worldwide. https://lnk.to/WouterKellermanBrendaVongovaMadiba
100% of the UN Chamber Music Society’s streams will be donated to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) — supporting its frontline response to climate-driven humanitarian crises worldwide.
Support the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) by donating to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
Donate to Emergency Relief | UN Emergency Fund
https://crisisrelief.un.org/
Source: United Nations (video statements)
A special video by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for the commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day at United Nations Headquarters, featuring archival footage in tribute to his legacy.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
“Technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all humanity,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.
Guterres said today (17 Jul) that AI could be humanity’s greatest opportunity of the 21st century – or one of its greatest risks. He thanked China for convening the gathering under a theme built on partnership.
The Global Digital Compact was proof that no handful of countries or companies should govern the technology’s future, Guterres said, “Technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all humanity. It cannot be governed by a handful of countries or a handful of companies. Every nation needs a seat at the table.”
The UN chief warned, “AI can help usher in a quantum leap across the Sustainable Development Goals. But it won’t happen if the historical injustices of the past are repeated in the technologies of the future. And yet one-third of humanity is still offline.”
He said, “Computing power, data resources and technical expertise remain concentrated. Hundreds of billions of dollars of private investment flood into artificial intelligence – while many developing countries receive just a trickle. AI risks pushing the world towards even greater inequalities … greater divides in income, in opportunity, in security … greater gaps between North and South. We cannot let that happen.”
Guterres said, “Developing countries bring enormous assets to the age of AI. Talent. Ideas. Young, dynamic populations. Every country should be able to shape this technology to its own needs: with its own skills, its own data, in its own languages.”
The UN chief called for governance anchored in international law, “Systems that cross borders need standards that cross borders. We need common approaches to testing, risk assessment, and responsibility. We need governance that is inclusive, networked, and anchored in international law. Human rights must be protected. Humans must keep control over every life-and-death decision. And no AI system should be put in a child’s hands before it has been proven safe.”
He urged AI companies to come clean on their environmental impact, “AI can help speed the energy transition – managing grids, integrating renewables, cutting waste. But its growing demands for energy, water and land must be brought into the open. I call on every major AI company to disclose the full environmental footprint of their systems – and power them with renewables by 2030.”
Guterres closed by saying, “The defining question is not whether artificial intelligence w, “ill transform the world. It will. The defining question is whether that transformation will reduce inequalities or reinforce them. Whether it will concentrate power or expand opportunity. Whether it will bring the promise of progress for every country – or only to those already at the front of the pack. This is a test of technology – and a test of solidarity.”
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
• Secretary-General/China
• Deputy Secretary-General
• Pakistan
• Middle East
• Lebanon
• Occupied Palestinian Territory
• Democratic Republic Of The Congo
• Venezuela
• Nelson Mandela International Day
SECRETARY-GENERAL/CHINA
This morning, in Shanghai, the Secretary-General addressed the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference. He said that Artificial Intelligence can be humanity’s greatest opportunity in the 21st century, and it could also become one of its greatest risks.
The Secretary-General underscored that the technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all humanity, and it cannot be governed by a handful of countries or a handful of companies. He pointed out that few areas hold greater promise for our common future than the application of AI to sustainable development, but it won’t happen if the historical injustices of the past are repeated in the technologies of the future.
Also in the morning, the Secretary-General toured an exhibition of China’s MAZU meteorological AI early-warning system. In the afternoon, he attended the World Artificial Intelligence Conference Meteorological Forum. In his remarks, he noted that the Forum shows one of the clearest ways AI can serve humanity: by helping save lives.
The Secretary-General said that early-warning systems are the most cost-effective protection against climate disaster. He noted that 128 countries now have multi-hazard early-warning systems, more than double since 2015, but one-third remain unprotected.
The Secretary-General stressed that we urgently need to accelerate, and artificial intelligence can help.
Also today, the Secretary-General met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Secretary-General thanked President Xi for China’s consistent support for multilateralism and the United Nations and its activities, including peacekeeping.
The Secretary-General reaffirmed his strong commitment to UN reform, fully in line with the UN Charter and International Law, and full respect for the equilibrium among the three pillars of the United Nations activities: peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, and to enhance the cooperation with China in all of them.
The Secretary-General also held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will be arriving shortly in Sierra Leone, at the invitation of the Government, to participate in the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Summit on the Future of Regional Integration.
The Deputy Secretary-General will address the Summit and participate in discussions on the economic, development and security priorities of the region. She will reaffirm the United Nations’ strong partnership with ECOWAS and its support for regional efforts to strengthen peace and security, economic cooperation and regional integration, while accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
While in Sierra Leone, the Deputy Secretary-General will hold bilateral meetings with leaders attending the Summit and other senior officials.
She will return to New York on Monday.
PAKISTAN
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, is wrapping-up a visit to Pakistan today, which was focused on climate risk, disaster preparedness and resilience.
Today, he visited Hassanabad Nala, a flood-affected village near the Shisper Glacier in Gilgit-Baltistan, where he met residents and saw projects helping communities prepare for recurring climate-related hazards. He also visited the Hunza Solar Project, highlighting the opportunities to build resilience through clean energy.
Throughout his visit, Mr. Fletcher stressed that Pakistan is on the front line of the climate crisis, while also demonstrating practical approaches from which other climate-vulnerable countries can learn.
He called for stronger international support to help countries prepare for, and respond to, disasters.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-17
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the ‘Dialogue on Early Warnings for All in Response to Climate Change’ at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference Meteorological Forum in Shanghai, China.
He called for accelerated progress on AI-powered early warning systems to prevent climate disasters.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
“Thousands of families have been displaced, while homes, health facilities, water systems and other critical infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed,” said Lia Poggio, Chief of Mission in Venezuela for the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Briefing reporters in New York today (16 Jul) while speaking virtually from Caracas on the aftermath of the 24 June earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, which struck seven states, Lia Poggio said La Guaira was hit the hardest among them.
IOM has launched a 12-month appeal to fund lifesaving assistance, shelter support and early recovery efforts, Poggio said.
For three weeks, she continued, IOM has worked with Venezuelan authorities, UN partners and humanitarian organizations through a coordination mechanism set up with the host government.
To date, the agency has assisted almost 7,000 people in displacement sites, Poggio noted, delivering over 10,000 services including temporary shelter, health care and psychosocial support.
“While humanitarian assistance remains essential, the response is increasingly shifting towards early recovery,” she said, citing housing, infrastructure and livelihoods as priorities “to helping families and communities move forward with dignity and hope.”
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Born to Italian parents in Venezuela, Allegra Baiocchi has been on the move ever since and has lived in more than 25 countries around the world. Now UN Resident Coordinator in Mexico, she believes in the power of the United Nations to improve the well-being of all people, wherever they are.
“I am truly an optimist. I do think we can turn this around, but it does need a lot of people taking action, and so I stay awake at night trying to figure out how to get people to act.”
Formerly the UN’s chief humanitarian coordinator for western and central Africa, Allegra Baiocchi faced down overlapping deadly crises, from Ebola and war, to drought, famine and displacement. In this episode, she reflects on the highs and lows of her long and varied career, and shares how she brought up children who are as much citizens of the globe as she is.
[00:00] Introduction
[00:26] What it means to be a global citizen
[04:43] Discovering the United Nations
[07:53] Journey into humanitarian work
[11:10] Lessons from Sergio Vieira de Mello
[13:04] Facing the Ebola outbreak
[17:08] The challenge of coordinating humanitarian response
[18:53] The senseless cost of war
[21:48] Coordination on the ground towards achieving the SDGs
[24:52] Gender equality and protecting women in the digital age
[30:24] A new chapter in Mexico
[33:34] What keeps Allegra awake at night
[35:35] Raising the next generation of global citizens
[38:12] Closing remarks
Listen to more Awake at Night episodes https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
#podcast #UnitedNations #AwakeAtNight #Mexico #DCO
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.
