Source: United Nations (video statements)
A treaty that was adopted thirty years ago and never entered into force has reduced the number of nuclear weapon tests from more than 2,000 to less than a dozen.
Peacekeeping: In the shadow of war, people look to blue helmets – UN Chief | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Efficiency means making every dollar count. But it can never replace our shared duty to fund peacekeeping predictably and adequately.”
Addressing the Security Council on the future of all forms of United Nations peace operations, Guterres said, “Most of our missions now operate where peace remains elusive. They are asked to contain the damage of wars that the parties feel little pressure to end – and that outside actors sometimes feed. The ground has shifted. Too often, our mandates have not. Peacekeepers are attacked. Civilians are targeted. International law is violated with a mounting sense of impunity.”
He added, “Continuous improvement matters – and we are doing so, from Action for Peacekeeping to the UN80 Initiative. But that can only take us so far. The success of every mission requires your unity and a recognition of the evolving context in which we operate.”
He stressed, “Agility is not in the Secretariat’s hands alone. Missions cannot move at the speed of events when they are bound by rigid budgetary rules and administrative processes. Efficiency means making every dollar count. But it can never replace our shared duty to fund peacekeeping predictably and adequately.”
He concluded, “In the shadow of war, people still look to the blue helmets – and trust them. Let us be worthy of that trust – every day. Let us invest in peace.”
Can The World Find Peace?
Source: United Nations (video statements)
At UN General Assembly High-Level Week, countries come together to confront conflicts, repair fraying relations, and work toward a more peaceful world.
Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
Gender bias in #AI
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Launch of the Gender Snapshot Report 2026.
According to a new UN report, one in three institutions built to advance gender equality have been stripped of power in just two years.
The UN warns that a deliberate political retreat from gender equality is reversing decades of progress and calls for equal power for women everywhere.
The Gender Snapshot 2026 report, released by UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), shows that where women hold real power, outcomes improve across every dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – from peace to education, and from poverty to climate action.
Yet the very institutions built over decades to advance gender equality are being systematically weakened, stalling or reversing progress at precisely the moment when the world cannot afford to go backwards.
The findings of the Gender Snapshot 2026 report reveal a political retreat from gender equality that is crosscutting, measurable, and compounding.
One in three institutional mechanisms for gender equality has had its institutional power eroded over the past two years.
Around one in four have seen their operating budgets cut over the same period, and nearly one in ten have lost control of their budget altogether.
Funding for gender equality has fallen to its lowest level since 2021, with funding for women’s rights organizations most impacted.
Meanwhile, amid funding cuts, 42 percent of UN entities report a weakening of their gender equality efforts.
The concentration of political power remains stark: six in seven countries are led by men. Women continue to face systemic barriers at every stage.
The cost of running for office can exceed 100 times a country’s average per-capita income, excluding many women before the race even begins.
In some countries, as many as eight in 10 women running for office face violence in public life.
And when women do reach cabinet, they are still disproportionately steered away from the portfolios that command the highest security and economic power.
Close to nine in 10 defense ministers and more than eight in 10 finance ministers are men.
As women continue to face barriers to equal participation and influence, decades of political and legal gains on gender equality are increasingly being contested and, in some cases, dismantled.
Not one single indicator on the Sustainable Development Goal for gender equality (SDG5) is on track to be met by 2030.
The pattern extends beyond government.
Women hold only 6 percent of corporate Chief Executive Officer positions globally and lead fewer than 20 percent of the highest courts, leaving the decisions shaping business, law, employment, and the global economy overwhelmingly in the hands of men.
The findings of the report come at a consequential moment for the multilateral system.
World leaders are gathering for the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA81) as the United Nations moves towards selecting its tenth Secretary-General – a position that no woman has held in the UN’s 80-year history.
As governments debate the future of multilateralism, the report argues that no vision for the future of the world is credible without women and girls having an equal share of power in shaping it.
UN Women and UN DESA are calling for a reversal of the political retreat on gender equality – and for power to be shared more equally.
That means ensuring women have an equal voice in political and economic decisions, properly funding gender equality institutions, protecting women’s rights organizations and civic space, and ensuring women have equal power to shape the decisions that affect economies, peace and security, technology and public life.
Launch of the Gender Snapshot Report 2026 | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
According to a new UN report, one in three institutions built to advance gender equality have been stripped of power in just two years.
The UN warns that a deliberate political retreat from gender equality is reversing decades of progress and calls for equal power for women everywhere.
The Gender Snapshot 2026 report, released by UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), shows that where women hold real power, outcomes improve across every dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – from peace to education, and from poverty to climate action.
Yet the very institutions built over decades to advance gender equality are being systematically weakened, stalling or reversing progress at precisely the moment when the world cannot afford to go backwards.
The findings of the Gender Snapshot 2026 report reveal a political retreat from gender equality that is crosscutting, measurable, and compounding.
One in three institutional mechanisms for gender equality has had its institutional power eroded over the past two years.
Around one in four have seen their operating budgets cut over the same period, and nearly one in ten have lost control of their budget altogether.
Funding for gender equality has fallen to its lowest level since 2021, with funding for women’s rights organizations most impacted.
Meanwhile, amid funding cuts, 42 percent of UN entities report a weakening of their gender equality efforts.
The concentration of political power remains stark: six in seven countries are led by men. Women continue to face systemic barriers at every stage.
The cost of running for office can exceed 100 times a country’s average per-capita income, excluding many women before the race even begins.
In some countries, as many as eight in 10 women running for office face violence in public life.
And when women do reach cabinet, they are still disproportionately steered away from the portfolios that command the highest security and economic power.
Close to nine in 10 defense ministers and more than eight in 10 finance ministers are men.
As women continue to face barriers to equal participation and influence, decades of political and legal gains on gender equality are increasingly being contested and, in some cases, dismantled.
Not one single indicator on the Sustainable Development Goal for gender equality (SDG5) is on track to be met by 2030.
The pattern extends beyond government.
Women hold only 6 percent of corporate Chief Executive Officer positions globally and lead fewer than 20 percent of the highest courts, leaving the decisions shaping business, law, employment, and the global economy overwhelmingly in the hands of men.
The findings of the report come at a consequential moment for the multilateral system.
World leaders are gathering for the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA81) as the United Nations moves towards selecting its tenth Secretary-General – a position that no woman has held in the UN’s 80-year history.
As governments debate the future of multilateralism, the report argues that no vision for the future of the world is credible without women and girls having an equal share of power in shaping it.
UN Women and UN DESA are calling for a reversal of the political retreat on gender equality – and for power to be shared more equally.
That means ensuring women have an equal voice in political and economic decisions, properly funding gender equality institutions, protecting women’s rights organizations and civic space, and ensuring women have equal power to shape the decisions that affect economies, peace and security, technology and public life.
Women are paid less than men
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. (18 September)
UNGA 81 Statistics, SDG Moment & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (18 Sept 2026) | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– World Food Programme/Appointment
– UNGA 81 Statistics
– Secretary-General/SDG Moment
– Security Council/Peacekeeping
– Peacekeeping Ministerial Handover
– UN System Data Commons
– Pakistan
– Yemen
– Djibouti
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Haiti
– Haiti/Peacebuilding Fund
– Ukraine
– International Days
WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME/APPOINTMENT
The Secretary-General and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General QU Dongyu announced their appointment of Luke J. Lindberg of the United States as Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), to succeed Cindy H. McCain of the United States. The Executive Board of WFP has confirmed its concurrence with the appointment.
The Secretary-General and FAO Director-General express their deep appreciation to Ms. McCain for her leadership and dedicated service to WFP. She has led the Programme through one of the most demanding periods in its history, serving as a steadfast voice for people affected by conflict, disaster and severe hunger, and for the courageous personnel serving them on the front lines. Both also wish to express their appreciation to Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of WFP, who will continue to serve as Acting Executive Director of WFP until Mr. Lindberg assumes his position.
Currently serving as Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Mr. Lindberg is the principal diplomat for U.S. agriculture and brings Cabinet-level experience in food assistance policy, trade promotion, and international financing operations as well as overseeing large, decentralized organizations and multi-billion-dollar portfolios.
UNGA 81 STATISTICS
And today we have some numbers for you ahead of the high-level week.
This week, so far, we expect 73 Heads of State, 45 Heads of Government, 49 Ministers, 11 Vice-Presidents and one Crown Prince.
Alongside the mandated meetings, 168 events are scheduled during the high-level period at Headquarters, and Member States so far have submitted 1,000 requests for bilateral meetings amongst themselves.
These numbers are changing, and we’ll update you more on Monday.
SECRETARY-GENERAL /SDG MOMENT
This morning, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at the 2026 SDG Moment. He stressed that the Global Goals are the shared promise made by governments to eradicate poverty and hunger, fight inequality, protect the planet and leave no one behind.
However, this promise is not being kept. Conflicts, the climate crisis, growing inequality and a lack of financing, he said, are placing sustainable development under increasing pressure.
The Secretary-General called for greater investment in education and food security, decent work, healthcare and social protection, as well as firm action on human rights and gender equality. He also urged countries to accelerate a just transition to renewable energy and to increase financing for development to build a fairer, safer and more sustainable world.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-09-18
How the UN General Assembly Changed the World
Source: United Nations (video statements)
From its founding in 1945 to today, the General Assembly has been at the centre of the UN’s story: navigating Cold War tensions, decolonization, apartheid, global crises and the push for reform. UN expert Richard Gowan looks back at how the Assembly evolved and why, eight decades on, it remains the world’s main forum for nations to make their voices heard.
00:00 — The UN is born – In 1945, 50 nations gathered in San Francisco to create the United Nations — with hopes for international law, human rights and a new era of cooperation.
01:20 — The General Assembly takes centre stage – The Security Council was quickly divided by Cold War tensions, while the General Assembly became a key forum for debates on Palestine, Korea and other global crises.
01:39 — Suez and the first peacekeeping mission – The 1956 Suez Crisis put the General Assembly to a major test — and led to the creation of the UN’s first peacekeeping operation.
02:44 — Decolonization changes the UN – As countries gained independence in the 1960s, the General Assembly grew rapidly and became a powerful forum for newly independent nations to challenge the established powers.
03:25 — The fight against apartheid – The Assembly made apartheid in South Africa a major issue, passing resolutions against the system and eventually suspending South Africa’s participation.
04:03 — A new era after the Cold War – The end of the Cold War opened a less confrontational period, giving Member States new opportunities to work together and debate the future of the UN.
04:52 — The push for UN reform – At the turn of the millennium, the General Assembly became an important forum for discussions on reform — including changing the composition of the Security Council and strengthening multilateral cooperation.
06:52 — Why the General Assembly still matters – From Khrushchev and Arafat to Gaddafi, the Assembly has always been part diplomatic forum, part global stage. Today, leaders still come to make their voices heard on the major issues of the day.
“Something specially theatrical about this space”
Source: United Nations (video statements)
From its founding in 1945 to today, the General Assembly has been at the centre of the UN’s story: navigating Cold War tensions, decolonization, apartheid, global crises and the push for reform. UN expert Richard Gowan looks back at how the Assembly evolved and why, eight decades on, it remains the world’s main forum for nations to make their voices heard.
Eight Decades of the UN: The General Assembly
Source: United Nations (video statements)
From its founding in 1945 to today, the General Assembly has been at the centre of the UN’s story: navigating Cold War tensions, decolonization, apartheid, global crises and the push for reform. UN expert Richard Gowan looks back at how the Assembly evolved and why, eight decades on, it remains the world’s main forum for nations to make their voices heard.
00:00 — The UN is born – In 1945, 50 nations gathered in San Francisco to create the United Nations — with hopes for international law, human rights and a new era of cooperation.
01:20 — The General Assembly takes centre stage – The Security Council was quickly divided by Cold War tensions, while the General Assembly became a key forum for debates on Palestine, Korea and other global crises.
01:39 — Suez and the first peacekeeping mission – The 1956 Suez Crisis put the General Assembly to a major test — and led to the creation of the UN’s first peacekeeping operation.
02:44 — Decolonization changes the UN – As countries gained independence in the 1960s, the General Assembly grew rapidly and became a powerful forum for newly independent nations to challenge the established powers.
03:25 — The fight against apartheid – The Assembly made apartheid in South Africa a major issue, passing resolutions against the system and eventually suspending South Africa’s participation.
04:03 — A new era after the Cold War – The end of the Cold War opened a less confrontational period, giving Member States new opportunities to work together and debate the future of the UN.
04:52 — The push for UN reform – At the turn of the millennium, the General Assembly became an important forum for discussions on reform — including changing the composition of the Security Council and strengthening multilateral cooperation.
06:52 — Why the General Assembly still matters – From Khrushchev and Arafat to Gaddafi, the Assembly has always been part diplomatic forum, part global stage. Today, leaders still come to make their voices heard on the major issues of the day.