Source: United Nations (video statements)
Joint Press Encounter: Permanent Missions of Armenia, Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Panama, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom and Uruguay on the situation in Lebanon
Israel on the Middle East – Security Council Stakeout | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Remarks by Ambassador Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, on the situation in the Middle East.
Syria: Chemical Weapons eliminations efforts – ODA Briefing | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Adedeji Ebo, told the Security Council that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Syrian Arab Republic “have continued to engage on how to eliminate any remnants of the chemical weapons programme developed by the previous government.”
Addressing a Council meeting on the implementation of resolution 2118 on Syria’s chemical weapons programme, Ebo recalled that “since 2014, the OPCW Technical Secretariat has not been able to confirm that the declaration submitted by the previous government was accurate and complete.”
He said, “in addition to 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 the previous government’s chemical-weapons related activities. As part of its work on this matter, the OPCW Technical Secretariat plans to visit all these locations.”
Ebo said the new Government of Syria “has been working with the OPCW Technical Secretariat to obtain clarifications on the full extent and scope of the programme developed by the previous Government and to ensure Syria’s long-term compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
He urged Council members “to unite and show leadership in providing the support that this unprecedented effort will require” and added that the United Nations “stands ready to support and will continue to do our part to uphold the norm against the use of chemical weapons – anywhere and at any time.”
Iran on the Middle East – Security Council Stakeout | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Iranian Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani said, “the world is witnessing how a rogue and irresponsible state, together with an illegitimate regime, is targeting the Iranian schools, hospitals, residential building infrastructure, a sports hall and relief facilities. These attacks have already claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians, including women and children.”
Amir-Saeid Iravani told reporters at in New York today (10 Mar) airstrikes on the night of March 7 hit fuel storage facilities in Tehran and other cities. “This attack released large quantities of hazardous and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere,” he said. He cited the Iranian Red Crescent Society as saying the blasts caused “severe air pollution and serious health risks for civilians, especially children, women and elderly, and those with critical health conditions.”
The ambassador said the United States on March 7 targeted a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island in Hormozgan Province, disrupting water supplies to 30 villages and putting thousands of civilians at risk.
Iravani said the U.S. president on Sunday “openly expressed pride in the destruction of civilian infrastructure, Iran’s navy and killing of Iranian sailors.” According to the ambassador, the intention was “to terrorize civilians, massacre innocent people and cause maximum destruction and suffering.”
On the Beirut attack, Iravani said Israel carried out what he called a “deliberate terrorist attack” against the Ramada Hotel in the early hours of March 8, killing four Iranian diplomats. He said those diplomats had relocated to the hotel from Iran’s diplomatic premises after threats were made against those premises, and that the move was coordinated with the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The targeted killing of diplomats on the territory of another sovereign state is a grave terrorist attack, a war crime and a flagrant violation of international law,” he said.
Iravani said the Security Council had remained silent despite what he described as grave violations, and that some council members were “attempting to reverse the roles and position of victims and aggressors.” He said a resolution under consideration would reward Israel and the United States and embolden further aggression.
“Today it is Iran,” he said. “Tomorrow it could be any other sovereign state.”
Iran would defend itself, Iravani added. “We will take all necessary measures to defend our people, our territory and our independence.”
Iran on the Middle East – Security Council Stakeout (10 March 2026) | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Remarks by Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nation, on the situation in the country and the region.
Colombia, Iran, Lebanon & Other Topics – Daily Press Briefing (9 March 2026) | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Tom Fletcher Briefing
Trip Announcement
Town Hall with Women Civil Society Leaders
Colombia
Middle East/Iran
Lebanon
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Security Council/Syria
Security Council/Afghanistan
Afghanistan Refugees
South Sudan
Ukraine
Myanmar
Cuba
Violence Against Children
Gender-Discriminatory Nationality Laws
International Day of Women Judges
TOM FLETCHER BRIEFING
Tomorrow, at 2pm in Geneva, which will be 9am here in New York, given the time difference, Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, will be speaking to reporters.
He’ll update you all on the progress made in his goal this year to reach 87 million people with life-saving aid. For that, the humanitarian community will need $23 billion.
Connection details will be shared later for those of you who want to join.
TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Every year, the Secretary-General undertakes a Ramadan solidarity visit. This year, he will travel to Türkiye, to the capital Ankara, to pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity of the Turkish people. Over many years, during his tenure as UN High Commissioner for Refugees and then as Secretary-General, António Guterres has witnessed Türkiye open its doors and communities to millions of people forced to flee violence and persecution. The Secretary-General will meet, during his trip, with representatives of non-governmental organizations working to support refugees in Türkiye.
Türkiye has provided refuge and support, hosting one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with nearly 2.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 2.3 million Syrians.
While in Türkiye, the Secretary-General will receive the state award, the “Atatürk International Peace Prize.”, which he will accept on behalf of UN personnel throughout the world. This recognition, as you are well aware, comes at a time of immense suffering around the world.
The unfolding crisis in the Middle East stands as a tragic example of that. During his visit, the Secretary-General is scheduled to hold discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan.
TOWN HALL WITH WOMEN CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS
This morning, the Secretary-General participated in a town hall with women civil society leaders.
In his opening remarks, he thanked them for being on the frontlines every day, defending hard‑won rights for women and girls and for building coalitions when societies are being pulled apart.
These are trying times, he said. A bitter wind is blowing around the world, hardening attitudes, and fueling a backlash against women’s rights.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-03-10
Afghanistan: Risks of Terrorism, Narcotics, Migration – Security Council Briefing | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
UN Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Georgette Gagnon said that the country “could again become a driver of regional and global instability, in the form of out-migration, terrorism, narcotics and more.”
Addressing the Security Council, Gagnon said, “The conflict with Pakistan has had punishing human and economic costs. We reiterate the Secretary General’s deep concern about the escalation and impact on civilian populations, his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for the two countries to resolve any differences through diplomacy. We urge both sides to recommit to a ceasefire without delay and safeguard the protection of civilians. I also reiterate our request to ensure the free flow of humanitarian assistance into Afghanistan.”
She continued, “It is difficult to predict the outcome of the conflict in the Middle East, but it is already affecting Afghanistan. With the border closed between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iran provided an alternative trade route that is now also increasingly uncertain due to the ongoing conflict. The prices of basic commodities in Afghanistan have begun to rise, stressing Afghanistan’s already fragile economy. Instability in the region, on both of Afghanistan’s longest borders, undermines Afghanistan’s stability.”
She stressed, however, “that Afghanistan’s continued alienation from the international system remains the central issue. It prevents other issues, such as economic self-sufficiency, security cooperation, counter-terrorism commitments, human rights concerns, and the humanitarian crisis, from being fully addressed. If these issues are not dealt with, Afghanistan could again become a driver of regional and global instability, in the form of out-migration, terrorism, narcotics and more.”
She also said, “The humanitarian situation is taxing the resilience of Afghan communities. Since 2021, international partners have responded generously to address urgent humanitarian needs. This year, however, the humanitarian crisis is worsened by significant funding cuts, growing needs—including due to large-scale return of refugees—and policies of the de facto authorities that prioritize ideological rigidity over the well-being of the Afghan people. Restrictions on women working in the humanitarian sector is one clear example.”
Afghanistan: Repression of Women and Girls – Joint Media Stakeout | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Joint statement on behalf of the Shared Commitments holders on Women, Peace and Security (Colombia, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Panama and the United Kingdom) and members of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, delivered by Eloy Alfaro de Alba, Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations, ahead of the Security Council briefing on UNAMA.
Anne Hathaway on International Women’s Day 2026 | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Leading voices on women’s rights and justice joined UN Women for the official United Nations commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
At a time when women’s rights face renewed backlash around the world, the International Women’s Day 2026 event, held under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls”, underscored the power of women and girls, across generations, movements and cultures, in all their diversity, coming together to defend equality and demand change for all women and girls.
Anne Hathaway, actress and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador stated, “Our choosing to celebrate today does not signal that we are here to accommodate injustice. No. Our celebration today affirms our determination to outlast it. Don’t let us wait, please. Happy International Women’s Day.”
Aligned with 70th Commission on the Status of Women, the observance is conceived as a single, continuous political moment that will elevate global attention to justice as the critical bridge between rights on paper and rights in practice, reaffirming collective resolve to confront persistent setbacks, violence and the denial of rights.
Bringing together Member State delegations, global leaders, advocates, Goodwill Ambassadors and global voices, the observance served as a high-visibility platform to galvanize leadership, media engagement and concrete action towards ensuring equal access to justice for all women and girls.
Staying at the Table: Women Leading Through Change | Goals Lounge| United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Women’s leadership does not diminish with age—it deepens. Yet too often, women are expected to narrow their roles or step out of visibility just as their experience and influence grow. This conversation creates a moment to recognise women’s leadership across the life course and to reaffirm the value of authority built over time.
Aligned with the priorities of the Commission on the Status of Women, the discussion brings together women whose leadership spans business, culture and public advocacy, illustrating how influence can be carried forward to shape institutions, narratives and policy agendas. It challenges ageism alongside sexism, reframing later stage leadership not as reinvention, but as continuity of power, voice and public contribution.
Linking lived experience to the Beijing Platform for Action and the Sustainable Development Goals, the conversation moves beyond personal narrative to structural questions: what enables women to keep leading across stages of life, what barriers still limit that leadership, and what commitments are needed to ensure women’s experience is recognised as a public asset. The focus is clear—enabling women to continue shaping decisions and driving impact at every age and stage of life.
Moderator:
Karen Davila, Broadcast Journalist, Television News Anchor and Radio Presenter, UN Women National Goodwill Ambassador for the Philippines
Speakers:
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, Nigeria
Loida Lewis, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, TLC Beatrice, LLC and Reginald F. Lewis Foundation