Source: United Nations (video statements)
Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Elizabeth Spehar and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Fund’s Advisory Group, Ambassador Macharia Kamau on the Peacebuilding Fund’s recent activities.
Human Rights in Haiti
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The UN’s latest report warns that Haiti’s human rights situation remains dire. No human right is secure in Haiti. UN News interviews Arnaud Royer, OHCHR Representative in Haiti.
Guinea-Bissau: Secretary-General appeals for restraint
Source: United Nations (video statements)
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is following the situation in Guinea-Bissau with deep concern. He appeals to all national stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to exercise restraint and respect the rule of law.
Guinea-Bissau, UN University, Ukraine & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Guinea-Bissau
David Malone
Sudan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ukraine
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Sustainable Transport Day
Financial Contribution
GUINEA-BISSAU
In response to questions about the situation in Guinea-Bissau, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General is following the situation with deep concern. He appeals to all national stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to exercise restraint and respect the rule of law. The Secretary-General will continue to closely follow the situation in the country as it unfolds.
DAVID MALONE
The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the passing of David Malone. His decade of service as Rector of the United Nations University marked the culmination of a distinguished career devoted to international cooperation and scholarship.
Under his leadership, UN University strengthened its role as a center for policy-relevant research, advanced gender parity, and forged trusted partnerships across the United Nations system. His vision and dedication contributed significantly to initiatives such as Our Common Agenda and to advancing digital transformation in the developing world.
Mr. Malone’s legacy will endure as an inspiration to all who work for a more just and sustainable future. The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
SUDAN
Turning to Sudan. The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra is preparing to travel to Port Sudan and Addis Ababa next week. He has been in regular contact with the parties and continues to encourage them to engage in a genuine dialogue to advance peace, he is also working closely with regional partners, including the African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, otherwise known as IGAD, and the League of Arab States.
The urgent need for better protection of civilians in Sudan is and will be at the forefront of all of his discussions. Our humanitarian colleagues also continue to call for safe and unimpeded access to deliver assistance to people in need across Sudan, including Kordofan and Darfur.
On the ground, the situation in El-Fasher remains dire. Our colleagues at the World Food Programme are currently supporting families who have fled to five areas surrounding El Fasher, including Tawila.
Distributions are also ongoing for families who have arrived in more distant locations like Dabbah in Northern State and even as far as Khartoum. Currently, 1,485 metric tonnes of food and nutrition supplies, enough for about 130,000 people, are en route to Tawila via the Dabbah Crossing in Northern State.
This is in addition to the regular support that WFP has been providing to people who fled El Fasher or Zamzam earlier this year.
Meanwhile, fighting continues to drive large-scale displacement in the Kordofan areas.
Our colleagues with the International Organization for Migration tell us that on Tuesday in South Kordofan State, more than 1,800 people were displaced across multiple localities. And in North Kordofan, heightened insecurity there uprooted nearly 40,000 people from different parts of the state between October 25th and November 18th.
Despite the escalating hostilities and access challenges, humanitarians are doing everything they can to support people in need across Kordofan. In North Kordofan, the OCHA-managed Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) has released more than $5 million to support four international NGOs who are providing critical services including health, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as food production, shelter and protection.
Throughout the Kordofan region this year, the Sudan Humanitarian Fund has allocated $33 million to support projects that reach some 1.6 million people in the hardest-hit areas.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-11-26
Winter struggle in Gaza
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Displaced families in the Gaza Strip are facing increasingly severe humanitarian conditions as the harsh winter season approaches. With a critical shortage of proper shelter infrastructure, thousands of people living in temporary camps and displacement centers are struggling to stay safe and warm.
In recent days, heavy rainfall and unstable weather have flooded makeshift tents, leaving children and families exposed to the cold and dangerous living conditions. As shelters collapse and flooding spreads, the risk to already vulnerable communities grows rapidly.
This video sheds light on the escalating winter crisis in Gaza, the urgent need for humanitarian aid, and the devastating impact on displaced families who have nowhere else to go.
Elimination of Violence Against Women 2025 – Press Conference | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
“Unfortunately for women, the home continues to be the most dangerous place for them in terms of risk of homicide, “ marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the 2025 femicide report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women confirms that femicide continues to take the lives of tens of thousands of women and girls worldwide, with no sign of real progress.
Last year, 83,000 women and girls were killed intentionally. Of them, 60 per cent – 50,000 women and girls – were killed at the hands of intimate partners or family members. This means one woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member almost every 10 minutes – an average of 137 every day. In contrast, just 11 per cent of male homicides were perpetrated by intimate partners or family members.
“Femicides don’t happen in isolation. They often sit on a continuum of violence that can start with controlling behavior, threats, and harassment – including online,” said Sarah Hendriks, Director of UN Women’s Policy Division.
Women and girls are subjected to this extreme form of violence in every region in the world, notes the 2025 femicide report. It is estimated that the highest rate of femicide by an intimate partner/family member was in Africa (3 per 100,000 women and girls), followed by the Americas (1.5), Oceania (1.4), Asia (0.7) and Europe (0.5).
Though femicides are also committed outside of the home, the amount of data remains limited. To help close these gaps, UN Women and UNODC are working closely with countries on the implementation of the 2022 statistical framework to enhance the identification, recording, and classification of gender-related killings of women and girls. Improving data availability will be vital to accurately assess the magnitude and consequences of these femicides, to support effective responses, and seek justice.
Trafficking and Elimination of Violence Against Women – PGA’s Press Conference | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Hybrid press Conference by Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th session of the General Assembly, on issues including the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons and International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
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The President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, announced the launch of the formal selection and appointment process for the next Secretary-General, and said “the world is looking to the next SG to provide strong, dedicated and effective leadership in delivering on the three pillars of the United Nations; peace and security, human rights and development, and in making the United Nations fit for the future.”
Baerbock told journalists in New York that the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, and she, as president of the General Assembly, had signed the joint letter which formally initiates the process and said, “the selection of the next Secretary-General comes at a pivotal moment for our United Nations.”
She said, “our choice will send a powerful message about who we are as United Nations, and whether we truly serve all the people of the world, of which everywhere in the world half are women and girls.”
The GA President noted that the joint letter “reflects improvements to the process and the latest resolution on revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly, including a call to member states to strongly consider nominating women as candidates for the position of Secretary-General, the importance of regional diversity, transparent campaign disclosures and provisions on the withdrawal of candidates.”
She said, “I am convinced that the decision about the future leadership of this organisation is also about credibility.”
Baerbock said, “as President of the General Assembly, I will therefore ensure that the process reflects the principles of the United Nations Charter and the very best of our shared commitment and values.”
On 5 September 2025 the General Assembly adopted resolution 79/327 on the Revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly, which sets out the process for the selection and appointment in line with Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations. The resolution builds on previous related resolutions, which introduced significant improvements to the selection and appointment process of the Secretary-General.
According to the resolution, candidates are nominated by a Member State or groups of Member States and must provide a vision statement, curriculum vitae and campaign financing disclosures.
The President of the General Assembly then convenes webcast interactive dialogues with all candidates and engages closely, in a transparent and inclusive manner, with Member States.
Libya: Ending an Era of Impunity – International Criminal Court (ICC) Briefing | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) said, “those responsible for inflicting suffering in Libya are mistaken if they believe they are still outside the reach of justice.”
Addressing the Security Council Nazhat Shameem Khan said, “Through our collective work, there is a new momentum towards justice in Libya, and we now look towards the first trial to be held at the Court in this situation. Based on the progress we now see, I firmly believe there is an opportunity for us to show a collective success based on the partnership between Libya, this Council and the ICC.”
She also said, “Through the arrest of Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri by German authorities on 16 July, on the basis of a warrant issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC, we see a clear example of the momentum we are building. The Office of the Prosecutor alleges that Mr. El Hishri is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Mitiga Prison from February 2015 to at least early 2020.”
She continued, “Through the imminent transfer of Mr. El Hishri to the ICC, based on the mandate provided by this Council, and through the first pre-trial and subsequently trial proceedings before the Court in the situation in Libya, we send a clear message: those responsible for inflicting suffering in Libya are mistaken if they believe they are still outside the reach of justice. ”
She added, “Our Office also remains clearly focused on securing the arrest and transfer of Mr. Osama Elmasry Njeem for trial at the ICC for the war crimes and crimes against humanity we allege he has committed in Mitiga prison. These alleged crimes also include murder, torture, rape and sexual violence. We have received reports in recent weeks of his possible arrest in Libya and are seeking confirmation of this from the Office of the Attorney General.”
She also said, “And we are also continuing steps, together with our Registry colleagues, to ensure the effective tracking and arrest of Mr. Saif Suleiman Sneidel, in relation to whom Pre-Trial Chamber I unsealed an ICC arrest warrant on 8 August.”
AI and digital platforms fuel surge in violence against women
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Over 80,000 women and girls were killed intentionally last year according to a new report on femicide by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Over half of those femicides occurred at the hands of intimate partners or family members. That means one woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member almost every 10 minutes.
This year’s 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence campaign targets digital violence and calls on governments to implement laws that end impunity, technology companies to ensure the safety of platforms, and donors to support organizations in eradicating violence.
AI fuels surge in violence against women
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Over 80,000 women and girls were killed intentionally last year according to a new report on femicide by UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Over half of those femicides occurred at the hands of intimate partners or family members. That means one woman or girl is killed by a partner or family member almost every 10 minutes. In contrast, only 11 per cent of male homicides were perpetrated by intimate partners or family members during the same year.
This year’s 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence campaign targets digital violence and calls on governments to implement laws that end impunity, technology companies to ensure the safety of platforms, and donors to support organizations in eradicating violence.