Following an open briefing of the Security Council on the situation in Haiti, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Carlos Ruiz Massieu told reporters in New York that the political process and security improvements need to move “simultaneously, so we can have further stability in the country on the security front, on the humanitarian side, but also on the political side.”
Ruiz Massieu said it was “still early in terms of coming back to democratic rule” in Haiti because of the transition nature of the government but added that “we have a chance to contribute to the improvements and the discussions that are taking place these days” so as “to make those gains more sustainable so we don’t go back after getting some positive results.”
He said some of the gangs in Haiti are listed in the Secretary General’s Report on Children in Armed Conflict “as utilizing children, recruiting children” and stressed that “we need to establish now a system by which there will be engagement with those gangs in order to request and to demand the release of the children.”
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.
Briefing by Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), on the question concerning the country.
Remarks by Earle Courtenay Rattray, Chef de Cabinet, on behalf of António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General on the Observance of the annual Nelson Mandela International Day.
Marking the Nelson Mandela International Day, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that ending poverty and inequality requires re-wiring economies and societies to focus on people.
Rattray said, “Madiba was blessed with a rare kind of double vision. He saw the world both for what it was — and what it could be.”
The Chef de Cabinet continued, “he also recognized that progress is never automatic. Progress is the result of action. It’s up to all of us to come together to make that progress real — and through our actions, our advocacy, and our voice, to defeat poverty and inequality. Not as an act of charity, but as an act of justice.”
Rattray also said, “as we mark Mandela Day, let’s re-commit to the timeless principles that defined his life. Freedom. Justice. Equality. Solidarity. Reconciliation. Compassion. Peace.”
“Let’s carry forward Mandela’s vision of a just, inclusive, equal and peaceful world,” he concluded.
President of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock said, “Nelson Mandela reminded this Assembly, us, of the same principles that guided the founding of this organization. That peace requires more than the absence of conflict. That requires human dignity, justice and equality for all.”
She said, “as we mark the Nelson Mandela International Day, we honor not only that vision. We acknowledge our own responsibility to carry this work, this spirit, forward, as reflected in this year’s theme. It is still in our hands to combat poverty inequality.”
For his part, New York City Mayor’s Office official Shaffiou Assoumanou said, “we need government that commit to the tasks of delivering a life of dignity by putting in place policies that make food, housing and care affordable and available to everyone. Policies that demonstrate our commitment to universal human rights, regardless of where people were born, their gender identity or sexual orientation, their nationality or their immigration status.”
Assoumanou highlighted, “our commitment to this Mandela Day is to nourish the brilliance of people who do small acts of courage and care, and to demand the same kind of brilliance from all of us in government and from our institution.”
International Broadcaster Redi Tlhabi also addressed the General Assembly.
She said, “Mandela understood something that remains profoundly relevant today. Peace without justice is not peace at all. It is only a pause — one that delays the hard work of crafting our shared humanity.”
Tlhabi added that peace without justice is “a fragile truce.”
She also reiterated that the world needs the courage that made Mandela “so deeply inconvenient.” She said, “it needs leaders willing to disturb comfortable injustice before history rewards them for doing so. It needs nations prepared to defend international law, even when it inconveniences powerful allies. It needs institutions that are willing to reform themselves before the world loses faith in them. It needs us to reject forever the seductive argument that the might makes right because it never has and it never will.”
In recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom, UN General Assembly declared 18 July "Nelson Mandela International Day".
Four senior international officials address the UN Security Council with one shared message: Haiti’s future depends on protecting its people—especially its children.
Haiti’s future depends on protecting its people—especially its children, according to senior officials involved in supporting the Caribbean island nation to restore security and hold elections.
Featured voices include representatives from the United Nations, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), and the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the multinational security mission authorized by the UN Security Council to support Haitian authorities in addressing gang violence.
Their message is clear: lasting peace requires security, justice, opportunity, and hope.
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– World Cup
– Secretary-General/Travels
– Nelson Mandela International Day
– Iran
– Yemen
– UNIFIL
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Security Council
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Burundi
– Ukraine
– Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator – Burkina Faso
– World Heritage Committee
– World Chess Day
– International Moon Day
– Guests Today and Tomorrow
WORLD CUP
Huge congratulations to the men’s Spanish team on its World Cup victory yesterday. They now join the Spanish Women’s team in being the reigning football world champions. It’s the first time one country has held both men’s and women’s teams championships at the same time.
By every account, it was a very impressive run by La Roja during the championship, during the games.
And well played to all of the other teams, as well, who, during the five weeks, provided the world with a lot of emotion … passion, joyfulness and a little bit of heartbreak for some of us. But congratulations to La Roja.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General is on his way back to New York from China. He will arrive late tonight. Following his attendance at the opening ceremony of the World AI Conference in Shanghai, he travelled to the Yunnan Province.
This morning, in Kunming, the Secretary-General interacted with beneficiaries and local counterparts of UN programmes from agencies such as UNDP, FAO, IFAD and UN Women, supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in China. He heard first-hand accounts from beneficiaries of projects on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, promoting nature-based solutions, the sustainable use of medicinal plants and community-based conservation efforts linked to local livelihoods.
The Secretary-General will be back in the office tomorrow.
NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY
Courtenay Rattray, the Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet delivered remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly in observance of Nelson Mandela International Day, which was observed on Saturday.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General paid tribute to the life and legacy of Madiba. He highlighted that Mandela Day reflects a defining challenge of our time, poverty and inequality, and celebrated Madiba’s ability to see the world both for what it was and what it could be, having recognized that progress is never automatic; it is the result of action.
To honour that legacy, the Secretary-General encouraged all of us to carry forward Mandela’s vision of a just, inclusive, equal and peaceful world.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-20
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
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.
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.
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/
