As hazards become more frequent, complex and interconnected, cities face growing risks driven by climate change, rapid urbanization, population growth and development patterns that place people and assets in harm’s way. Extreme heat, flooding, earthquakes, technological disruptions and other hazards threaten lives, infrastructure and development gains. Ahead of the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction under the theme “Resilience Starts at Home”, this session poses an urgent question: are our cities built to protect people where they live? With SDGs 6, 9 and 11 under review, this discussion highlights why investing in resilient cities is essential to safeguard communities and sustain progress.
Speakers:
– Mr. Kamal Kishore, SRSG for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
– Dr. Esam Halawani, Decision Support Center Director, Al Madina Region Development Authority
Moderator: Ms. Elaine Reyes, News Anchor, UN Insider & Americas Now (CGTN America)
Survivors of the genocide in Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina share how they are keeping alive the memory of the more than 8,300 men and boys who were killed in the town in July 1995.
Watch the full film "The Memory Keepers of Srebrenica": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK060SfOAC4
Featuring Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, on why truth must be told and facts must be defended
The Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (UGPS) is helping advance the meaningful participation of uniformed women across United Nations peace operations. Through voices from Headquarters and the field, this video highlights how the meaningful participation of uniformed women contributes to more effective and inclusive peacekeeping.
Survivors of the genocide in Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina share how they are keeping alive the memory of the more than 8,300 men and boys who were killed in the town in July 1995.
Watch the full film "The Memory Keepers of Srebrenica": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK060SfOAC4
Featuring Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, on why truth must be told and facts must be defended
Young adults want relationships, children and hopeful futures — but financial and job insecurity are standing in the way, new UNFPA survey finds.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Diene Keita briefed reporters today (8 Jul) on the launch of UNFPA’s new global report on the findings of Demographic Futures Survey.
The new UNFPA survey of more than 108,000 internet-connected young adults across 73 countries and territories offers a revealing insight into what young people today want regarding relationships, children and the future — and what they feel is standing in the way. The results of UNFPA’s Demographic Futures Survey are published today in its report Lives, Choices and Futures: What young people want and what shapes their decisions about relationships and parenthood.
Keita said, “the findings are striking. Most young people aspire to partnership and parenthood, but many do not feel the conditions are in place to achieve these goals. Economic and housing constraints were the most commonly cited barriers to both partnership and having children.”
The UNFPA chief also said, “some people have suggested that younger generation are rejecting marriage and family life. But our data shows this is simply not true,” explaining that “two thirds of the respondents say their ideal relationship involves marriage. Yet among those aged between 25 and 39 who want to have a partner, one quarter are single and not dating. Most respondents said they want to have children with two children the most commonly reported ideal family size.”
Financial security topped the list of condition young adults say they need to feel ready for parenthood, the Executive Director said.
She continued, “this was cited as important by 88 of the respondents. Stable employment followed closely at 87 percent and emotional readiness at 85 percent.”
“They are asking for the condition that would make real choice possible: decent work, affordable housing, health care, sexual and positive health services, child care support, parental leave and gender equality at work and at home,” Keita added.
Executive Director emphasized, “it is uncertainty, not unwillingness, that is making young people question whether they can start a family. And that uncertainty is not only economic. For many young people, conflict and insecurity also shape whether the futures feel safe enough to plan for a family and that distinction matter. If we misread the problem, we risk designing the wrong solution.”
She also said, “although it is clear that young people are worried, but they are not without hope. Two thirds of the respondents say they feel positive about the future, even as conflict, economic insecurity and inequality ranked among the top concerns.”
The UNFPA chief reiterated, “the right based response to demographic change is about ensuring every person has the agency the support and opportunity to make some of the most intimate and consequential decision of their lives, and that drives the work we do in helping government strengthen population data, understanding the demographic trends and development data based population policy that uphold rights and expand choice.”
She added, “all these issues are deeply, deeply political. This is precisely why open evidence-based dialog is so important.”
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo (10 Jul) told the Security Council that during the reporting period the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “had not conducted any in-field verification activities” in Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) safeguards’ agreement.
The Agency, DiCarlo said, “also reported a significant deterioration in its situational awareness following the attacks against Iran by the United States and Israel that began on 28th February 2026” as it had “now lost continuity of knowledge across all of Iran’s declared nuclear facilities.”
The Political and Peacebuilding official told the Council that the 17th June Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States “contains several important agreements on nuclear issues” including “resolving the disposition of stockpile enriched material, on-site down-blending of the enriched materials under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and a commitment to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to Iran’s nuclear needs.”
This discussion focuses on information exchange, finance readiness, and inclusive governance, and highlights how private sector engagement can strengthen the 2026 UN Water Conference through impact-driven partnerships to accelerate SDG 6. True progress requires collaboration: the UN provides convening power and accountability, governments offer policy and investment priorities, and the private sector brings innovation, technology, and financing. Together, these actors combine their strengths to turn global water commitments into scalable, practical solutions for global prosperity.
Speakers:
– H.E. Retno Marsudi, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Water
– Abdallah Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of Regional Bureau for Arab States
– Dolly Mirchandani, Partner, White and Case LLC, focusing on energy and infrastructure sectors
Moderator: Joakim Harlin, Chief Manager of the UNEP-DHI Centre on Water and Environment
Remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the Special event of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum "We the Peoples, Shaping the Future of the UN".
GDP tells us what we produce, but not how we thrive. For decades, GDP has been the primary compass for success. While it remains a vital metric for economic output, this session explores why a single indicator is no longer enough.
