Marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN Secretary-General urged Member States to take immediate steps to implement the reforms they committed to in the Pact for the Future.
Speaking at the commemoration of ECOSOC at 80 named “a turning point for multilateralism” today , Guterres said, “let us renew our commitment to safeguarding rights and speeding up development through multilateral cooperation. ECOSOC is an indispensable platform for global dialogue and action.”
ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa said the Council’s legacy at 80 is simple and more urgent.
He said, “Multilateralism must deliver. Development must be inclusive. And progress must reach everyone. This is the vision and commitment we set forth in the Charter – one that should continue to guide our collective action.”
For her part, President General Assembly Annalena Baerbock reiterated, “Peace, development and human dignity and human rights are inseparable,” adding that delivering on these social and economic goals is therefore “not only a moral imperative for those they are designed to serve. It is also a matter of enlightened self-interest.”
“It is an investment in stability, resilient and security in a world that is too often defined by crisis,” she added.
Established in 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations, ECOSOC held its first meeting on 23 January 1946. Its mandate – to coordinate the economic, social, and cultural activities of the United Nations and promote international cooperation and development – has placed it at the heart of advancing the principles of the UN Charter. Multilateralism, inclusivity, and global solidarity have been central to ECOSOC’s mission from the outset.
A medical doctor by training, Dr. Felipe Paulier is a passionate advocate for young people. Two years ago, aged just 32, his life took a new turn when he became the first-ever Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, the youngest senior appointment in the history of the United Nations.
“Leaving young people at the sidelines of how we find solutions is not the way. It’s really bringing them [in], because on many of the things, the solutions will come from them.”
The UN Youth Office believes that positive change is rooted in empowering young people to meaningfully participate in decisions that impact their lives and futures. In this episode, Felipe Paulier reflects on youth demands for peace and opportunity, on the stubborn barriers to change, and shares why he always prescribes reconnecting with nature as a cure for digital overwhelm.
[00:00] Introduction
[02:54] Building on the legacy of Youth Envoys
[04:36] The call that changed his life
[08:20] Choosing purpose over convention
[10:26] Discovering the power of participation
[13:13] Lessons from an interfaith leadership journey
[15:10] How medical training shaped his leadership
[16:48] Opening UN spaces to young people
[20:43] Listening to young people in the DRC
[23:39] Truth, transparency and responsibility
[25:40] Intergenerational collaboration
[26:28] Why peace must become a movement
[28:18] What keeps Felipe awake at night
[30:39] Youth unemployment and economic anxiety
[32:56] Envisioning a more peaceful, more human world
[35:06] A message to social media platforms
[36:40] Defining success beyond titles
[37:56] Closing remarks
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About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.
The Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), Carlos Ruiz Massieu, told journalists in New York that the expectation is that once the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is deployed in Haiti, “the security situation can improve.”
Ruiz Massieu, who briefed the Security Council on Wednesday, said, “there is a dire need to do that” and noted that “around 80 percent” of the capital, Port au Prince, is “either with influence or control by the gangs.”
He pointed out that by the first of April “we need to have already the Support Mission in place, and we are on schedule on that,” and by that time, the GSF “will receive the first battalions to already strengthen the force later on throughout the year.”
Asked about the role to be played by the Kenyan contingent, first deployed to Haiti in 2024, Ruiz Massieu said, “the decision on the lead once they you have all the battalions in place will correspond more to the Special Representative of the GSF and on the Force Commander. I believe Kenya – which by the way we have to be very grateful of the of the work they have done throughout this time in the country – probably they still need to decide whether to continue their participation in the Force and how, but it’s up to up to them a completely.”
Asked about Haiti’s electoral calendar, he said, “we do expect and we do hope that the electoral calendar is observed. They do have a first round of elections scheduled for 30th of August and the second for early December. But at some point during the year, we need to make a technical assessment whether the conditions are there in order to have a free, fair, and legitimate elections throughout the country.”
Haiti approaches a key political deadline with its transitional authorities’ mandate set to expire on 7 February.
The Mexican diplomat said, “it is a time for different stakeholders, political parties, current authorities, to come together and think about the national interest. The current authorities should still make use of the couple of weeks that they have as current authorities to do whatever they can and benefit of the country.”
He said, “how you measure success is actually by improving a security in certain areas of Port au Prince that can enable Haitians to walk freely, to work freely, and the country to be able to organise elections in a meaningful way.”
Security Council Resolution 2793, adopted in September, authorized the transition of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti to the new Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and established the UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide logistical and operational backing.
Briefing the Security Council today on the situation in Syria, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East Khaled Khiari said, “It is vital that ISIL is not allowed to capitalize on the fluid situation in the northeast.”
Khiari also said, “As I speak, the situation on the ground remains very tense, with exchanges of fire and clashes between Government forces and the SDF in parts of Hasekeh governorate and also on the outskirts of Ayn al Arab, also known as Kobane – an SDF-controlled enclave where access is challenging, given ongoing clashes.”
He appealed for both sides to “immediately adhere to a ceasefire in line with the 18 January agreement and engage in fleshing out and implementing the details of this latest understanding of 20 January swiftly and in a spirit of compromise, in order to ensure a peaceful integration of north-east Syria in support of Syria’s broader transition.”
He highlighted, “It is important also to note the recent Decree no. 13 announced by President al-Sharaa concerning the linguistic, cultural, and citizenship rights of Syrian Kurds within the Syrian state. This is a crucial issue for the future, and the decree is an encouraging initiative on which to build further through a genuinely inclusive process.”
He stressed, “We share concerns about the presence of foreign terrorist fighters in Syria. During the fighting in northeast Syria, control of some of the detention centers for ISIL fighters switched from the SDF to Government forces, as did al-Hol camp in Hasakeh. There are indications that some detainees escaped.”
He added, “Separately, the US announced on 21 January its mission to transfer ISIL detainees from Syria to Iraq, with 150 ISIL members held in Hasakeh already transported to a secure facility in Iraq. ”
He also noted, “Israeli incursions in southern Syria continue to undermine Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We welcome this Council’s extension of UNDOF’s mandate for another six months.”
Edem Wosornu, Director of the Crisis Response Division of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, “In spite of these challenges, Syrians across the country continue to work to build a brighter future. More than 3 million refugees and internally displaced people have returned to their homes since December of 2024. And we have started to see some encouraging, if still limited, improvements in humanitarian indicators. Food security has improved slightly, but only one in five families are consistently meeting their nutritional needs.”
Ibrahim Olabi, Syrian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said, “We are fully aware of the suffering endured by our Syrian Kurdish compatriots for decades due to marginalization and denial of rights. We are pleased today to see them as part of the new Syrian State institutions, like all other Syrian communities.”
He reported, “The Ministry of Interior successfully apprehended the majority of escaped members and continues its efforts to follow to pursue the remaining ones, stressing that extended State sovereignty and the rule of law is the only permanent guarantee of security, stability, and effective counterterrorism. In this regard, the Syrian Government welcomes the American operation to transfer ISIS detainees out of Syrian territories and affirms its readiness to provide the necessary logistical and security support to ensure its success.”
Lukman Al-Faily, Iraqi Permanent Representative to the United Nations, stated that his government reaffirms “its reception of foreign terrorists whose states refused to repatriate them is a measure aimed at protecting regional and international security from an imminent threat. Nevertheless, we stress that this issue should not be left to become a long-term strategic burden on Iraq alone. The insistence of some States on considering their terrorist nationals a threat to their national security and refusing to repatriate them is unacceptable.”
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Deputy Secretary-General
Syria/Al Hol Camp
Syria/Security Council
Occupied Palestinian Territory
South Sudan
Mozambique
Sudan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Nigeria
Venezuela
The State of Finance for Nature 2026/Report
Microsoft
Staff Security
Honour Roll
Guest – Today
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, is in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she delivered a keynote address at the Danish Parliament on "the future of the United Nations in a turbulent world."
In her remarks, she underscored that the UN Charter remains our moral compass and called for a renewed commitment to multilateralism rooted in solidarity, international law, and human dignity. She warned against the erosion of the rules-based international order and urged Member States to protect and modernize the multilateral system, by securing peace, investing in sustainable development, and helping to reset the United Nations to deliver more effectively for people and planet.
While in Copenhagen, the Deputy Secretary-General met with Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
They discussed Denmark–UN collaboration, including Denmark’s long-standing leadership in development cooperation (and particularly its support for the Resident Coordinator system) as well as its current membership the Security Council. The Deputy Secretary-General also met with Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities. They discussed priorities on climate action.
The Deputy Secretary-General also met with representatives from Nordic countries to discuss ongoing UN reforms and shared development priorities.
Tomorrow, she will travel to UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to mark the International Day of Education.
SYRIA/AL HOL CAMP
Turning to the situation in Syria, and in particular to Al Hol camp in Hasakeh. Our colleagues from the UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF tell us that yesterday their teams reached the camp following its takeover by the Syrian Government. Our colleagues tell us that the situation in the camp was tense and volatile, with reports of looting and burning. As a result, it was not possible for the mission to enter the camp. The teams, however, held a constructive discussion with the government.
The Government of Syria has expressed its willingness to provide security and support to UNHCR and humanitarian partners so that humanitarian operations can continue.
We underscore the importance of ensuring that the transfer of ISIL detention facilities presently under Syrian Democratic Forces control to the Syrian government takes place in an orderly manner, in line with international standards.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-01-22
The head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti said, the country “has entered a critical phase in the process of restoring its democratic institutions.”
The UN Security Council met for a briefing on Haiti, as the country approaches a key political deadline with its transitional authorities set to expire on 7 February.
Briefing Council members, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti warned that the end of the current transition leaves little room for delay.
Ruiz Massieu said, “it is imperative that national stakeholders work to contain political fragmentation, set aside their differences, preserve institutional continuity, and focus on organizing elections.”
“Let us be clear,” he added, “the country has no time to waste on prolonged internecine fighting.”
He called on political actors, institutions, civil society, the private sector, and religious and community leaders to “prioritize the national interest and act with responsibility and restraint.”
Ruiz Massieu acknowledged recent steps taken by Haitian authorities to advance the electoral process, after years of delay.
He said, “steps taken in recent months to advance electoral preparations are particularly encouraging,” citing “the adoption of an electoral decree on 1 December and the publication of an electoral calendar on 23 December.”
He said the measures “provide an operational framework for moving forward.”
On security, Ruiz Massieu pointed to changes in international support arrangements, following a surge in gang violence and the expansion of armed groups beyond the capital.
He said, “the transition of the Multinational Security Support Mission to the Gang Suppression Force, alongside the establishment of the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), as authorized by resolution 2793, represents a critical step to enhance international support to assist Haiti.”
Council members also heard from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which presented findings on the evolution of criminal networks in Haiti.
Acting UNODC Executive Director John Brandolino said criminal violence in Haiti has become more organized and entrenched. He said, “taken together, the findings point to a crisis that has grown more violent, more systemic, and more embedded.”
He said groups that once operated as “fragmented local gangs or vigilante forces” have reorganized into “structured criminal networks with defined leadership, territorial ambitions, and diversified revenue streams.”
“Many have consolidated themselves into federated coalitions,” he added, “and in some cases now even frame their activities in political language.”
Brandolino highlighted the role of major gang alliances in destabilizing the country.
He said “Viv Ansanm, one of the most prominent coalitions, has coordinated large-scale attacks against the police, prisons, and key economic infrastructure.”
He said consolidation among armed groups has strengthened their ability to operate, allowing them to “pool their resources, withstand leadership losses, and expand their influence.”
“As a result,” Brandolino said, “armed groups have gained near-total control both within Port-au-Prince and along key corridors into Artibonite and Plateau Central.”
Speaking on behalf of Haiti, Ambassador Pierre Ericq Pierre stressed the need to avoid a political vacuum as the transition deadline approaches.
He said, “this moment calls for a balanced assessment of the efforts made under this agreement, while taking into account the persistent challenges, particularly those related to the security environment and institutional constraints.”
Pierre said it is essential to act “with a sense of responsibility and foresight in order to preserve the continuity of the State and avoid any disruption that could affect the functioning of national institutions.”
He said the Presidential Transitional Council has taken steps to promote “a new framework for inclusive dialogue,” bringing together political and institutional actors and civil society.
“The objective remains,” he said, “to reach, in a climate of consultation and consensus, another political agreement that would allow for the continuation of an orderly transition, prevent any institutional vacuum, and consolidate the conditions for a credible return to constitutional order.”
Haiti is entering 2026 facing one of the most complex crises in its recent history as armed violence intensified in the last three months of 2025.
Armed gangs now control large swathes of territory and violence has spread well beyond the capital Port-au-Prince, weakening the State’s ability to govern and deliver basic services.
According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ latest report, gangs are using heavy weapons, sexual violence and kidnappings to assert control, while police operations supported by the Gang Suppression Force have pushed back in limited areas.
After more than 1,000 days of war in Sudan, millions have been uprooted. This is the story of one of them. “Nafeesa,” as we call her, fled the violence and found refuge across the border, in the town of Birao, in the Central African Republic. With support from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), she and her family secured shelter and began rebuilding their lives alongside the host community. Security in the border area is reinforced by the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which conducts patrols and supports local stability efforts. (more here: https://minusca.unmissions.org/en/mandat)
Nafeesa recounts what she has endured – and how, in exile, she found a strength more powerful than any weapon of war.
After more than 1,000 days of war in Sudan, millions have been uprooted. This is the story of one of them. “Nafeesa,” as we call her, fled the violence and found refuge across the border, in the town of Birao, in the Central African Republic. With support from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), she and her family secured shelter and began rebuilding their lives alongside the host community. Security in the border area is reinforced by the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which conducts patrols and supports local stability efforts. (more here: https://minusca.unmissions.org/en/mandat)
Nafeesa recounts what she has endured – and how, in exile, she found a strength more powerful than any weapon of war.
