Category: United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

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Highlights:
Secretary-General/Responsibility to Protect
Security Council
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Democratic Republic of the Congo
SALIENT 2.0
Day of the Seafarer
**Guests

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SECRETARY-GENERAL/RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT
This morning, the Secretary-General was at the General Assembly, where he delivered remarks on the Responsibility to Protect.
Mr. Guterres warned that we are witnessing the highest number of armed conflicts since the end of the Second World War. These are marked by rising identity-based violence, widespread violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as deepening impunity.
Mr. Guterres said that we must recognize that the Responsibility to Protect is more than just a principle. It is a moral imperative, rooted in our shared humanity and the UN Charter.
He added that credibility as the guardian of peace and security, development, and human rights requires consistency with the [UN] Charter.
And tomorrow, at 10 a.m., in the General Assembly, the Secretary-General will deliver remarks to commemorate the Eightieth Anniversary of the Signing of the Charter of the United Nations.

SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Security Council heard a briefing from Virginia Gamba, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for children and armed conflict, who was presenting the Secretary-General’s report. She said, and as you have seen in the report, that 2024 marked a devastating new record: the United Nations verified 41,370 grave violations against children—a staggering 25 per cent increase compared to 2023. She added that the report she is presenting also includes the highest number of children killed or maimed since the mandate was established by the Security Council. Cases of sexual violence, she added, also rose by 35 per cent with 1,982 verified cases.
The way forward is clear, she said, we must call on all parties to conflict, particularly the armed forces and groups listed in the annexes to the report, to engage with the United Nations to develop, to sign, and to fully implement action plans that end and prevent grave violations against children.
Also briefing from the UN side was Sheema Sen Gupta, UNICEF’s Director of Child Protection. She said that we cannot allow these grave violations against children to continue unchecked, and she called on council members to act with urgency, with courage and with the conviction that every child, no matter where they are, deserves to live in peace.

Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=25%20June%202025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZwWRHdBOo

Source: United Nations (video statements)

What are the best investments humanity can make? As delegates prepare to gather for the Fourth World Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, Spain, Mariangela Parra-Lancourt explains that what’s good for the individual can advance society as a whole. Drawing on her expertise as Chief of the UN’s Strategic Engagement and Policy Integration Branch in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, she shows how this works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZGPM0qJ6l0

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Joint Security Council Stakeout on Children and Armed conflict led by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, and accompanied by Security Council Members.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AU-Bw08v-I

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Press conference by Jorge Moreira da Silva, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director, on his trip to Myanmar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePOw9Y15YzM

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Briefing by Hannah Serwaa Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of UNSMIL, on the situation in Libya.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Hanna Tetteh urged the Government of National Unity in Libya “to facilitate the full resumption of humanitarian operations, particularly those led by INGOs, which play a critical role in supporting vulnerable groups including Libyan women and children.”

Briefing the Security Council today (24 Jun) Tetteh informed the members of the Council that on 20 June, the Berlin Process International Follow-up Committee on Libya (IFC-L) met in Berlin under the auspices of the Federal Republic of Germany and UNSMIL, “reconvening for the first time after a hiatus of 4 years.” She added, “The meeting marked a significant shift towards reinvigorating international coordination on Libya and consolidating international support to UN efforts in advancing a political process.”

She also said, “The armed clashes that erupted in Tripoli in May resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, as well as damage to critical civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, universities and a prison. Despite several stress calls, no humanitarian corridors were secured by the parties involved in the clashes. These incidents also underscored the shortcomings of state security actors in adhering to international humanitarian and human rights law.”

Tetteh said she was alarmed by the discovery of mass graves in the Abu Slim area, following the clashes. She said, “Emerging evidence indicates grave human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances, that were allegedly committed by state security actors, notably the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA).”

Taher M. El-Sonni, Permanent Representative of Libya to the United Nations said, “For us to spend a year and a half being held hostage as we await the appointment of representatives and then witness continued absence of factual solutions. This is a collective responsibility upon everyone, including this Council. At the same time, no attention is given to genuine national initiatives, because it’s always said that the mediator must be a United Nations party. This is a contradiction. And this is an untenable situation. And we hope that this matter will proceed with urgency.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH2nsXbaoqU

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

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Highlights:

Iran/Israel
Iran/Qatar
UN Charter
Security Council
Security Council/Non-Proliferation
Occupied Palestinian Territory
UNIFIL
Ukraine
Sudan
Democratic Republic Of The Congo
Chad
Refugees
Panel On Chemicals
Internet Governance Forum
Women In Diplomacy
Guests Tomorrow

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IRAN/ISRAEL
The Secretary-General welcomes US President Trump’s announcement of a cease-fire between Israel and Iran. He urges the two countries to respect it fully. The fighting must stop, the people of the two countries have already suffered too much, he said.
The Secretary-General hopes that this ceasefire can be replicated in the other conflicts in the region.

IRAN/QATAR
In a statement yesterday, the Secretary-General expressed his deep alarm at the further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
On social media, he strongly condemned the attack yesterday by Iran on Qatar, a country that has been active for peace in the region and further afield. 
The Secretary-General urges all Member States to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.

UN CHARTER
Yesterday evening, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at a ceremony that took place here at the UN headquarters to welcome home the original UN Charter, 80 years after it was written. Eighty years is a blink of an eye in history, and yet, the Secretary-General said, until the United Nations, humanity never had a single place where every government and all peoples could unite to fix the world and build something better.

SECURITY COUNCIL
Hannah Tetteh, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, briefed the Security Council this morning by VTC and said that the UN Mission in Libya, UNSMIL, has helped to support the preservation of the fragile truce that had been reached on 14 May, develop mechanisms to facilitate a de-escalation of tensions in order to prevent further clashes, and ensure the protection of civilians.
She warned that there are reports of continued build-up and fears among many Libyans that armed clashes will resume. UNSMIL urges all political and security actors to refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions that would only serve to deepen the lack of trust and undermine all the de-escalation efforts being made to sustain the fragile truce.
Ms. Tetteh noted the calls from many Libyans for UNSMIL to act swiftly to facilitate a Libyan led and owned political process that leads to credible elections and unified institutions. She said that UNSMIL will intensify its engagement in the coming weeks, building on the momentum generated by the Berlin meeting earlier this month.

SECURITY COUNCIL/NON-PROLIFERATION
At 3 p.m., Security Council members will meet for an open briefing on the Secretary-General’s report as requested by resolution 2231 that refers to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action otherwise known as JCPOA.
Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, is expected to brief.

Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=24%20June%202025&_gl=1%2A10sej4q%2A_ga%2AMTc3MDMwNDcyOS4xNzMzMDUxOTcy%2A_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z%2AczE3NTA3ODk2MzEkbzgwJGcxJHQxNzUwNzkyOTI0JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRouSrj3JE4

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

———————————

Highlights:

Iran/Israel
Iran/Qatar
UN Charter
Security Council
Security Council/Non-Proliferation
Occupied Palestinian Territory
UNIFIL
Ukraine
Sudan
Democratic Republic Of The Congo
Chad
Refugees
Panel On Chemicals
Internet Governance Forum
Women In Diplomacy
Guests Tomorrow

__________________________________________

IRAN/ISRAEL
The Secretary-General welcomes US President Trump’s announcement of a cease-fire between Israel and Iran. He urges the two countries to respect it fully. The fighting must stop, the people of the two countries have already suffered too much, he said.
The Secretary-General hopes that this ceasefire can be replicated in the other conflicts in the region.

IRAN/QATAR
In a statement yesterday, the Secretary-General expressed his deep alarm at the further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
On social media, he strongly condemned the attack yesterday by Iran on Qatar, a country that has been active for peace in the region and further afield. 
The Secretary-General urges all Member States to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.

UN CHARTER
Yesterday evening, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at a ceremony that took place here at the UN headquarters to welcome home the original UN Charter, 80 years after it was written. Eighty years is a blink of an eye in history, and yet, the Secretary-General said, until the United Nations, humanity never had a single place where every government and all peoples could unite to fix the world and build something better.

SECURITY COUNCIL
Hannah Tetteh, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, briefed the Security Council this morning by VTC and said that the UN Mission in Libya, UNSMIL, has helped to support the preservation of the fragile truce that had been reached on 14 May, develop mechanisms to facilitate a de-escalation of tensions in order to prevent further clashes, and ensure the protection of civilians.
She warned that there are reports of continued build-up and fears among many Libyans that armed clashes will resume. UNSMIL urges all political and security actors to refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions that would only serve to deepen the lack of trust and undermine all the de-escalation efforts being made to sustain the fragile truce.
Ms. Tetteh noted the calls from many Libyans for UNSMIL to act swiftly to facilitate a Libyan led and owned political process that leads to credible elections and unified institutions. She said that UNSMIL will intensify its engagement in the coming weeks, building on the momentum generated by the Berlin meeting earlier this month.

SECURITY COUNCIL/NON-PROLIFERATION
At 3 p.m., Security Council members will meet for an open briefing on the Secretary-General’s report as requested by resolution 2231 that refers to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action otherwise known as JCPOA.
Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, is expected to brief.

Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=24%20June%202025&_gl=1%2A10sej4q%2A_ga%2AMTc3MDMwNDcyOS4xNzMzMDUxOTcy%2A_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z%2AczE3NTA3ODk2MzEkbzgwJGcxJHQxNzUwNzkyOTI0JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRouSrj3JE4

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Joint stakeout by Climate, Peace and Security Group on Libya, led by Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, and accompanied by Security Council Members including Denmark, Ecuador, France, Greece, Guyana, Malta, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, the United Kingdom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0ug_evEa6c

Source: United Nations (video statements)

As the Secretary General has said, anniversaries are a time to look back and celebrate, but it is only natural, especially in a period of turbulence and tumult, to look ahead and ask central questions: How can we be the most effective Organization that we can be? How can we be more nimble, coordinated and fit to face the challenges of today, the next decade, and indeed the next 80 years?
The Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Mr. Guy Ryder explains that the UN80 Initiative is anchored in answering these questions – and equipping our organization in an era of extraordinary uncertainty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmNt2kfFTKU

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Briefing by Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

The UN’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, told the Security Council that Afghans believe the country “would be in a far worse place” without international assistance. “At the very least, the international presence provides an element of protection and prevention,” Otunbayeva said.

Briefing the Security Council today (23 Jun) Otunbayeva also said the delivery of UNAMA’s mandate is also complex and sometimes dangerous. She said, “This May, dozens of our female national staff were subjected to explicit death threats from unidentified individuals in relation to their work with UNAMA and other United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, requiring us to implement interim measures to protect their safety. In our subsequent engagements with the de facto authorities, they said they were not responsible, but it was also clear these armed individuals were operating with impunity in a coordinated manner in the capital. This is a strong rebuke to the de facto authorities’ claim that they have established security and secured the safety and dignity of Afghan women.”
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"We cannot forget the unacceptable situation of Afghan women and girls, even if their continued marginalization under increased enforcement of more and more decrees no longer generates headlines. As one Afghan woman interlocutor said to us, the current struggle is not about dramatic acts of defiance but the quiet and relentless pursuit of daily life, of resilience. She urged the international community to look beyond sensational headlines and recognize that what is happening is an invisible war of attrition where, I quote, “survival itself is an act of rebellion.”

The ongoing ban on girls’ education beyond the primary level is the clearest sign of the Taliban’s discrimination against women and continues to set Afghanistan apart from the world. We call again for this ban to be lifted and for girls and women to be allowed once again the right to education".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEfoY–b_A4