Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
Women’s Month message
Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina says a safe society is one where women thrive and at times it includes basic needs like water. This Women’s Month, we commit to safety, water, hygiene and sanitation as a foundation for economic strength as women carry a vital role in society, under the theme : Building Resilient Economies for all”
Resilience starts with equality.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, today (7 Aug) called on Council members to urge governments and regional bodies to ensure women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in transitional governments and peace and security efforts.
She also called on Members “to urge governments and regional bodies to ensure women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in transitional governments and peace and security efforts; implement affirmative action laws, and ensure a safe, open space for civil society; invest at least 15 percent of violent extremism prevention funding in gender equality, and ask for engendered updates from sanctions and counterterrorism bodies; support the rapid deployment of Women Protection Advisors to UNOWAS to monitor sexual violence trends, engage with parties to conflict, and secure time-bound commitments; and, even in a challenging financial landscape, I urge international partners to provide direct, flexible, long-term funding to women-led and women’s rights organizations through mechanisms such as the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund and the Peacebuilding Fund.”
Before the meeting, Panama’s Ambassador Eloy Alfaro, who is presiding the Council during the month of August, read a statement on behalf of the signatories of Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).
He said, “this region is facing multiple interest acting challenges, the erosion of democratic governance and of the institutional regional architecture. Limited economic opportunity and water and food insecurity have led to persisting transnational crime and forced displacement. These issues, exacerbated by the growing threats of terrorism and the effects of climate change, pose urgent and significant threats to international peace and security, and disproportionately impact women and girls.”
Also speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Representatives of ECOWAS on Combatting Terrorism through Regional Leadership and Multilateral Cooperation. Kanu said, “we strongly condemn all acts of terrorism and expressed grave concern over the use of unmanned aerial systems and aircraft capabilities and improvised explosive devices to target civilians and civilian infrastructure. The deliberate targeting of children, the equipment and radicalization of youth, attacks on schools and healthcare facilities, and restrictions on humanitarian access have compounded human suffering. This gets further aggravated by ethnic and communal tensions, particularly between herders and farmers, and exacerbated by the adverse effects of climate change, which perpetuate cycles of violence.”
Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)
This week’s top stories of the week include:
0:15 This plant-based fertilizer can be grown on wastewater – Half of the world’s population depends on fertilizer for the food they eat – but producing that fertilizer generates staggering amounts of CO2. Step up Fyto, whose sustainable fertilizer takes a nuisance aquatic plant – duckweed, or Lemna – and turns it into protein-rich food for crops.
1:54 These young people have a message for world leaders on plastic pollution – These Global Shapers have some words for the governments and business leaders of the world. From a revolution in waste segregation to greater accountability, here’s what the next generation is demanding when it comes to bringing about an end to plastic pollution.
4:25 Extreme weather is causing food price shocks around the world – Global cocoa prices surged 280% in April 2024, a study found, after a blistering heatwave in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. And global coffee prices spiked 55% in August 2024 after a 2023 drought in Brazil that climate change had made up to 30 times more likely.
5:59 Countries have a legal duty to fight climate change, says the UN’s World Court – The International Court of Justice has just issued a landmark ruling. It said nations have a duty to stop environmental harm and respect people’s rights to a healthy environment. And that if countries don’t reduce emissions, they could be in breach of international law.
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Source: United Nations (video statements)
Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2025.
"Indigenous Peoples are guardians of ancient knowledge, defenders of cultural heritage, stewards of biodiversity, and essential to our shared future.
This year’s theme focuses on the risks and rewards of Artificial Intelligence for Indigenous Peoples.
AI can help preserve endangered languages and oral histories, map ancestral lands, and amplify Indigenous wisdom to fight climate change.
But without the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples, these same technologies risk perpetuating old patterns of exclusion, misrepresenting cultures, and violating fundamental rights.
We must ensure AI is developed and governed in ways that are inclusive, ethical, and just.
That means removing barriers to new technologies for Indigenous Peoples, protecting their data sovereignty and intellectual property rights, and supporting their meaningful inclusion in the application of AI.
On this important day, let’s build a future where technology supports cultural preservation and Indigenous knowledge, protects rights and advances dignity – for today and generations to come".
More info: https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré believes that are
women redefining our economy. The more we invest, the more we’re able to scale up with inclusive growth under the theme : Building Resilient Economies for all”
Join us as we commemorate Women’s Day on 9 August at
Nkowankowa Stadium, Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality, Limpopo Province.
#WomensMonth2025
#EmpowerHer
#ReKaofelaBasadi #ResilientEconomiesForAll
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
Women’s month celebration 2025
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Plastic pollution poses a serious threat to human health and the environment, with over 430 million tonnes of plastic produced every year, two-thirds of which soon become waste. In 2022, UN Member States came together at the UN Environment Assembly and made a historic commitment to begin developing an international legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. Negotiations to finalize a global agreement are taking place in Geneva from 5 to 14 August 2025.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
Highlights:
Secretary-General/Gaza
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Ukraine
Mozambique
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Third United nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries
Senior Personnel Appointment
Nagasaki Peace Memorial
Indigenous Peoples
Financial Contribution
SECRETARY-GENERAL/GAZA
The Secretary-General is gravely alarmed by the decision of the Israeli Government to "take control of Gaza City". This decision marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians, and could further endanger more lives, including the lives of the remaining hostages.
Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure a humanitarian catastrophe of horrific proportions. The Secretary-General warns that this further escalation will result in additional forced displacement, killings and massive destruction, compounding the unimaginable suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
The Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza, and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
The Secretary-General once again strongly urges the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law. He recalls that the International Court of Justice, in its Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024, declared that the State of Israel is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory - which encompasses Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – as rapidly as possible.
There will be no sustainable solution to this conflict without an end to this unlawful occupation and the achievement of a viable two-State solution. Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that civilians are facing mounting challenges amid ongoing hostilities, displacement and further destruction. As strikes continue across Gaza, people report that even the most basic daily tasks – such as finding water or food – have become extremely difficult.
The devastating convergence of a hunger crisis, a collapsing healthcare system, widespread destruction of critical infrastructure and nearly two years of war is having a catastrophic toll on people, particularly on the most vulnerable.
Aid entering into Gaza remains far below the minimum required to meet people’s immense needs, as we have been saying here almost in a daily basis now. The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to do everything possible to bring assistance inside Gaza.
However, missions continue to face significant delays and other impediments that prevent us from delivering aid at scale. Yesterday, another mission to pick up supplies took 18 hours to complete.
Since the entry of some commercial trucks into Gaza in the past few days, our partners reported a minor reduction in commodities prices as of yesterday. Most food items remain scarce in the market and sold at exorbitant prices.
Airdrops landing in different parts of Gaza continue to reportedly kill and injure people, including at least one child that was reportedly killed yesterday in Khan Younis.
As we have said before, the UN welcomes all efforts to provide aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it, but we reiterate that the most efficient way to bring in supplies is by road.
It is imperative that aid is allowed to enter through all crossings and through all available corridors so that we can deliver it at scale in a safe and dignified manner through our community-based mechanisms, reaching the most vulnerable.
Meanwhile, a severe heatwave is sweeping the region as people continue to struggle with access to water. In the southern part of the Gaza Strip, our partners working on water, sanitation and hygiene reported that yesterday, the South Gaza Desalination Plant’s electricity line was damaged for the third time in the past seven days. As a result, the plant is currently operating at less than 14 per cent of its capacity.
OCHA continues to stress the urgency of a permanent ceasefire, to provide adequate assistance and aid to the desperate population in Gaza and to call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages.
Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=08%20August%202025
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi hosts Community Imbizo to strengthen the fight against GBV scourge.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Remarks by Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, on the situation in Gaza.
