Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
As we approach the New Year, the Journal Office is taking a look back at 2025 in the House of Lords.
The Journal is the formal and authoritative summary record of the proceedings of the House of Lords. Each Journal contains the attendance, minutes (including voting lists) and papers, along with some committee reports, for every day the House sat during a parliamentary session.
➡ Find out more about the Lords at https://parliament.uk/business/lords/
Bulgaria adopts the euro as its official currency, becoming the 21st member of the Euro Area.
Building on its place in the European Union and full participation in Schengen, this step further integrates Bulgaria into Europe’s shared economic and mobility space.
Travel, work, and business across the EU will continue to become more seamless and connected, reflecting a common European future and history shaped together. Welcome to the Euro Area, Bulgaria!
Sexual violence against children is endemic, systemic, and worsening across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to a new UNICEF report. While conflict remains a major driver, the report shows cases documented in communities across every province and rising sharply since 2022.
This video is based on the United Nations Victims’ Rights Statement, which affirms the Secretary-General’s priority of upholding the rights and dignity of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.
It presents a child-friendly version of the statement to help children understand their rights in a clear, safe, and age-appropriate way.
The United Nations is committed to ensuring that the rights of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse are accessible and understood by all, including children.
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
Do you know why a mace is carried into the House of Lords chamber before business begins? Parliament is made up of three parts: the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch. On loan from the Royal Collection, the mace represents the authority of the monarch, and without it the Lords cannot meet or pass laws.
Find out more about the heritage collections in use at Parliament https://heritagecollections.parliament.uk/heritage-in-use/
📺 Watch the full film on the House of Lords YouTube channel
➡ Find out more about the Lords at https://parliament.uk/business/lords/
Briefing by Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, on Israel’s Recognition of “Somaliland” as an Independent State, during the Security Council, 10084th meeting.
Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari told the Security Council that on 26 December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel’s official recognition of “Somaliland” as an independent and sovereign state, a move rejected by Somalia and criticized by several regional actors. Khiari said that on the same day, “Somaliland” issued a statement welcoming what it described as a “historic and principled” decision by Israel to recognize its sovereignty and independence.
Briefing the Council on 29th December, Khiari said Somalia’s federal government responded by reaffirming its “absolute and non-negotiable commitment” to its sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity, as set out in its provisional constitution, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union. According to Khiari, Somalia said it categorically rejected what it described as a deliberate attack on its sovereignty, stressing that no external actor has the authority to alter its unity or territorial configuration and that any declaration or recognition seeking to undermine this reality is null and void under international law.
He added that Israel’s announcement prompted reactions from across the region and beyond, including Egypt, Jordan, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, as well as a joint statement by 20 Middle Eastern and African countries rejecting and condemning Israel’s recognition of “Somaliland.”
In closing, Khiari recalled that the Security Council has repeatedly affirmed respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia, most recently in resolution 2809 adopted on 23 December 2025. He also called on Somalia and Somaliland to engage in peaceful and constructive dialogue, recalling the 2023 Djibouti Communiqué on talks between the two sides.
Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman, told the Council that Israel’s move represented a direct violation of the UN Charter, the African Union’s fundamental principles and international law. He said the decision was aimed at encouraging fragmentation of Somali territory and warned it could destabilize the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.
Osman also referred to statements by some officials on the possible forced relocation of Palestinians, saying the A3+ group unequivocally rejected any steps aimed at relocating Palestinians from Gaza to the northwestern region of Somalia.
The United States said there had been no change in its policy. Ambassador Tammy Bruce told the Council that earlier unilateral recognitions of a Palestinian state had not prompted emergency meetings and said the Council’s focus on Somaliland reflected persistent double standards. She added that Washington had no announcement to make regarding U.S. recognition of Somaliland.
France’s Permanent Representative Jérôme Bonnafont said Paris would continue to oppose any forced displacement of civilian populations and any violation of international law, recalling the spirit of the New York Declaration adopted by the General Assembly in September.
Jonathan Miller, Deputy Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations said, “Somaliland’s historical sovereignty, more than three decades of effective self-governance and demonstrated capacity to act as a responsible international partner, meets the legal criteria that guide recognition. Israel has aligned its foreign policy with this reality.”
In 2025, the Goals Lounge has become a hub for dialogue, ideas, and real-world solutions, where people come together to share experiences, exchange perspectives, and spark change.
With five years to go until 2030, we’ll keep welcoming new voices, exploring bold ideas, and hosting conversations that truly matter in 2026.
And there’s so much more to come—new sessions, fresh stories, and innovative ways to advance the SDGs.
Thanks for being part of our journey—let’s make 2026 even more impactful together!
In a challenging year for peace efforts, peacekeepers continued to work tirelessly to protect civilians, monitor ceasefires, and support the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the communities they serve. As 2025 draws to a close, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix reflects on the past year and sends best wishes to peacekeepers around the world as they embark towards 2026.
