Peace and security are inseparable from the advancement of social progress and human rights, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday.

António Guterres relayed this message during a Security Council meeting on large scale migration crises, shortage of resources, and human rights violations that have led to social and political unrest in the Mediterranean region.

Natalie Hutchison has more.

The Mediterranean region is a market comprising ten percent of global GDP, and twenty percent of global trade; this reported by Angelino Alfano, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, which holds the Security Council’s presidency for the month of November. 

UN Secretary General António Guterres praised the richness of this historical epicenter, but also acknowledged its fragility, now threatened by a raft of peace and security violations.

Mr Guterres highlighted the dire need to dig beneath the surface, and identify the sources of conflict. 

"All too often, responses to security challenges in the Mediterranean are undertaken largely or solely through traditional security arrangements or ad hoc solutions. Such approaches carry the risk of prolonging unacceptable status quos or worsening situations if not backed by efforts to address the underlying root causes."

 The UN chief reaffirmed that eradicating human trafficking, terrorism, and cultural division is a shared, global responsibility. 

Natalie Hutchison, United Nations.

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