SDGs

UN Secretary General António Guterres delivered remarks at the opening of Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing China
UN China/Zhao Yun

At China’s Belt and Road Forum, Guterres calls for 'inclusive, sustainable and durable' development

26 April 2019

China’s international trade and economic development plan – known as the Belt and Road Initiative – could contribute to a more equitable, prosperous world, and to reversing the negative impact of climate change, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday, speaking in Beijing, China.

The Sustainable Development Goals projected onto UN Headquarters, New York, in 2015
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Multilateralism’s ‘proven record of service’ is focus of first-ever International Day  

24 April 2019
Global

The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace “underscores the value of international cooperation for the common good”, according to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres marking its first-ever observance on Wednesday. 

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile.
UN News/Laura Quiñones

‘Do everything in your power to tackle climate change’ UN chief urges on Mother Earth Day

22 April 2019

Marking International Mother Earth Day, the UN on Monday debated how best to build “an equitable and sustainable future” for all, through enhanced education and climate action, on the road to a key international summit on the issue due to take place in September.

Sjisäwishék indigenous girls of the Onondaga Nation, Haudenoaunee Confederacy, perform at the opening of the eighteenth substantive session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Traditional knowledge at ‘core’ of indigenous heritage, and ‘must be protected’, says UN Forum

22 April 2019
Global

Traditional knowledge is at the core of indigenous identity, culture and heritage around the world, the chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues said at the annual event’s opening day on Monday, stressing that it “must be protected”.

Worker pruning fruit trees in South Africa.
World Bank/Samson

‘A trusted voice’ for social justice: Guterres celebrates 100 years of the International Labour Organization

10 April 2019
Global

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has been “a trusted voice” to “ensure social justice in every corner of our world”, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, at a high-level meeting to commemorate the centenary of what was the first ever United Nations agency.

Children wash their faces, outside their home, in South Sudan (2018).
UNICEF/Meyer

Lack of basic water facilities risks millions of lives globally: UN health agency

3 April 2019

More than two billion people face grave health risks because basic water facilities are not available in one in four medical centres globally, the UN has said, in an appeal to countries to do more to prevent the transmission of treatable infections that can turn deadly if not washed or flushed, away. 

Jorge Chediek, Envoy of the Secretary General on South-South Cooperation, and the President of Uruguay, Tabaré Vásquez (centre), launching the report on 'South-South Cooperation in the Digital World.'
Laura Quinones/UN News

UN launches ‘South-South Galaxy’ knowledge-sharing platform in Buenos Aires

19 March 2019

When countries of the Global South forged an historic technical cooperation deal among themselves 40 years ago, digital technology was a thing of the future, but developing nations have come a long way since then.

GoGirls ICT is a Juba, South Sudan based non-profit initiative founded by a group of dedicated young women in the fields of computer science, hacktivism and peacebuilding.
UNDP South Sudan

International Women's Day: Empowering more women decision-makers ‘essential’, says Guterres

8 March 2019
Global

Under the theme “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change”, the United Nations hosted its flagship event celebrating International Women’s Day on Friday to recognize unsung women from across the world, and encourage innovation to transform lives.

Soukaina (left) and Mouna work in the marketing department at Label Vie's corporate headquarters in Rabat. It has 35 supermarkets and 10 "hypermarkets" nationwide, with eight supermarkets in Rabat and one hypermarket in Salé.
World Bank/Arne Hoel

Women’s empowerment ‘essential to global progress’ says Guterres, marking International Day

7 March 2019
Global

Women’s empowerment and gender equality are “essential to global progress”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stressed in his message for International Women's Day which this year puts “innovation by women and girls, for women and girls”, at the heart of efforts to achieve gender equality.

Students learning in Makod Primary and Secondary School in Tierkidi Refugee Camp, Gambella Region, Ethiopia.
UNICEFEthiopia/2018/Mersha

Education remains an impossible dream for many refugees and migrants

6 March 2019
Global

The older refugee and migrant children get, the less likely it is that they will get a quality education: less than a quarter of the world’s refugees make it to secondary school, and just one per cent progress to higher education. Even for migrants who settle in wealthy, developed host countries, accessing university is an uphill struggle.