UN Affairs

A member of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) clears the UN base outside Juba, South Sudan, of unexploded ordnance (UXO’s) in the aftermath of heavy clashes. UXO are comprised of bombs, mortars, grenades or other devices that fail to detonate but remain volatile and can kill if touched or moved.
UN Photo/Eric Kanalstein

Mine ban agreement ‘has saved countless lives’, but ‘accelerated efforts’ needed to end scourge for good: Guterres

28 February 2019

Although a landmark convention banning Anti-Personnel Mines has saved “countless lives” and limbs over the past 20 years, “accelerated efforts” are needed to ensure that they are removed from the face of the earth forever, the UN chief said on Thursday.

Brian Urquhart, one of the first employees of the United Nations, served under a range of Secretaries-General in various roles culminating in his appointment as the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
UN Photo/Mark Garten

Marking Sir Brian Urquhart’s 100th birthday, UN honours life-long servant of ‘we the peoples’

28 February 2019
Global

Secretary-General António Guterres is wishing Sir Brian Urquhart, the legendary long-time United Nations official, a very happy 100th birthday, joining legions of admirers worldwide in praising Sir Brian’s ever-principled and groundbreaking work for the UN and beyond.

Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for the talks between Greece and what was then the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, sat down for an interview with UN News.
UN News/Alban Mendes de Leon

‘I don’t like to give up': veteran UN envoy reveals how two decades of quiet diplomacy gave birth to North Macedonia

28 February 2019
Europe

Last June, a historic agreement settled a 27-year-long name dispute between two countries, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece. One man, Matthew Nimetz,  patiently led the negotiations on behalf of the United Nations for over two decades and he told UN News, in an exclusive interview, that his faith in a positive outcome never faltered.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the Conference on Disarmament's High-Level Segment 2019, Palais des Nations, 25 February 2019.
UN Photo/Antoine Tardy

Make progress or risk redundancy, UN chief warns world disarmament body

25 February 2019

A new global vision for arms control is needed and States must not “sleepwalk” into a new nuclear arms race, the UN Secretary-General said on Monday.

Cate Blanchett (right), a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, at "Capernaum" film screening with director Nadine Labaki (left), in London, UK.
© UNHCR/Tom Pilston

Social justice, human rights feature prominently at this year's Oscars in Hollywood

23 February 2019
Global

Gender equality, the marginalization of indigenous languages, migration, the refugee crisis, the lives of domestic workers, poverty… All these issues which are at the heart of the United Nations’ work, are also front and centre in some of the films celebrated this year at the Academy Awards.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals projected on UN headquarters, New York, 2015.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Parliamentarians directly called to take action on global issues by UN chief

21 February 2019
Global

Addressing parliament elected officials from around the world gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday for an annual hearing, UN chief António Guterres called for their support on legislation and financing of global solutions to global problems, such as climate change, uncoordinated migration and the dangers of some new technologies.

Namibia's struggle for independence had been on the UN agenda for over 40 years. Pictured here is a worker puts the finishing touches to a billboard near Windhoek, proclaiming the nation's independence.
UN Photo/John Isaac

UN decolonization successes can ‘inspire us today,’ UN chief tells Special Committee

21 February 2019
Global

Since the early 1960s, the United Nations decolonization committee has “accompanied many territories in their journey”, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday, opening the body’s 2019 session.

North Macedonia flag raising for the first time at UN Headquarters in New York. The flag is alphabetically located between the flags of Nigeria (left) and Norway (right).
UN Photo/Mark Garten

UN chief hails victory of ‘political will’ in historic Republic of North Macedonia accord

14 February 2019
Europe

The UN-brokered agreement between Athens and Skopje to formally recognize the “Republic of North Macedonia”, is a welcome, “historical” step that should be supported by regional and international Member States, António Guterres has announced.

The 8th edition of World Radio Day marks a time where people around the world celebrate radio and how it shapes our lives.
UNESCO

Radio still a powerful worldwide tool for ‘dialogue, tolerance and peace’: Guterres

13 February 2019
Global

Radio is a powerful tool that continues to promote “dialogue, tolerance and peace,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in message on Thursday, marking World Radio Day.