UN Affairs

An atmospheric nuclear test conducted by the United States at Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands, on 1 November 1952.
US Government

UN treaty banning nuclear weapons set to enter into force in January

25 October 2020
Global

In what leading campaigners are describing as “a new chapter for nuclear disarmament”, the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will now come into force on 22 January, after Honduras became the 50th Member State to ratify on Saturday.

Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, UNIFIL and its peacekeeping troops have maintained their daily operational activities along the Blue Line in South Lebanon.
UNIFIL

Step up action to achieve COVID-19 ceasefire, Guterres says in UN Day message

23 October 2020
Global

The UN’s 75th anniversary this Saturday, which falls as countries continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, is an opportunity to accelerate action to achieve a global ceasefire during the crisis, Secretary-General António Guterres has said. 

Peacekeepers serving with the UN's Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) wear face masks while on patrol.
MINUSMA/Harandane Dicko

UN chief calls for swift action following attacks on peacekeepers in Mali

16 October 2020
Africa

Authorities in Mali are being urged to act swiftly to apprehend those responsible for two separate attacks on Thursday against peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in the country, MINUSMA. 

The UN says that corruption is criminal, immoral and the ultimate betrayal of public trust.
UN News/Daniel Dickinson

Corruption represents ‘ultimate betrayal’ of public trust: Guterres

15 October 2020
Global

Corruption is not only a crime but immoral and the “ultimate betrayal” of public trust, the UN Secretary-General has said, calling on everyone to work together and stamp out the global scourge, in all its forms. 

Boys walk through Benghazi Old Town in Libya.
OCHA/Giles Clarke

Put peace in Libya first, UN chief urges summit on war-shattered nation 

5 October 2020
Africa

A “rare opportunity” for peace in Libya should be seized by all those involved directly or indirectly in the conflict, António Guterres said on Monday, at a High-Level virtual meeting convened to end the fighting. 

A woman in Eastern Rwanda tends to crops in a field in where the UN agriculture agency, World Food Programme (WFP), is assisting small-scale farmers.
WFP/Rein Skullerud

Annual report: Pandemic recovery must be measured in ‘human rather than economic terms’

1 October 2020
Global

We must “commit” to building a more inclusive and sustainable world, the UN chief underscored in his annual report on the Work of the Organization, launched on Thursday.

Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, delivers closing remarks to the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-fifth session.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

As historic virtual debate wraps, ‘our political leaders demonstrated their commitment to multilateralism,’ says UN Assembly President

29 September 2020
Global

For the first time in the history of the United Nations, global leaders were not able to meet in person for the General Assembly’s annual debate, but the 193-Member body’s President said on Tuesday that the precautions forced by the COVID-19 pandemic “did not prevent multilateralism from operating at the highest levels.”

Ambassador Kennedy Godfrey Gastorn (on screen) of Tanzania addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-fifth session.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

The UN is ‘right platform’ to address global challenges – Tanzanian Ambassador

29 September 2020
Global

The COVID-19 outbreak reminds the world that we need “to enhance solidarity within the multilateral system” to confront global challenges, the representative of Tanzania told the closing session of the UN’s annual high-level session on Tuesday.

Ambassador Kim Song (on screen) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-fifth session.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Nuclear threat against North Korea ‘continues unabated’, UN ambassador tells Assembly

29 September 2020
Global

During the past several decades, North Korea has done “everything possible” to safeguard peace and security on the Korean peninsula, the country’s representative told the UN high-level General Debate on Tuesday.

Philip Ochen Odida (on screen), Deputy Permanent Representative of Uganda, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-fifth session.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

At UN, Uganda highlights COVID-19 response, commitment to sustainable development

29 September 2020
Global

Through deliberate and targeted actions, Uganda has been able to contain the spread of COVID-19, the country’s representative to the UN told the General Assembly, adding that the Government also prioritized sustainable recovery from the pandemic in its national plans.