UN Affairs

Aerial view of damage caused by Hurricane Irma in Antigua and Barbuda (2017).
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

‘Overwhelmed by old challenges’, Caribbean leaders say COVID-19 has forced a new battle for the survival of their nations

25 September 2021
Americas

Caribbean island nations are under assault from the coronavirus pandemic even as they try to protect their communities from rising seas and raging storms, regional leaders said Saturday at the UN, where they called for bold action to tackle climate change and shore up public health systems.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session...
UNTV screen grab

Goodness is the best medicine for the world’s ills, says Holy See official

25 September 2021

Humanity needs the “reserves of goodness present in human hearts” to confront the many challenges facing the world community, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, declared in his video address to the high-level General Debate of the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga of the Republic of Mali, addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

As crises ‘pile up’ in the Sahel, Malian leader says it's time to consider more robust mandate for UN Mission    

25 September 2021
Africa

The interim Prime Minister of Mali, Choguel Kokalla Maïga, said on Saturday that “rarely, has a country or region been as severely affected by the piling up of crises than Mali and the states of the Sahel.” 

The South Pacific archipelago of Tuvalu is highly susceptible to rises in sea level brought about by climate change.
UNDP Tuvalu/Aurélia Rusek

Pacific nations appeal for solidarity to combat COVID-19 and climate change

25 September 2021
Asia Pacific

Pacific Island leaders speaking in the UN General Assembly on Saturday underlined the need for global solidarity, commitment and action to tackle COVID-19 and climate change, two crises which threaten sustainable development. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Prime Minister Modi spotlights India’s role as a ‘reliable, democratic global partner’ 

25 September 2021
Global

In his address to the high-level debate at the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Narendra Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to democracy, highlighted its great strides in developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines, and warned against “countries with regressive thinking.”

Prime Minister Abdalla Adam Hamdok (on screens) of the Sudan addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Sudan striving for ‘common goal’ of peace, prosperity, freedom and justice

25 September 2021
Africa

Sudan continues the path to democracy, two years after the revolution that “carried the aspirations of our people for freedom, peace and justice”, Prime Minister Abdalla Adam Hamdok told the UN General Assembly on Saturday. 

Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves (on screens) of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

St. Vincent’s Prime Minister urges world to ‘rise collectively’ and combat today’s challenges 

25 September 2021
Global

In addition to the global challenges surrounding climate, security and the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Saturday drew the attention of the 76th UN General Assembly to devastating volcanic eruptions and the on-rushing Atlantic Hurricane season confronting his small-island developing State (SID).

Prime Minister Ariel Henry of Haïti addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Haitian Prime Minister: As long as there is inequality, migration will continue  

25 September 2021
Americas

The Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry, said on Saturday that “human beings, fathers and mothers who have children, are always going to flee poverty and conflict.” 

Prime Minister Imran Khan (on screen) of Pakistan addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

At UN, Pakistan Prime Minister urges ‘bold steps’ to prevent humanitarian crisis Afghanistan

24 September 2021
Global

Against the backdrop of what he called “a critical time” in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan said on Friday that if the situation there is neglected, “a huge humanitarian crisis” lies ahead.

Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, Vice-President of the Republic of South Sudan, addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

South Sudan ‘determined to never go back to war’

24 September 2021
Africa

South Sudan is “ready to turn a new page” towards greater peace, development and prosperity, Vice-President Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior said in her speech in the UN General Assembly on Friday.