/sg/en/content/ossg/latest-statements Latest Statements, Off-the-Cuff and Readouts from Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary General of the United Nations en /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-16/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-for-the-preservation-of-the-ozone-layer-scroll-down-for-french-version At a time when multilateralism is under severe strain, the Montreal Protocol to help protect the ozone layer stands out as a powerful symbol of hope. It is a reminder that when countries show political resolve for the common good, change is possible. In uniting the world to phase out the consumption and production of different ozone depleting substances, the Protocol has also contributed to shielding carbon sinks, protecting humanity’s health, and avoiding economic losses. The ozone layer, once an ailing patient, is on the road to recovery.   03/09/2024 - 14:41 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-16/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-for-the-preservation-of-the-ozone-layer-scroll-down-for-french-version /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-15/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-of-democracy-scroll-down-for-french-version The International Day of Democracy is an opportunity to reinforce the importance of upholding free speech, civil liberties, and the rule of law; ensuring accountable institutions; and protecting and promoting human rights. This is especially crucial in a year where more than 50 countries – representing half of the global population – are holding elections. Yet, these rights and values are under attack around the world. Freedoms are being eroded. Civic space is diminishing. Polarization is intensifying. And mistrust is growing. 03/09/2024 - 14:38 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-15/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-of-democracy-scroll-down-for-french-version /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-13/secretary-generals-remarks-the-un-peace-bell-ceremony-delivered Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,  We come together today to sound the call for peace.  Here at the United Nations, peace is our raison d'être, our guiding light, and our founding creed.  Yet peace is under threat. War is on the march.  From the Middle East, to Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond, we see bullets and bombs maim and kill; bodies piled high; populations traumatised; and buildings reduced to rubble.   Meanwhile, the foundations of a peaceful world are fracturing.  Geo-political divisions are widening.  13/09/2024 - 09:46 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-13/secretary-generals-remarks-the-un-peace-bell-ceremony-delivered /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-12/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-gaza The Secretary-General condemns the death of at least 18 people, including children, women, and six UNRWA staff, in Israeli airstrikes that hit a school serving as a shelter in Nuseirat on 11 September.  This incident raises the number of UNRWA staff killed in this conflict to 220.  The IDF stated that they had targeted a command-and-control centre in the compound.  This incident must be independently and thoroughly investigated to ensure accountability.  12/09/2024 - 11:41 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-12/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-gaza /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-12/secretary-generals-remarks-the-global-call-the-summit-of-the-future-delivered President Nangolo Mbumba, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Excellencies, Thank you for bringing us together today for this Global Call on the Summit of the Future. The Summit is just days away, but getting to this point has taken years of effort. I want to thank you and your governments for your commitment, every step of the way. Member States are now in the final stages of negotiating the three agreements to be adopted at the Summit of the Future: the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.  12/09/2024 - 10:40 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-12/secretary-generals-remarks-the-global-call-the-summit-of-the-future-delivered /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-12/secretary-generals-message-the-united-nations-day-for-south-south-cooperation-scroll-down-for-french-version Download the vídeo:  03/09/2024 - 14:34 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-12/secretary-generals-message-the-united-nations-day-for-south-south-cooperation-scroll-down-for-french-version /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-09-11/note-correspondents-usg-rosemary-dicarlo-concludes-her-visit-libya Under-Secretary-General for Political and �ٱ���Ƶappbuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, ended her visit to Libya today, underlining the United Nations’ commitment to assisting the Libyan people in their efforts to achieve unity and durable peace. 11/09/2024 - 14:33 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-09-11/note-correspondents-usg-rosemary-dicarlo-concludes-her-visit-libya /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-11/secretary-generals-message-the-launch-of-the-panel-critical-energy-transition-minerals-report Today’s report from the Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals is a how-to guide to help generate prosperity and equality alongside clean power. The report makes recommendations on critical minerals, at a crucial time. We established the Panel in response to calls from developing countries, amid signs that the energy transition could reproduce and amplify inequalities of the past – banishing developing countries to the bottom of value chains to watch others grow rich by exploiting their people and putting their environment in jeopardy. 11/09/2024 - 10:22 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-11/secretary-generals-message-the-launch-of-the-panel-critical-energy-transition-minerals-report /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-10/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general%C2%A0%E2%80%93%C2%A0-gaza The Secretary-General strongly condemns today's Israeli air strikes in a densely populated Israeli-designated zone in Khan Younis and the killing of civilians, including women and children.  The use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas is unconscionable.  Displaced Palestinians had moved to this area in Khan Younis in search for shelter and safety after being repeatedly instructed to do so by the Israeli authorities - but there is no safe place in Gaza. 10/09/2024 - 17:49 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-10/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general%C2%A0%E2%80%93%C2%A0-gaza /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-10/secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-of-the-seventy-ninth-session-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly-delivered Mr. President of the 79th session of the General Assembly, Your Excellency Philemon Yang of Cameroon — congratulations.  You bring to this vital task a wealth of experience, including your years as Prime Minister of Cameroon that I had the privilege to meet in your country, but also as a diplomat and public servant, and as a proud African. I commend your vision statement’s focus on key priorities such as finance and science and technology which are all critical to global progress. 10/09/2024 - 13:38 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-10/secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-of-the-seventy-ninth-session-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly-delivered /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-10/secretary-generals-remarks-the-closing-of-the-seventy-eight-session-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly-delivered Mr. President, Excellencies, We close this 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly after a tumultuous year. A year of continued poverty, inequality and injustice. A year of division, violence, and conflict. A year that was the hottest on record — again. But this session also closes at a time of growing hope and inspiration in what we can achieve if we work as one. This spirit of solidarity shone through this Assembly’s accomplishments over the last year. 10/09/2024 - 10:13 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-10/secretary-generals-remarks-the-closing-of-the-seventy-eight-session-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly-delivered /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-10/secretary-generals-remarks-wreath-laying-ceremony-commemorating-the-63rd-anniversary-of-the-death-of-former-secretary-general-dag-hammarskj%C3%B6ld-delivered Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, friends, On the 63rd anniversary of Dag Hammarskjöld’s death, we come together, to remember: A man of integrity, humility, courage and skill; A man committed to the United Nations, dedicated to the Charter, and devoted to peace.  We pay tribute to him today, and to all those United Nations staff who died with him. Their families deserve answers. Pursuing the full truth is our solemn duty. 10/09/2024 - 09:48 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-10/secretary-generals-remarks-wreath-laying-ceremony-commemorating-the-63rd-anniversary-of-the-death-of-former-secretary-general-dag-hammarskj%C3%B6ld-delivered /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-09/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-protect-education-attack-scroll-down-for-french-version Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in attacks on students, teachers, educational personnel and schools around the world — from Gaza, to Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere. Every conflict exacts a cruel human toll. But for the children and young people caught up in the hell of conflict, the cost is incalculable. 03/09/2024 - 14:32 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-09/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-protect-education-attack-scroll-down-for-french-version /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-07/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-of-clean-air-for-blue-skies-%E2%80%9Cinvest-cleanairnow%E2%80%9D-scroll-down-for-french-version Ninety-nine per cent of humanity breathes polluted air – leading to an estimated 8 million premature deaths – including more than 700,000 children under five. Pollution is also choking economies and heating up our planet, adding fuel to the fire of the climate crisis. And it disproportionally affects those most vulnerable in society, including women, children, and older persons. 03/09/2024 - 14:29 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-09-07/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-of-clean-air-for-blue-skies-%E2%80%9Cinvest-cleanairnow%E2%80%9D-scroll-down-for-french-version /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-09-06/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-high-level-presidential-summit-of-the-africa-food-systems-forum-2024-prepared-for-delivery Let me start by thanking H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the AGRA Board for the invitation to join you here today for this Africa Food Systems Forum 2024.  I am also grateful for the opportunity to be reunited with Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA, and the former special Envoy for the Food Systems Summit. She has been an incredible champion for Africa, for food systems, and for the women and men whose livelihoods depend on these systems.  06/09/2024 - 20:22 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-09-06/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-high-level-presidential-summit-of-the-africa-food-systems-forum-2024-prepared-for-delivery