Press Releases

New York, 19 August, 2023 This year’s World Humanitarian Day marks the 20th anniversary of the deadly attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad. On that dark day, we lost 22 colleagues, including Special Representative Sergio…

New York, 21 June 2023 Yoga unites. It unites body and mind, humanity and nature, and millions of people across the globe, for whom it is a source of strength, harmony, and peace. In a dangerous and divided world, the…

New York, 20 June 2023 During my decade as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, I witnessed the resilience and contributions of refugees across all walks of life. Their perseverance in the face of adversity inspires me every…

New York, 17 June 2023 “Her Land. Her Rights: Advancing gender equality and land restoration goals” Excellencies, friends. We depend on land for our survival. Yet we treat it like dirt. Unsustainable farming is eroding soil…

New York, 8 June 2023 The ocean is the foundation of life. It supplies the air we breathe and food we eat. It regulates our climate and weather. The ocean is our planet’s greatest reservoir of biodiversity. Its resources…

New York, 5 June 2023 This World Environment Day is a call to beat plastic pollution. Every year, over 400 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide – one third of which is used just once. Every day, the equivalent of…

New York, 29 May 2023 United Nations peacekeepers are the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world. For 75 years, they have supported people and communities rocked by conflict and upheaval across the globe…

New York, 22 May 2023 On the International Day for Biological Diversity, we reflect on our relationship with humanity’s life-support system. From the air we breathe and the food we eat, to the energy that fuels us and the…

New York, 17 May 2023 On this World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, we highlight the power of technology to advance sustainable development in Least Developed Countries. The digital revolution is a defining…

New York, 5 May 2023 I send my warmest wishes to the millions around the world celebrating the Day of Vesak, which marks the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. The ideals celebrated on this sacred day have a…