/sg/en/content/ossg/latest-statements Latest Statements, Off-the-Cuff and Readouts from Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary General of the 51³Ô¹Ï en /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-17/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-the-situation-the-middle-east Mr. President, Excellencies, I am pleased to deliver the Secretary-General’s briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. His remarks are as follows: Last December, the hostilities in Gaza and Israel -- that have created appalling human suffering, physical destruction, and collective trauma -- led to my exceptional invocation of Article 99 of the 51³Ô¹Ï Charter. Seven months later, the war rages on.  17/07/2024 - 10:27 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-17/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-the-situation-the-middle-east /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-07-17/note-correspondents-assistant-secretary-general-for-middle-east-and-asia-pacific-khaled-khiari-participates-the-un-league-of-arab-states-general-cooperation The 16th General Cooperation Meeting between the Secretariats of the 51³Ô¹Ï and the League of Arab States and their specialized bodies is taking place at the 51³Ô¹Ï Office at Geneva from 17 to 19 July 2024. The meeting is co-chaired by Mr. Khaled Khiari, 51³Ô¹Ï Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and H.E. Mr. Khalil Ebrahim Al Thawadi, League of Arab States Assistant Secretary-General for Arab Affairs and National Security. 16/07/2024 - 15:51 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-07-17/note-correspondents-assistant-secretary-general-for-middle-east-and-asia-pacific-khaled-khiari-participates-the-un-league-of-arab-states-general-cooperation /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-17/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-tenth-anniversary-of-the-mh17-tragedy On the 10th anniversary of the tragic downing of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, the Secretary-General recalls with sadness the 298 victims who lost their lives. In full solidarity with the families of the victims and in honour of their memory, the Secretary-General renews his call on all States to extend their full cooperation pursuant to Security Council resolution 2166 that was adopted in 2014, to ensure that those responsible are held to account, following the important work of the independent Joint Investigation Team.   16/07/2024 - 14:04 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-17/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-tenth-anniversary-of-the-mh17-tragedy /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-16/secretary-generals-video-message-the-2024-sdg-global-business-forum Download the video: https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+28+Jun+24/3229199_MSG+SG+GLOBAL+BUISNESS+28+JUN+24.mp4 Dear friends, I am pleased to convey my warmest greetings to the Sustainable Development Goals Global Business Forum. 09/07/2024 - 16:30 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-16/secretary-generals-video-message-the-2024-sdg-global-business-forum /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-15/deputy-secretary-generals-opening-remarks-for-the-high-level-political-forum-special-event-keeping-the-sdg-promise-pathways-for-acceleration Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this event on SDG Acceleration. As we have heard throughout our discussions, with only six years to 2030, the SDGs are in peril. But last September’s SDG Summit demonstrated that world leaders continue to see the 2030 Agenda asn our path to a better future. And the summit’s Political Declaration provided us with clear instructions: to double-down on SDG acceleration. 15/07/2024 - 20:03 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-15/deputy-secretary-generals-opening-remarks-for-the-high-level-political-forum-special-event-keeping-the-sdg-promise-pathways-for-acceleration /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-15/deputy-secretary-generals-closing-remarks-for-the-high-level-political-forum-special-event-keeping-the-sdg-promise-pathways-for-acceleration Honorable Ministers, Ladies and gentlemen, It is my pleasure to bring this meeting on SDG Acceleration to a close. I would like to thank our co-convenor Minister Granados of Spain for joining forces with us today. I would also like to thank all the panelists, respondents and member states for their contributions. And my gratitude as ever to our moderator, Sherwin, for keeping things interesting, engaging and energizing. Dear friends, 15/07/2024 - 20:14 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-15/deputy-secretary-generals-closing-remarks-for-the-high-level-political-forum-special-event-keeping-the-sdg-promise-pathways-for-acceleration /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-15/secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-of-the-ministerial-segment-of-the-high-level-political-forum-delivered Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Ladies and gentlemen,  Thank you for the opportunity to deliver this statement on behalf of the Secretary-General. I congratulate the President of ECOSOC for her leadership. Today, we gather here in the General Assembly Hall — the birthplace of the Sustainable Development Goals nine years ago.  From the very start, the Goals represented a promise of a better future to hundreds of millions of people across the world.  Last September, world leaders gathered once again in this Hall.  15/07/2024 - 13:11 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-15/secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-of-the-ministerial-segment-of-the-high-level-political-forum-delivered /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-15/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-general-assembly-observance-of-nelson-mandela-international-day-delivered Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to be here with you as we celebrate Nelson Mandela International Day. To begin, I will deliver remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General. Nelson Mandela showed us the extraordinary difference one person can make in building a better world.   And as the theme of this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day reminds us – combatting poverty and inequality is in our hands. Our world is unequal and divided. Hunger and poverty are rife. 15/07/2024 - 13:00 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-15/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-general-assembly-observance-of-nelson-mandela-international-day-delivered /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-15/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-high-level-political-forum-side-event-%E2%80%9Cunprecedented-spotlight-initiative-results-ending-violence-against From the age-old manifestations of physical and sexual violence, to the advent of online abuse powered by artificial intelligence, the issue of gender-based violence seems intractable and pervasive. However, I am here today to unequivocally say that ending violence against women and girls is not only imperative — it is possible.  And the Spotlight Initiative is showing us the way.  The Initiative’s comprehensive programming model works alongside governments and community to foster gender-responsive laws, policies, and institutions.  15/07/2024 - 10:33 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-15/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-high-level-political-forum-side-event-%E2%80%9Cunprecedented-spotlight-initiative-results-ending-violence-against /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-15/secretary-generals-message-world-youth-skills-day-2024-%E2%80%9Cyouth-skills-for-peace-and-sustainable-development%E2%80%9D-scroll-down-for-french-version The future of humanity and our planet depends on young people. But it also depends on ensuring they have the skills to tackle today’s challenges and shape a more peaceful tomorrow. We know there is a clear link between countries that enjoy high levels of peace, spending on education, and school completion rates. Yet today, almost a quarter of the world’s youth are not in education, employment, or training – with that figure more than twice as high for young women. 09/07/2024 - 16:28 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-15/secretary-generals-message-world-youth-skills-day-2024-%E2%80%9Cyouth-skills-for-peace-and-sustainable-development%E2%80%9D-scroll-down-for-french-version /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-12/secretary-generals-remarks-unrwa-pledging-conference-delivered-scroll-down-for-arabic Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Every year we meet to help bridge the gap between what is pledged to UNRWA and what is needed. This year is different. Yes, we face a profound funding gap.  But Palestinians are seeing widening gaps across the board. Gaps in respect for international humanitarian law. Gaps in recognition of universal human rights and dignity for all.  And, for Palestinians in Gaza, not just a gap – but death, destruction and a total breakdown in law and order. 12/07/2024 - 10:39 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-12/secretary-generals-remarks-unrwa-pledging-conference-delivered-scroll-down-for-arabic /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-12/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-segment-of-the-high-level-political-forum-side-event-investment-the-future-school-meals-for Excellencies, Dear colleagues, It is an honor to join you today to celebrate the success of the School Meals Coalition – a key driver of our efforts to foster sustainable development and address some of our most pressing global challenges. A combination of crises – including climate change, conflicts and economic shocks – continue to hit developing countries the hardest. 12/07/2024 - 16:30 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/deputy-secretary-general/statement/2024-07-12/deputy-secretary-generals-remarks-the-opening-segment-of-the-high-level-political-forum-side-event-investment-the-future-school-meals-for /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-11/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-of-reflection-and-commemoration-of-the-1995-genocide-srebrenica-scroll-down-for-french-version 11 July marks the first International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. Twenty-nine years ago, the 51³Ô¹Ï and the world failed the people of Srebrenica. Over 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were systematically murdered, and their remains buried in mass graves. This was the worst atrocity in Europe since the Second World War. Today, we honour the memory of the victims and stand in solidarity with the survivors. 01/07/2024 - 09:41 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-11/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-of-reflection-and-commemoration-of-the-1995-genocide-srebrenica-scroll-down-for-french-version /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-11/secretary-generals-remarks-special-event-transforming-education-bilingual-delivered-scroll-down-for-all-english-and-all-french-versions Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Almost two years have passed since the Transforming Education Summit in New York. Since then, the world has grown more unequal. Climate action has become more urgent. New technologies have become more disruptive. War and violence have — sadly — become more widespread. And all the while, the global crisis in education that we came together to address at the Summit has shown little sign of abating. 11/07/2024 - 10:42 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-11/secretary-generals-remarks-special-event-transforming-education-bilingual-delivered-scroll-down-for-all-english-and-all-french-versions /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-11/secretary-generals-message-world-population-day-scroll-down-for-french-version This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action. It must also be the year we resolve to accelerate efforts and investments to turn its promises into a reality. Central to the ICPD Programme of Action is the recognition that women’s sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights are cornerstones of sustainable development.   01/07/2024 - 11:15 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General /sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-07-11/secretary-generals-message-world-population-day-scroll-down-for-french-version