- Secretary-General
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE ON WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT
New York, 17 June 2020 The health of humanity depends on the health of the planet. Today, our planet is ailing. Land degradation affects some 3.2 billion people. Seventy 70 per cent of the world’s land has been transformed by…
- Secretary-General
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VIDEO REMARKS ON POLICY BRIEF: COVID-19 AND THE WORLD OF WORK
New York, 19 June 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world of work upside down. Every worker, every business and every corner of the globe has been affected. Hundreds of millions of jobs have been lost. Those toiling…
- Secretary-General
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT
New York, 19 June 2020 Sexual violence in conflict is a brutal crime, mainly perpetrated against women and girls, but also affecting men and boys. It reverberates throughout communities and societies, perpetuating cycles of…
- Secretary-General
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILY REMITTANCES
New York, 16 June 2020 On the International Day of Family Remittances, and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize the determination of 200 million migrants who regularly send money home, and the 800 million…
- Secretary-General
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE ON THE UNITED NATIONS PUBLIC SERVICE DAY
New York, 23 June 2020 As the world continues to grapple with the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, public servants have been on the frontlines of the crisis response. They are the nurses, doctors and paramedics who provide life…
- Secretary-General
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE ON THE DAY OF THE SEAFARER
New York, 25 June 2020 Seafarers are among the world’s unsung heroes. The International Day of the Seafarer is a time to honour the world’s two million seafarers whose dedication and professionalism keep the vast majority of…
- Secretary-General
SECRETARY -GENERAL’S VIDEO MESSAGE ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF UN CHARTER
New York, 24 June 2020 Today we face a global pandemic. Worldwide, people rightly raise their voices against racism. Confronting problems is a start. But we also have to solve them. We have a timeless guide to tackle our…

- Secretary-General
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE
New York, 26 June 2020 Torture is an egregious abuse of human rights. International law unequivocally prohibits torture in all instances. Yet, torture continues in many countries, even those where it is criminalized. On this…
- Secretary-General
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE MARKING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS
New York, 26 June 2020 Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, I send my warmest greetings to “we the peoples”. Those first three words of our founding Charter, adopted 75 years ago today, give the United Nations…
- Secretary-General
VIDEO MESSAGE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PARLIAMENTARISM
New York, 30 June 2020 The International Day of Parliamentarism is a timely occasion to honour the pivotal role of Parliaments in giving people a voice and influence to shape policy. As a former Parliamentarian, I am deeply…
- Secretary-General
OPENING REMARKS TO THE PRESS ON THE LAUNCH OF THE UN COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO COVID-19
New York, 25 June 2020 Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome. We mark tomorrow’s 75th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Charter at a time of colossal global upheaval and risk. From COVID-19 to climate disruption, from…
