News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

New York, 29 September 2020 Food loss and waste is an ethical outrage. In a world with enough food to feed all people, everywhere, 690 million people continue to go hungry and 3 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. Food loss and waste also squanders natural resources – water, soil and energy, not…

New York, 1 October 2020 The world marks the 30 th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons as we reckon with the disproportionate and severe impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought on older persons around the world – not only on their health, but on their rights and well-being…

New-York, 2 October 2020 In marking the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, this International Day highlights the remarkable power of non-violence and peaceful protest. It also a timely reminder to strive to uphold values that Gandhi lived by: the promotion of dignity, equal protection for all, and…

New York, 5 October 2020 Each year World Habitat Day focuses attention on the state of the world’s towns and cities. This year’s observance highlights the centrality of housing as a driver for sustainable urban development. Currently, 1 billion people live in overcrowded settlements with inadequate…

New York, 9 October 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every aspect of our lives, testing us all. Throughout these difficult times, I have found inspiration in the essential workers who have kept our communities and societies running smoothly in extremely difficult circumstances. I offer my…

New York, 7 October 2020 Nine months since we first heard of COVID-19, the pandemic has claimed more than one million lives and infected more than 30 million people in 190 countries. Infections are rising and there are troubling signs of new waves. Much about the virus remains unknown. But one basic…

New York, 10 October 2020 Around the world, nearly 1 billion people live with a mental disorder. Every 40 seconds, someone dies from suicide. And depression is now recognized as a leading cause of illness and disability among children and adolescents. All of this was true, even before COVID-19. We…

New York, 8 October 2020 Excellencies, colleagues and friends, Today, I have the honor of meeting – albeit remotely – four formidable women leaders who strive for peace in their regions and countries. Thank you for joining us as we mark both the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and 20 years…

New York, 10 October 2020 The theme of this year’s World Migratory Bird Day is “Birds connect our world”. As they travel the globe, migratory birds lift our spirits and remind us of nature, connecting people, ecosystems and nations. Yet our continued encroachment on nature and the destruction of…

New York, 11 October 2020 This year, we mark the International Day of the Girl against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, and resurgent movements for social justice. As we strengthen the response to the pandemic and plan for a strong recovery, we have an opportunity to create a better, fairer…

New York, 12 October 2020 The systems that bring food to our tables have a profound impact on our economies, our health and the environment. Food systems are one of the main reasons we are failing to stay within our planet’s ecological boundaries. But they can also be the key to tackling the climate…