News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

New York, 30 November 2020 I am pleased to join you for the 13th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Later this week, we will also observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I take this issue of disability…

New York, 2 December 2020 This year’s global protests against systemic racism have brought renewed attention to a legacy of injustices all over the world whose roots lie in the dark history of colonialism and slavery. But slavery is not simply a matter of history. Today, more than 40 million people…

New York, 3 December 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has affected communities and societies at their very core, deepening pre-existing inequalities. Even under normal circumstances, the one billion persons living with disabilities worldwide are less likely to enjoy access to education, healthcare and…

New York, 2 December 2020 President Bollinger, Dear friends, I thank Columbia University for hosting this gathering — and I welcome those joining online around the world. We meet in this unusual way as we enter the last month of this most unusual year. We are facing a devastating pandemic, new…

New York, 5 December 2020 Every year on 5 December, the world observes International Volunteer Day. This year, we are highlighting the important contributions of volunteers to the response to COVID-19. Around the world, volunteers have been assisting vulnerable groups, correcting misinformation…

New York, 7 December 2020 International aviation plays a key role in human affairs. It lets us discover our world’s wondrous geographic and cultural diversity. It enables us to learn about and benefit from each other. And it connects societies through global travel and trade, advancing access to…

New York, 9 December 2020 In recent years, anger and frustration have erupted at corrupt leaders and governments. In some countries, people have taken to the streets with demands for social justice and accountability. Amidst these deep concerns, the COVID-19 crisis creates additional opportunities…

New York, 9 December 2020 Genocide is the most heinous of crimes, encompassing all it touches in a tsunami of hate and destruction. It is an assault on our most fundamental shared values. Today, as we remember and honour the victims of the crime of genocide, let us remember that the imperative to…

New York, 12 November 2020 I am honoured to speak to you on the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the General Assembly resolution on the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan. In adopting this resolution, the General Assembly recognized the status of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan and…

New York, 10 December 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced two fundamental truths about human rights. First, human rights violations harm us all. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups including frontline workers, people with disabilities, older people…

As the world marks the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change, a promising movement for carbon neutrality is taking shape. By next month, countries representing more than 65 per cent of harmful greenhouse gasses and more than 70 per cent of the world…