News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

New York, 26 May 2021 I send my warmest greetings to Buddhists all over the world on Vesak, when we honour the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha. Today, we recognize the contributions Buddhism has made to human spirituality and culture for more than two and a half millennia. All of us…

New York, 29 May 2021 The world is experiencing a growing pandemic of obesity. It affects people of all ages in all regions. Particularly concerning are the young people affected. In the past four decades, the percentage of 5–19-year-olds who were overweight or obese increased more than four-fold…

New York, 29 May 2021 The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers honors the more than one million women and men who have served on the frontlines of conflict and the more than 4,000 who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Their service and sacrifices will never be forgotten. I…

New York, 3 June 2021 Bikes are freedom; bikes are fun. They are good for one’s health -- physical and mental -- and good for our one and only planet. Bikes are popular and practical, providing exercise and transporting us not only to school, stores and work but to a more sustainable future. World…

New York, 8 June 2021 This year’s observance of World Oceans Day falls as the world wrestles with the COVID-19 pandemic, a climate crisis and humankind’s continuing assault on oceans, seas and marine resources. The recently issued Second World Ocean Assessment confirmed that many of the benefits…

New York, 20 June 2021

New York, 17 June 2021 Humanity is waging a relentless, self-destructive war on nature. Biodiversity is declining, greenhouse gas concentrations are rising, and our pollution can be found from the remotest islands to the highest peaks. We must make peace with nature. The land can be our greatest…

New York, 19 June 2021 Sexual violence in conflict is a cruel tactic of war, torture, terror and repression. It reverberates down generations, and threatens both human and international security. In places affected by conflict, the turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more…