Meetings coverage, press releases, press conferences, committees
Meetings Coverage
Summaries of official meetings and events at UN Headquarters and overseas conferences.
27 March 2020
Rapid Suppression of COVID-19 Transmission ‘Must Be Our Common Strategy’, Secretary-General Stresses in Virtual Briefing to Member States
Solidarity is “the first line of defence” against the COVID-19 pandemic threatening to wipe out years of development gains and throw millions of people back into poverty, the highest-ranking United...
12 March 2020
Concluding Annual Session, Special Peacekeeping Operations Committee Approves Draft Report Outlining Proposals, Conclusions on Range of Substantive Items
Concluding its work today, the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations approved, as orally revised, the draft report of its 2020 substantive session (document A/AC.121/2020/L.3).
12 March 2020
Escalating Violence Threatens Quest for Political Resolution of Conflict in Yemen, Senior Officials Warn Security Council
The recent escalation of violence in Yemen is jeopardizing the quest for a political solution to the conflict in that country and inflicting significant harm on civilians, senior United Nations...
12 March 2020
Security Council Renews Mandate of United Nations Mission in South Sudan, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2514 (2020)
The Security Council decided to renew the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) today amid encouraging developments in that country’s peace process, including the beginning of...
11 March 2020
Security Council Issues Presidential Statement Calling for Greater Efforts to Help Africa Fight Terrorism, as Delegates Denounce ‘Insufficient’ Current Approaches
Terrorism and violent extremism pose a significant and growing threat to peace and security in Africa and the international community must redouble its efforts to strengthen the continent’s ability...
11 March 2020
Speakers Seek More Details on Improving Staff Performance, Organizational Culture, as Fifth Committee Reviews Roll-Out of Accountability Framework across Secretariat
Speakers praised and called for more details about the roll-out of a new framework for assigning senior managers greater authority to make decisions and hold their staff accountable for results, as...
11 March 2020
General Assembly Postpones Fourth Session of Intergovernmental Conference to Draft Marine Biodiversity Treaty in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction
The General Assembly today decided to postpone the fourth session of the intergovernmental conference to draft a new global instrument on biodiversity in ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction,...
10 March 2020
Security Council Welcomes Significant Steps towards Ending War in Afghanistan, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2513 (2020)
The Security Council welcomed the significant steps taken towards ending the war in Afghanistan and opening the door to intra-Afghan negotiations enabled by the recent peace agreement signed by the...
Press Releases
Press releases from the main United Nations bodies, as well as offices and departments of the Secretariat.
8 July 2020
Negotiated Solution in Libya Crucial as Foreign Interference Grows, Thousands Flee Homes, Secretary-General Warns Security Council, Stressing Time ‘Not on Our Side’
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council open video-teleconference meeting on the situation in Libya, in New York today:
8 July 2020
Secretary-General, in Video Message to Global Summit on Coronavirus, World of Work, Calls for Responses That Stimulate Economy, Employment while Safeguarding Workers
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work, in New York today:
7 July 2020
Integrating Human Rights into Peace Operations Brings Missions Closer to People, Advances Inclusive Development, High Commissioner Tells Security Council
Addressing rights violations as warning signs of conflict is even more urgent in the COVID-19 era, the United Nations senior human rights official told the Security Council in a 7 July...
7 July 2020
United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre Launches First Virtual Exposition: “Virtual Expo — Real Impact”
NEW YORK, 7 July (United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism) — The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre launched its first virtual exposition on 7 July as part of the United Nations Virtual...
6 July 2020
General Assembly, in Silence Procedure, Adopts Decision to Observe Olympic Truce throughout Tokyo Games Rescheduled for 2021
With the Games of the XXXII Olympiad rescheduled from 2020 to 2021, owing to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly on 6 July confirmed that the Olympic Truce will now be observed from 16...
6 July 2020
Violent Extremism Does Not Pause for Global Pandemic, United Nations Warns, Urges States to Mount Unified Response, as Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week Begins
Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week kicked off today, with discussions focused on the strategic and practical challenges of countering terrorism during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
6 July 2020
As COVID-19 Reveals Widespread Inequality, Joint Action Is Key to Preserve Development Gains, Secretary-General Warns at Economic and Social Council Integration Segment
All stakeholders must work together to prevent a reversal of decades of progress on development goals during these unprecedented times that require deep reflection and strong action, the Secretary-...
6 July 2020
Warning against ‘Unthinkable’ Return to Flawed Frameworks, Secretary-General Opens Economic and Social Council Integration Segment with Call for Unified COVID-19 Response
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Economic and Social Council integration segment, in New York today: