António Guterres
@antonioguterres · Europe
António Guterres is followed by Storyz World for government and public service coverage connected to Portugal in the Europe chapter.
New York City has hosted our @UN Headquarters for decades & is the place many colleagues call home. So do I. Twenty-five years ago, the heinous terrorist attacks on 9/11, an assault on humanity itself, claimed thousands of lives & left an enduring mark on our world. On this solemn anniversary, we pay tribute to the survivors & honour the first responders who showed extraordinary courage & humanity. My thoughts are with everyone who lost loved ones & with all the people of New York City.
Education is a fundamental human right. But exercising that right is becoming increasingly dangerous. In the past two years, more than 8,500 attacks targeted schools, students & teachers. All countries must ensure the right to education for every child & protect schools & places of learning.
Today, we paid tribute to Dag Hammarskjöld, who was tragically killed 65 years ago. At a time when global cooperation is under siege, we must be guided by the values he embodied: Integrity, in the face of raw power. Compassion, for those who are suffering. Humility, when our courage & skills are put to the test.
The @UN General Assembly has been the place where the world’s toughest & most consequential problems are confronted head-on. As I join the 81st #UNGA session for the last time as Secretary-General, I have enormous hope for a better, healthier & more peaceful future thanks to the work that happens here. Through diplomacy, dialogue & collaboration – let’s deliver the solutions our world needs. I pledge my full support to Dr. Khalilur Rahman, as he take on the important role as @UN_PGA.
I am deeply concerned by the escalation of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon. I condemn the mounting civilian casualties, the distress & displacement caused by the evacuation orders, and the scenes of massive destruction & devastation. Civilians & civilian objects must be protected at all times. They are #NotATarget and attacks directed against them are unacceptable. I appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities. I call on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory. The Lebanese State must have the monopoly on the use of force. I urge all parties to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty & territorial integrity. The @UN remains committed to supporting efforts to end the violence, protect civilians & advance a lasting solution to this conflict.
The 80th @UN General Assembly session came together to develop solutions at a moment of profound challenge for humanity. I thank Annalena Baerbock for her strong leadership as @UN_PGA over the last year. Her work has helped advanced a more effective, responsive and accountable United Nations. As we prepare to open the new #UNGA sessions let’s hold fast to the spirit of collaboration & common purpose, and keep rebuilding trust in what we can achieve by standing as one.
I remain deeply concerned by the continuing discriminatory policies imposed by the Taliban on Afghan women & girls, which affect every aspect of their lives. Restrictions on their full participation in public life, education & many areas of work violate their fundamental rights & remain a critical impediment to Afghanistan’s economic development, stability & reintegration into the international community. It has been one year since Afghan women have been prevented from accessing UN compounds across the country. These restrictions are contrary to international law, including the UN Charter, and undermine the organization's capacity to carry out its mandate & deliver life-saving and other assistance to the Afghan people at a time when needs remain high. I reiterate my call on the de facto authorities to immediately reverse the ban on Afghan women working for the @UN, and to ensure their safe & unhindered access to UN premises throughout the country. I further urge the de facto authorities to lift all restrictions imposed on women & girls, and to uphold their rights to full, equal & meaningful participation in all aspects of Afghan society.
International police cooperation is vital to better support survivors, apprehend perpetrators, disrupt criminal networks & advance safety for all. Law enforcement must also ensure its own legitimacy, by being grounded in fairness, accountability & respect for human rights. Everyone deserves the protection of the law. Together, let's strengthen collaboration, foster community trust, and build police institutions that serve with integrity & humanity.
Violence against women & girls is a persistent & pervasive global scourge. Ending this crisis is essential for sustainable development & human rights. Let’s invest in women’s organizations delivering proven, locally led solutions & build a world of safety & dignity for everyone.
I welcome the General Assembly’s decision to merge @UNSSC with @UNITAR, replacing them with the UN Institute for Capability & Learning Innovation. It's an important step in the #UN80 Initiative, and part of the broader consolidation of the @UN's training & research capacities.
El Niño is being supersized before our eyes. The science is clear: Sea surface temperatures are rising, temperatures keep climbing & the world is in the danger zone of extreme weather. The race now is between rising risks & our commitment to take #ClimateAction & protect people. We must win that race.
Humanity is speeding towards a climate catastrophe. That’s the stark warning from the latest @UNEP report. Every fraction of a degree of warming will cost lives, deepen inequalities & push ecosystems closer to irreversible damage. We must raise ambition, accelerate #ClimateAction & fight for humanity. NOW. https://t.co/KhwIThOfMf
The conflicts in the Middle East have had far-reaching effects. Agreements & ceasefires are constantly violated, and strikes continue. I appeal for maximum restraint & for agreements &international law to be respected. More than ever, we need negotiations towards a just, lasting peace in line with international law, including the @UN Charter & relevant UN resolutions.
Rising seas are no longer a distant threat. They are happening now, faster than at any point in recorded history with far reaching consequences. We need to urgently scale up #ClimateAction & international cooperation to protect affected populations. My full report: https://t.co/Ccwc2hT3fI
Nuclear tests shatter trust, fuel a nuclear arms race & betray every community still living with the legacy of past nuclear tests. I call on all countries possessing nuclear weapons to maintain existing moratoria & bring the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty into force. Let’s re-commit to ending nuclear testing.
I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway. He embodied Norway’s deep commitment to international solidarity & cooperation that is also reflected in his country’s steadfast partnership with the @UN. My deepest condolences to His Majesty King Haakon VIII, as well as to the Government & people of Norway.
The Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is first & foremost a human tragedy affecting families & communities on an extraordinary scale. The challenge is immense. But the world has the knowledge, the means & the resources to stop this outbreak. We must summon the collective determination to act before the cost becomes more deadly, difficult & expensive.
Every gap in funding & operational support makes the Ebola response more difficult & expensive. Time is not on our side. That is why I am appealing for the remaining $1.1 billion to fully fund the humanitarian response plan, recognizing that even more will be needed in the future. We must overcome the virus of indifference. The world still has an opportunity to get ahead of this crisis.
Together with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, @WHO & partners, the @UN is aligning behind five priorities to build an integrated Ebola response on the ground: - Expand community engagement to build trust & counter fear & misinformation. - Strengthen surveillance systems to identify & isolate cases more rapidly. - Increase treatment & care capacity. - Expand safe and dignified burial operations. - Stop Ebola from spreading further.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the fastest-spreading Ebola epidemic ever recorded. It's growing faster & wider than the response to contain it. But it can be stopped. We know how to contain Ebola & save lives. The world must urgently step up action to get it under control.
I am saddened by the severe flooding in Nepal & China, which has claimed many lives, left people missing, and caused widespread destruction. I extend my condolences to the families of the victims, and I wish a swift recovery to those injured. My solidarity is with all those affected. In Nepal, the @UN is supporting the Government-led response. UN teams & humanitarian partners are mobilizing supplies & personnel to support communities affected by the floods.
I am saddened by the severe flooding in Nepal & China, which has claimed many lives, left people missing, and caused widespread destruction. I extend my condolences to the families of the victim, and I wish a swift recovery to those injured. My solidarity is with all those affected. In Nepal, the @UN is supporting the Government-led response. UN teams & humanitarian partners are mobilizing supplies & personnel to support communities affected by the floods.
I condemn the latest gang attack on Kenscoff, a commune on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, in Haiti, that reportedly killed at least 47 people, including 22 who were reportedly executed in a church compound where they had found shelter. The relentless gang attacks on communities & the loss of civilian lives underscore the alarming security conditions in Haiti & reinforce the urgent need to intensify Haitian & international security efforts to counter gangs. I reiterate my call for Haitian authorities to ensure that those responsible for such attacks are held accountable.
I condemn in the strongest terms today’s actions by the Israeli authorities to unlawfully enter & remain on the @UNRWA Kalandia Training Centre in occupied East Jerusalem & carry out unauthorized works in those premises. I am greatly alarmed at this development, as it will deprive young people from the vocational education they were receiving. These actions against UNRWA premises are wholly unacceptable & inconsistent with Israel’s clear obligations under international law. I urge the Government of Israel to immediately cease the interference with UNRWA premises, vacate, return & restore all affected premises to the @UN without delay, and protect those premises from further interference or damage. https://t.co/JOpP3yJBVW
The best protection against food insecurity is peace. And the safest condition for peace is a world with #ZeroHunger. Today, I urged the Seucrity Council to use all tools at its disposal to help prevent & end conflicts, and to stop emerging risks from becoming wider crises of instability — and, in particular, food insecurity. https://t.co/4v4dXEFLFq
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