Press Releases

New York, 18 September 2020 Around the world, despite decades of activism, and dozens of laws on equal pay, women still earn less than 80 cents for every dollar men do. For women with children, women of colour, women refugees…

New York, 16 September 2020 There are few global agreements as successful as the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Today, on World Ozone Day, we celebrate 35 years of this convention, which was the…

New York, 15 September 2020 As the world confronts COVID-19, democracy is crucial in ensuring the free flow of information, participation in decision-making and accountability for the response to the pandemic. Yet since the…

New York, 15 September 2020 I am pleased to join you for the closing of the 74 th session of the General Assembly -- a session like no other in the past 75 years. The last seven months have been extremely difficult for the…

New York, 15 September 2020 It is a pleasure to be with you again for the opening of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Let me begin by warmly congratulating His Excellency Ambassador Volkan Bozkir of…

New York, 12 September 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is devastating lives and livelihoods around the world. It poses the greatest risks to developing countries and to vulnerable people and communities. As we mark this year’s…

New York, 11 September 2020 I thank the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council for convening this joint briefing on my Report on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace – focusing on the 2020 review of the…

New York, 9 September 2020 Thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, I am pleased to join Professor [ Petteri] Taalas of the World Meteorological Organization for this launch of United in Science 2020, a multi…

New York, 9 September 2020 I am pleased to join you for the first observance of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. I thank the State of Qatar, UNESCO, UNICEF and the Education Above All Foundation for…

New York, 7 September 2020 Around the world, nine out of every ten people breathe unclean air. Air pollution contributes to heart disease, strokes, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. It causes an estimated 7 million…