Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United Nations – English

ear survivor colleagues, dear colleagues,

Almost 22 years ago, the United Nations family suffered the worst terrorist attack in the history of our organization.

22 years is a long time.

But we will never forget the colleagues who were killed that day in the bombing at the Canal Hotel.

They were sons, daughters, mothers, fathers and friends who are, to this day, mourned by those they knew and loved.  

We will always remember their leader, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was also killed in the attack.

We will stand with the survivors whose lives were changed forever.

And we will remember the courageous colleagues and others who rushed to help on that terrible day, and in the days and weeks after — showing us the very best of the humanitarian spirit.

This memorial stands as a tribute to their lives and their contributions to the people of Iraq.

It also stands as a reminder of how far Iraq has come since 2003.

Working with the brave and resilient people of this country, the women and men of the United Nations have worked tirelessly to support their quest for stability, development and peace.

Above all, this memorial is as a clear reminder of the vital work that our organization does around the world — and the dangers our people face in carrying out that work.  

With World Humanitarian Day, the date of 19 August has been forever transformed from a day of unimaginable horror and tragedy here in Iraq into a global day of solemn remembrance for all humanitarians — inside and outside the organization.

Their bravery, dedication, and belief that a better future is possible will always inspire us.

And like those whose lives were lost on 19 August, 2003, their sacrifices and contributions to our world — and to our vital cause of peace — will never be forgotten.

Thank you.

***

Source: United Nations – English

t is a tragic truth that violence and discrimination continue to be a part of everyday life for millions of LGBTIQ+ people around the world. They face an onslaught of hate speech, attacks, and restrictions on their rights.  Meanwhile, funding cuts for critical health services and civil society organizations threaten further devastating impacts.

The theme of this year’s international day – “the power of communities” – reminds us that we are strongest together. LGBTIQ+ people, and those working with them to secure their rights, have proved time and again the value of communities in providing support and driving change. 

Their example should inspire us all to come together and realize the vision of a world where every member of our human family can live a life of freedom, equality, and dignity. Working as one, we must push to repeal discriminatory laws, combat violence and harmful practices, and end the scapegoating of marginalized communities.
 
The United Nations is a proud partner in these efforts. We will not rest until the rights of all are a reality, no matter who they are or whom they love.   

***

Il est terrible de constater que des millions de personnes LGBTIQ+ dans le monde continuent de faire l’objet au quotidien de violences et de discriminations, d’être soumises à un déferlement de haine et d’attaques et de voir rogner leurs droits, au moment même où elles risquent de subir les effets dévastateurs des coupes dans les budgets des services de santé et des organisations de la société civile.

Le thème de la journée internationale de cette année, « le pouvoir des communautés », nous rappelle que l’union fait la force. Les personnes LGBTIQ+, ainsi que celles qui les accompagnent pour défendre leurs droits, ont prouvé à maintes reprises que les communautés étaient irremplaçables dès lors qu’il s’agissait d’apporter une aide et d’œuvrer au changement.

Leur exemple nous invite à nous rassembler et à faire advenir un monde où chaque membre de la famille humaine peut vivre dans la liberté, l’égalité et la dignité. En conjuguant nos forces, faisons pression pour abroger les lois discriminatoires, combattons la violence et les pratiques préjudiciables et empêchons qu’on continue de transformer les communautés marginalisées en boucs émissaires.
 
L’Organisation des Nations Unies est fière de participer à cette lutte. Nous n’aurons aucun repos tant que ne seront pas reconnus et mis en œuvre les droits de toutes les personnes – peu importe qui elles sont ou qui elles aiment.

***
 

Source: United Nations – English

his World Telecommunication and Information Society Day marks the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union.

From the telegraph to radio, from the Internet to Artificial Intelligence, technology has transformed how we live, work, and connect.  But its benefits remain deeply unequal.  This year’s focus on gender equality in digital transformation is both timely and urgent.

Around the world, algorithmic bias is reinforcing old prejudices.  Online harassment and abuse silences women’s voices and drives them offline.  And women and girls remain severely underrepresented in the very fields shaping our future: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

This injustice harms us all.  We cannot accept a digital future that leaves half of humanity behind. We must urgently invest in digital skills for all; harness the potential of technology to improve women’s lives; dismantle barriers blocking their full participation and leadership in the technology sector; and keep working to eradicate gender-based violence in all its forms – online and offline.

The Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact offer a path to bridge all digital divides and strengthen collaboration for women’s rights online.  Let’s take that path together and help ensure digital transformation is a force for progress, inclusion, and equality.

When technology serves everyone, everyone wins.

***

Cette année, la Journée mondiale des télécommunications et de la société de l’information marque le 160e anniversaire de l’Union internationale des télécommunications.

Du télégraphe à la radio, d’Internet à l’intelligence artificielle, la technologie a transformé notre façon de vivre, de travailler et de communiquer. Pourtant, les avantages que l’on en retire restent très inégalement répartis. C’est pourquoi il est nécessaire d’appeler cette année l’attention sur l’égalité des genres dans la transformation numérique.

Partout dans le monde, les biais algorithmiques renforcent les préjugés ancrés de longue date. Le harcèlement et les violences en ligne réduisent les femmes au silence et les poussent à déserter Internet. Les femmes et les filles restent largement sous-représentées dans les domaines qui, justement, façonnent notre avenir : les sciences, la technologie, l’ingénierie et les mathématiques.

Cette injustice nous fait du tort, à toutes et à tous. Nous ne pouvons accepter un avenir numérique qui laisse de côté la moitié de l’humanité. Nous devons investir de toute urgence dans les compétences numériques pour tous et toutes, utiliser tout le potentiel des technologies pour améliorer la vie des femmes, abattre les obstacles qui les empêchent de participer pleinement au secteur technologique et d’y jouer un rôle moteur et continuer d’œuvrer à l’éradication de la violence fondée sur le genre sous toutes ses formes, en ligne et hors ligne.

Le Pacte pour l’avenir et le Pacte numérique mondial offrent l’occasion de réduire toutes les fractures numériques et de renforcer la collaboration pour faire respecter les droits des femmes en ligne. Saisissons cette occasion ensemble et contribuons à faire de la transformation numérique une force au service du progrès, de l’inclusion et de l’égalité.

Lorsque la technologie est au service de chacune et de chacun, tout le monde y gagne.

***
 

Source: United Nations – English

strong>Download the video:
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+29+Apr+25/3365764_MSG+SG+FOOD+CRISES+29+APR+25.mp4

This Global Report on Food Crises reflects a world dangerously off-course.

Hunger is not a crisis bound to one place or time: it’s a chronic catastrophe.

Fueled by conflict, geopolitical tensions, climate chaos, and economic upheaval – food and nutrition crises are rampant and rising.  

Over 295 million people faced hunger in 2024, the sixth year in a row of rising need.

From Gaza and Sudan, to Yemen and Mali, conflict-driven hunger is shattering records.

And climate change is accelerating the crisis, wiping out harvests, livelihoods, and hope.

Weather extremes are pushing nearly 100 million people to the brink of hunger.

Just as food insecurity and malnutrition are gaining pace, our ability to respond is hitting the brakes.  

The dramatic reduction in lifesaving humanitarian funding is compounding the hunger crisis.  

And the prospect of a trade war will only make things worse.

Ensuring a food-secure future means rallying financial resources and driving innovation.

It calls for fair, transparent trade systems that ensure food can move where it’s needed, especially during crises.

And it requires global solidarity to build resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems for all.

The UN Pact for the Future, adopted in September 2024, reignites momentum for this vital mission.

My message is clear: we must heed the dire warnings in this report.

This July, the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake – taking place in Addis Ababa – will be an opportunity for all of us to unite and boost our efforts.

The time to act is now. Let’s end hunger, together.

***
 

Source: United Nations – English

strong>Download the video:
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+29+Apr+25/3365761_MSG+SG+EVEREST+DIALOGUE+NEPAL+29+APR+25.mp4

Your Excellency Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli,

Dear Friends,

I am so pleased to send a message of solidarity and support to this first-ever Sagarmatha Sambaad.

I couldn’t agree more with the spirit of this gathering – that your majestic mountains, including Sagarmatha, truly inspire us to think beyond borders and reflect through dialogue and engagement.

I have felt that spirit on my visits to Nepal – including, most recently, when I had the privilege of seeing the glacial valley basins at Mount Everest and the Annapurnas.  

I saw firsthand how the rooftops of the world are caving in. 

Record temperatures have meant record glacier melt.

Nepal today is on thin ice – losing close to one-third of its ice in just over thirty years.

And your glaciers have melted sixty-five per cent faster in the last decade than in the previous one. 

Nepal – and so many other vulnerable frontline countries – did not cause this tragedy.

But you are living with the impacts. 

And we know when glaciers shrink, so do river flows. 

In the future, major Himalayan rivers like the Indus, the Ganges and Brahmaputra could have massively reduced flows. 

Combined with saltwater intrusion, that would decimate deltas. 

We would see low-lying countries and communities erased forever;

Millions of people on the move with fierce competition for water and land;

And floods, droughts and landslides accelerating worldwide. 

That is why last year from Nepal, I sent a global message to the world: stop the madness. 

And that is why you are gathered together focused on Sambaad – dialogue.

The world has much to learn from Nepal’s climate leadership.

From your local adaptation plan of action;

To pioneering the United Nations Early Warning Systems for All Initiative;

To extraordinary efforts on reforestation;

And pushing to reach your climate goals by 2045.

The world must act without delay to keep 1.5 in reach – with the biggest emitters in the lead.  

By seizing the opportunities of renewable energy and the benefits they bring to communities and economies.

By making good on climate finance commitments, including the 1.3 trillion-dollar climate finance goal, agreed at COP29.

By honouring the promise of developed countries to double adaptation finance to at least 40 billion dollars this year.

And by delivering serious support to the Loss and Damage fund to help the most vulnerable.

Achieving these goals demands bold collaboration, across nations and sectors.

The United Nations is your ally in this essential task.

Thank you.
 

Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General takes note of the truce reached in Tripoli yesterday and calls on all parties to take urgent steps to sustain and build upon it through dialogue.

The rapid nature of the escalation, which drew armed groups from outside the city and subjected heavily populated neighborhoods to heavy artillery fire, was alarming. The Secretary-General is deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of at least 8 civilians in the recent clashes.

The Secretary-General reminds all parties of their obligation to protect civilians and calls on them to engage in serious dialogue in good faith to address the root causes of the conflict.

The United Nations stands ready to provide its good offices to facilitate agreement on a path towards lasting peace and stability in Libya.

Source: United Nations – English

strong>Download the video:
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Excellencies,

I am honoured to send my warmest wishes to everyone celebrating Europe Day.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the European Union – and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

Two organizations born from the same tragedy – and united by the same resolve:

To spare humanity from war and hatred.

Through the years, the European Union has stood strong as a union of peoples and principles…

A force for reconciliation, rights, and reason…

And a reminder that peace can endure, blossom, and inspire.

We need that spirit more than ever.

In a world of growing divides and cascading crises, the EU remains a vital partner of the United Nations:

Defending human rights and dignity;

Advancing climate action and sustainable development;

And championing multilateralism when it is most tested.  

The Pact for the Future calls for stronger and fairer global institutions that reflect today’s realities and rise to tomorrow’s challenges.

Europe is essential in that effort.

Together, let’s keep working to bridge divides, foster bold transformations, and strive for solidarity and justice in a more united world. 

Happy Europe Day.
 

Source: United Nations – English

am deeply saddened by the passing of former President José Mujica. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, the Government, and the people of Uruguay. 

President Mujica will be remembered not only for his steadfast commitment to social justice, equality, and solidarity but also for the deeply human way in which he embodied those values. He led with humility, choosing simplicity over privilege, and reminded us—through words and example—that power should be exercised with responsibility and compassion. 

President Mujica championed dialogue and multilateralism, embodying the values at the heart of the Charter of the United Nations and lending his moral authority to the cause of peace and human rights.  
 

***

Me encuentro profundamente entristecido por el fallecimiento del ex Presidente José Mujica. Mis más sinceras condolencias para su familia, el Gobierno y el pueblo de Uruguay. 

El Presidente Mujica será recordado no solo por su firme compromiso con la justicia social, la igualdad y la solidaridad, sino también por la forma profundamente humana en la que encarnó esos valores. Lideró con humildad, eligiendo la simplicidad sobre el privilegio, y nos recordó—tanto con sus palabras como con su ejemplo—que el poder debe ejercerse con responsabilidad y compasión. 

El Presidente Mujica fue un firme defensor del diálogo y el multilateralismo, personificando los valores fundamentales de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas y aportando su autoridad moral a la causa de la paz y los derechos humanos. 
 

Source: United Nations – English

ear Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, our generous hosts.

 
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
 
My thanks to Germany for bringing us together at this consequential moment.
 
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.
 
Our organization was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one united human family.
 
That is what our peace operations are about. 
 
From preventive diplomacy to peacekeeping…
 
From negotiating ceasefires to helping to implement them…
 
From electoral support and observer missions to de-mining operations and protection of civilians…
 
To the focus of today’s Ministerial meeting — peacekeeping.
 
Excellencies,
 
UN Blue Helmets are the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace.
 
Peacekeepers hail from every corner of the world.
 
But they are united in their commitment to peace.
 
As we meet today, UN peacekeepers are hard at work helping to ensure that ceasefires are respected…
 
Protecting civilians caught in the line of fire…
 
Helping provide the conditions for lifesaving aid to flow to those in need…
 
And laying the foundations for long-term recovery.
 
In trouble spots around the world, Blue Helmets can mean the difference between life and death.
 
And they are also a clear demonstration of the power of multilateral action to maintain, achieve and sustain peace.
 
There is a long list of countries that have achieved durable peace with the support of UN Peacekeeping — including Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Timor Leste.  
 
Many of these countries now themselves contribute troops. 
 
At the same time, we recognize that peace comes at a price.
 
Through the decades, 4,400 peacekeepers have fallen in the line of duty.
 
Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.  
 
Please join me in a moment of silence to honour all those who lost their lives in the pursuit of peace.
 
[MOMENT OF SILENCE]
 
Thank you.
 
Excellencies,
 
We owe it to peacekeepers — and the populations they protect — to continue strengthening their ability to answer this call to peace.
 
And to do so in the face of daunting challenges.
 
Complex, intertwined and frequently borderless conflicts…
 
Growing polarization and division around the globe…
 
Targeting of peacekeepers through deadly misinformation spreading through social media…
 
Terrorism and transnational crime, which find fertile ground in instability…
 
The ongoing climate crisis that is exacerbating conflict while leaving more of the planet uninhabitable…
 
All the continued trampling of international law and international humanitarian law.
 
As a result, we are now facing the highest number of conflicts since the foundation of the United Nations, and record numbers of people fleeing across borders in search of safety and refuge.
 
We must recognize that peacekeeping operations are only as effective as the mandates directing them, and can struggle in contexts where political support and clearly defined outcomes and solutions are absent or elusive.
 
Meanwhile, we see increasing differences of views around how peacekeeping operations should work, under what circumstances, with what mandates they should be deployed, and for how long.
 
And we face dramatic financial constraints across the board.
 
We’ve worked to adapt in the face of these challenges.
 
But we need to do more.
 
Today, I want to highlight three areas of focus.
 
First — help us shape peacekeeping operations that are fit for the future.     
 
The Pact for the Future called for a Review of Peace Operations — including peacekeeping.
 
The review will examine how we can make peacekeeping operations more adaptable, flexible and resilient — while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep.
 
It will also aim to critically examine the tools we have today and propose concrete recommendations to make them fit for the future.  
 
Through this review, we must ensure that the United Nations is prepared to deploy peace operations tailored to each individual conflict, while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.
 
We can draw inspiration from our UNIFIL operation, which recently developed an adaptation plan to keep peace along the Blue Line, and ensure lifesaving aid can flow to civilians in southern Lebanon.
 
In the Central African Republic, we see MINUSCA protecting civilians and assisting the government to extend its reach beyond the capital where people are in desperate need. 
 
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite ongoing fighting, UN Peacekeepers remain in the field, protecting vulnerable populations. 
 
We’re also seeking efficiencies through partnerships — from Member States to regional and sub-regional organizations, to local communities.
 
Most important among them is our strong partnership with the African Union.
 
Security Council resolution 2719 has lifted this partnership to a new level as we work to establish peace enforcement missions under the AU’s responsibility, supported by the United Nations through assessed contributions.
 
Today, the Review of Peace Operations will need to be informed — and inspired — by your views.
 
Member States make peacekeeping possible.
 
They must lead the way as we strengthen it for the future.
 
Second — as we make our operations more adaptable and flexible, we need to do the same in the use of our resources.

Peace operations can only succeed when backed by robust mandates and clear, predictable and sustained contributions, both financial and logistical. 
 
But these are tough times for the financing of our work across the board.
 
Peacekeeping is no exception.
 
It is crucial that we are able to use the increasingly limited resources we have — and use them well.
 
That requires more flexible rules and processes.
 
This means updating our approach to abolishing or establishing positions, and working with troop-contributing countries to ensure we can deliver.
 
It means working with Member States and the UN Security Council to ensure that any new mandates are prioritized and achievable with the resources available and with a clear exit strategy.
 
And it means driving efficiencies and improvements across our work in light of the continued funding challenges we face.
 
Our Review of Peace Operations will work hand-in-hand with our UN80 initiative, to ensure we maximize efficiencies wherever possible, supported at every step by Member States.
 
We look forward to your governments’ support and ideas as we tackle these challenges together.

Third — we need your political support, including through the pledges you will make tomorrow.

Peace operations cannot succeed in the absence of a political solution.

Together we need to mobilize greater support for political solutions across our peacekeeping missions. 

Pursuing these political solutions requires adequate means of delivering our operations — including unified political support from Member States, strong leadership, well-trained troops, equipment and technology.

These can strengthen our operations, and make a real difference in people’s lives.

And it requires the support of all Member States to ensure the safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers in the field, and the full implementation of the relevant privileges and immunities of the Organization and its personnel.

We are deeply grateful for the support and for the concrete pledges so many of you will announce here tomorrow.

Excellencies,

With a budget shared by all 193 Member States and representing a tiny fraction of global military spending — around one half of one per cent — UN Peacekeeping remains one of the most effective and cost-effective tools to build international peace and security.

But it’s only as strong as Member States’ commitment to it.

Unfortunately, peacekeeping operations have been facing serious liquidity problems. 
  
It is absolutely essential that all Member States respect their financial obligations, paying their contributions in full and on time. 

Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations.

And the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges. 

Together, let’s shape the UN peacekeeping operations that the challenges require, that Member States demand, and that our peacekeepers and the people they support need and deserve.
Thank you.
 

Source: United Nations – English

ear Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, our generous hosts.

 
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
 
My thanks to Germany for bringing us together at this consequential moment.
 
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.
 
Our organization was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one united human family.
 
That is what our peace operations are about. 
 
From preventive diplomacy to peacekeeping…
 
From negotiating ceasefires to helping to implement them…
 
From electoral support and observer missions to de-mining operations and protection of civilians…
 
To the focus of today’s Ministerial meeting — peacekeeping.
 
Excellencies,
 
UN Blue Helmets are the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace.
 
Peacekeepers hail from every corner of the world.
 
But they are united in their commitment to peace.
 
As we meet today, UN peacekeepers are hard at work helping to ensure that ceasefires are respected…
 
Protecting civilians caught in the line of fire…
 
Helping provide the conditions for lifesaving aid to flow to those in need…
 
And laying the foundations for long-term recovery.
 
In trouble spots around the world, Blue Helmets can mean the difference between life and death.
 
And they are also a clear demonstration of the power of multilateral action to maintain, achieve and sustain peace.
 
There is a long list of countries that have achieved durable peace with the support of UN Peacekeeping — including Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Timor Leste.  
 
Many of these countries now themselves contribute troops. 
 
At the same time, we recognize that peace comes at a price.
 
Through the decades, 4,400 peacekeepers have fallen in the line of duty.
 
Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.  
 
Please join me in a moment of silence to honour all those who lost their lives in the pursuit of peace.
 
[MOMENT OF SILENCE]
 
Thank you.
 
Excellencies,
 
We owe it to peacekeepers — and the populations they protect — to continue strengthening their ability to answer this call to peace.
 
And to do so in the face of daunting challenges.
 
Complex, intertwined and frequently borderless conflicts…
 
Growing polarization and division around the globe…
 
Targeting of peacekeepers through deadly misinformation spreading through social media…
 
Terrorism and transnational crime, which find fertile ground in instability…
 
The ongoing climate crisis that is exacerbating conflict while leaving more of the planet uninhabitable…
 
All the continued trampling of international law and international humanitarian law.
 
As a result, we are now facing the highest number of conflicts since the foundation of the United Nations, and record numbers of people fleeing across borders in search of safety and refuge.
 
We must recognize that peacekeeping operations are only as effective as the mandates directing them, and can struggle in contexts where political support and clearly defined outcomes and solutions are absent or elusive.
 
Meanwhile, we see increasing differences of views around how peacekeeping operations should work, under what circumstances, with what mandates they should be deployed, and for how long.
 
And we face dramatic financial constraints across the board.
 
We’ve worked to adapt in the face of these challenges.
 
But we need to do more.
 
Today, I want to highlight three areas of focus.
 
First — help us shape peacekeeping operations that are fit for the future.     
 
The Pact for the Future called for a Review of Peace Operations — including peacekeeping.
 
The review will examine how we can make peacekeeping operations more adaptable, flexible and resilient — while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep.
 
It will also aim to critically examine the tools we have today and propose concrete recommendations to make them fit for the future.  
 
Through this review, we must ensure that the United Nations is prepared to deploy peace operations tailored to each individual conflict, while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.
 
We can draw inspiration from our UNIFIL operation, which recently developed an adaptation plan to keep peace along the Blue Line, and ensure lifesaving aid can flow to civilians in southern Lebanon.
 
In the Central African Republic, we see MINUSCA protecting civilians and assisting the government to extend its reach beyond the capital where people are in desperate need. 
 
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite ongoing fighting, UN Peacekeepers remain in the field, protecting vulnerable populations. 
 
We’re also seeking efficiencies through partnerships — from Member States to regional and sub-regional organizations, to local communities.
 
Most important among them is our strong partnership with the African Union.
 
Security Council resolution 2719 has lifted this partnership to a new level as we work to establish peace enforcement missions under the AU’s responsibility, supported by the United Nations through assessed contributions.
 
Today, the Review of Peace Operations will need to be informed — and inspired — by your views.
 
Member States make peacekeeping possible.
 
They must lead the way as we strengthen it for the future.
 
Second — as we make our operations more adaptable and flexible, we need to do the same in the use of our resources.

Peace operations can only succeed when backed by robust mandates and clear, predictable and sustained contributions, both financial and logistical. 
 
But these are tough times for the financing of our work across the board.
 
Peacekeeping is no exception.
 
It is crucial that we are able to use the increasingly limited resources we have — and use them well.
 
That requires more flexible rules and processes.
 
This means updating our approach to abolishing or establishing positions, and working with troop-contributing countries to ensure we can deliver.
 
It means working with Member States and the UN Security Council to ensure that any new mandates are prioritized and achievable with the resources available and with a clear exit strategy.
 
And it means driving efficiencies and improvements across our work in light of the continued funding challenges we face.
 
Our Review of Peace Operations will work hand-in-hand with our UN80 initiative, to ensure we maximize efficiencies wherever possible, supported at every step by Member States.
 
We look forward to your governments’ support and ideas as we tackle these challenges together.

Third — we need your political support, including through the pledges you will make tomorrow.

Peace operations cannot succeed in the absence of a political solution.

Together we need to mobilize greater support for political solutions across our peacekeeping missions. 

Pursuing these political solutions requires adequate means of delivering our operations — including unified political support from Member States, strong leadership, well-trained troops, equipment and technology.

These can strengthen our operations, and make a real difference in people’s lives.

And it requires the support of all Member States to ensure the safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers in the field, and the full implementation of the relevant privileges and immunities of the Organization and its personnel.

We are deeply grateful for the support and for the concrete pledges so many of you will announce here tomorrow.

Excellencies,

With a budget shared by all 193 Member States and representing a tiny fraction of global military spending — around one half of one per cent — UN Peacekeeping remains one of the most effective and cost-effective tools to build international peace and security.

But it’s only as strong as Member States’ commitment to it.

Unfortunately, peacekeeping operations have been facing serious liquidity problems. 
  
It is absolutely essential that all Member States respect their financial obligations, paying their contributions in full and on time. 

Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations.

And the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges. 

Together, let’s shape the UN peacekeeping operations that the challenges require, that Member States demand, and that our peacekeepers and the people they support need and deserve.
Thank you.