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Secretary-General Statements

Secretary-General's remarks at Captain Diagne Medal Ceremony [as delivered]

24 May 2019 | New York
The world does not have many true heroes.   But the late Private Chancy Chitete, of Malawi was indeed one of them and we unfortunately lost him last year.   Private Chitete was serving with MONUSCO -- the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.   Last November, Tanzanian and Malawian peacekeepers came under heavy fire while conducting an operation to stop attacks on local towns by an armed group, the ADF, that was disrupting the Ebola response.  

Secretary-General's remarks at Wreath-Laying Ceremony [as delivered]

24 May 2019 | New York
I am honoured to join you today to remember the brave women and men who have lost their lives while serving in UN Peacekeeping.   More than 3,800 military, police and civilian peacekeepers have lost their lives since the United Nations deployed the first of its 72 peacekeeping missions back in 1948.    These peacekeepers gave their lives to protect others and to give war-torn countries a chance for peace and hope.   Today, in 14 missions around the world, our peacekeepers serve heroically to preserve peace and stability.   

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General - on attacks against the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali [scroll down for French]

18 May 2019
The Secretary-General condemns today's attacks against the United Nation's Integrated Stabilization Mission for Mali (MINUSMA) in Timbuktu and Tessalit.   He is deeply saddened at the death of a Nigerian peacekeeper who succumbed to his wounds following the armed attack by unidentified assailants in Timbuktu. He expresses heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and to the Government of Nigeria. He wishes a speedy recovery to another Nigerian peacekeeper who was wounded in the same attack.  

António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations - Security Council, 8521st meeting

7 May 2019 | New York
Remarks by H.E. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations at the 8521st meeting of the Security Council.

Joint Press Encounter by António Guterres(UN Secretary-General) and Moussa Faki Mahamat (Chairperson of the AUC) - Media Stakeout (6 May 2019)

6 May 2019
Joint press encounter by H.E. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General and Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) at the 2019 UN Memorial Ceremony

6 May 2019 | New York
Remarks by H.E. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, at the 2019 Annual Memorial Service to honour colleagues who lost their lives in the service of the UN.

António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace 2019

24 Apr 2019 | New York
Video message by H.E. Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, on the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace (24 April 2019).

António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on Sexual Violence in Conflict - Security Council, 8514th meeting

23 Apr 2019 | New York
Remarks by H.E. Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, on Sexual Violence in Conflict during the 8514th Security Council Meeting.

Remarks to Security Council on Women in Peacekeeping

11 Apr 2019 | New York
I welcome this debate on women in peacekeeping as we strive for progress on a key element in the maintenance of international peace and security. With the launch of the Strategy on Gender Parity in 2017, the United Nations has embarked on an ambitious and essential system-wide effort to enhance women’s representation at all levels and in all arenas. A key priority is to increase the number of women in peacekeeping – both civilian and uniformed, which is where we need the most improvement.

Secretary-General's remarks to the Ministerial Meeting on Peacekeeping [bilingual, as delivered]

29 Mar 2019
I thank you all, and particularly the co-hosts of today’s meeting, for your commitment to United Nations peacekeeping.     Across the decades, our peacekeeping operations have helped countries from Liberia and Sierra Leone to Timor Leste and Cambodia in transition from conflict to peace. They protect hundreds of thousands of civilians, support political solutions to conflict and help preserve ceasefires.   But as conflicts become more complex and high-risk, our operations must keep pace.