Secretary-General Statements

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.    

The Secretary-General is shocked and outraged by reports that at least 134 civilians, including women and children, have been killed and at least 55 have been injured following an attack this morning on Ogossagou Peulh village, Mopti region, in central Mali.    The Secretary-General condemns this act and calls on the Malian authorities to swiftly investigate it and bring the perpetrators to justice.   

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.   It is good to be back in this room after almost two years.   Thank you very much for being here as President Peter Maurer and I, together with Madame Julienne Lusenge, launch an urgent joint appeal for global action to prevent and end sexual and gender-based violence in and around conflict.   

Dear colleagues,   I am delighted to see our peacekeeping leadership come together to take forward the Action for Peacekeeping initiative.   A4P is our core agenda for peacekeeping, endorsed by over 150 countries and organizations.   Our surge in diplomacy for peace is producing results.   The peace agreements in South Sudan and the Central African Republic are examples of partnership and persistence.     But, of course, we must do far more.