UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for embracing Gandhi’s values and working across cultures and borders to build a better, more peaceful future. "Let us walk this path together, in solidarity, as one human family," he said in a message marking the International Day of Non-violence that falls on October 2. The International Day of Non-Violence celebrates not only Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, but the values he embodied that echo across decades: peace, mutual respect, and the essential dignity shared by every person. Read: Peace is the only practical way to a better, fairer world for all: UN Chief "Sadly, our world is not living up to those values," Guterres said. He said the world is going through growing conflicts and climate chaos. "Poverty, hunger and deepening inequalities. Prejudice, racism and rising hate speech. And a morally bankrupt global financial system that entrenches poverty and stymies recovery for developing countries," he mentioned. Read: Divisions among major powers since Russia invaded Ukraine must be addressed: UN Chief The UN chief laid emphasis on investing in people’s health, education, decent jobs and social protection. On the International Day of Non-violence, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, also highlighted the importance of supporting developing countries as they build resilient infrastructure and protect populations from the impacts of climate change, while also accelerating the transition from planet-killing fossil fuels to renewable energy. "Gandhi’s life and example reveal a timeless pathway to a more peaceful and tolerant world," said the UN chief. Read Let's build a more just, thriving workforce leaving no one behind: Guterres

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged the international community to unite against the perpetual holding of nuclear weapons by a handful of states in total disregard of the safety and security of humanity. “We hope that the 10th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) would produce an outcome that would facilitate the universality and implementation of the Treaty to make the world free from the threat of nuclear weapons,” he said. The foreign minister was speaking at the 10th NPT Review Conference held at the UNGA hall in the UN headquarters Monday. Referring to the clarion call to emancipate the world from the scourge of nuclear war, made by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his historic maiden speech at the UN General Assembly in 1974, Momen said, “That forms the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s total and unwavering commitment to general and complete disarmament of nuclear weapons which is also a constitutional obligation of Bangladesh”. The foreign minister reiterated Bangladesh’s support to the effective implementation of the NPT through its three pillars -nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Read:Bangladesh eagerly waiting to welcome UN rights chief Bachelet: Shahriar

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for working together to build a more just and thriving workforce, rescue the Sustainable Development Goals and leave no one behind. The UN chief convened a Transforming Education Summit in September that will bring together world leaders, youth and other education actors. "Guided by the United Nations Youth 2030 strategy, I urge everyone to act for youth skills development as a priority, at the Summit and beyond," he said wishing all a happy World Youth Skills Day. Guterres said young people are drivers of change and must be fully engaged in decisions affecting their future. Also read: Around 3 in 4 youth lack skills needed for employment, new report says He highlighted the importance of transforming youth skills for the future of work. "Young people are disproportionately impacted by interlinked global crises, from climate change to conflicts to persistent poverty," said the UN chief. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these fragilities. In 2020 alone, youth employment fell by 39 million, he said. Today, 24 million young people remain at risk of not returning to school. The pandemic also accelerated the transformation of the labour market, adding uncertainty and widening the digital divide. Also read: There're no real democratic societies without press freedom: Guterres "We must ensure the right of young people to effective and inclusive education, training, and lifelong learning. That requires ramping up youth skills development, while investing in Technical Vocational Education and Training, broadband connectivity, and digital skills," he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a more holistic approach to road safety. He made the remarks at a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on improving road safety on Thursday. Guterres said that road fatalities are closely linked to poor infrastructure, unplanned urbanization, lax social protection and health care systems, limited road safety literacy and persistent inequalities both within and between countries. Also read: Perilous roads in Bangladesh; 6,284 killed in 2021: RSF Meanwhile, he pointed out that unsafe roads are a key obstacle to development. "Traffic accidents can push entire families into poverty through either the loss of a breadwinner or the costs associated with lost income and prolonged medical care," he said, noting that developing countries lose between 2 and 5 percent of GDP every year because of them. UN agencies have set goals of cutting road traffic deaths and injuries by half by 2030 and promote sustainable mobility with safety at its core. To achieve the goals need more ambitious and urgent action to reduce the biggest risks such as speeding, and increased financing for sustainable and safe infrastructure and investments in cleaner mobility and greener urban planning, the UN chief said. "And we need to adopt a more holistic approach to road safety," he stated. "This means better integrating road safety in national policies - from education, health, and transport to climate mitigation, land-use planning, and disaster response," he said. The secretary-general called on all member states to accede to UN road safety conventions and implement whole-of-society action plans, taking a strong prevention approach. He also urged all donors to scale up much-needed financial and technical contributions through the UN Road Safety Fund. Also read: Road accidents kill 4, injure 7 in five districts "Together, we can save lives, support development, and steer our world to safer roads ahead, leaving no one behind," he said.

The war in Ukraine is aggravating a triple food, energy and financial crisis across Africa, according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. It is a human tragedy which can have "a dramatic impact on economies, in particular, those of developing countries," Guterres said during his recent visit to Senegal's Dakar. The war is driving up global food and fuel prices; senior UN officials are concerned that rising costs will push more people into hunger and could lead to political instability and social unrest in some parts of Africa, where food prices have increased by a third since last year. Before the Russian invasion began in February, the combination of climate change, conflict and the Covid pandemic was already impacting the socio-economic situation in Africa, especially in the Sahel region, which includes Senegal. Guterres said: "We must ensure a steady flow of food and energy in open markets, removing all unnecessary export restrictions," adding that "countries must resist the temptation to hoard and instead release strategic stocks of energy." The UN estimates that a quarter of a billion people could be pushed into extreme poverty this year, caused by the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine. International financial institutions have a key role to play and "must urgently provide debt relief by increasing liquidity and fiscal space," the UN Chief said, "so that governments can avoid default and invest in social safety nets and sustainable development for their people." In March 2022, the UN chief established the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance (GCRG) set up in response to the crisis provoked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying that the invasion was producing alarming effects on the world economy already battered by Covid and climate change. The GCRG, calls on countries to find creative ways to finance increased humanitarian and development recovery needs worldwide and to give generously and immediately release funds that they have already pledged. Also read: UN head condemns attacks on civilians during Ukraine visit

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Member States and the international community to stand in solidarity with journalists around the world and to demonstrate the political will needed to investigate and prosecute crimes against journalists and media workers with the full force of the law. "Today, on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we commemorate the legacy and achievements of journalists killed in the line of duty, and call for justice for crimes committed against them," he said in a message marking the day on Tuesday. Also read: Adaptation prog can help 10m more vulnerable people in Asia-Pacific: UN Last year, according to UNESCO, 62 journalists around the world were killed just for doing their jobs. Many lost their lives while covering conflict. But in recent years, the number of media workers killed outside conflict zones has risen, said the UN chief. "In many countries, simply investigating corruption, trafficking, human rights violations or environmental issues puts journalists’ lives at risk," he said. Impunity for killing journalists is extremely high. According to UNESCO, almost 9 out of 10 cases go unpunished. Also read: UNDP, BDF launch “Youth Against Corruption” campaign And journalists face countless other threats – ranging from kidnapping, torture and arbitrary detention to disinformation campaigns and harassment, particularly in the digital sphere. Women journalists are at particular risk of online violence, Guterres said. Crimes against journalists have an enormous impact on society as a whole, because they prevent people from making informed decisions, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the shadow pandemic of misinformation, has demonstrated that access to facts and science is literally a matter of life and death. "When access to information is threatened, it sends a disturbing message that undermines democracy and the rule of law," said the UN chief.

The United Nations (UN) has condemned the killing of Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah and sought a proper investigation into it. Mohib (44) was allegedly shot to death at a Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazaar by unknown gunmen on September 29. Read: US calls for 'full & transparent' probe into Mohib's murder "The United Nations urges the Bangladesh authorities to undertake an investigation and to hold those responsible to account," said Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General. The UN also urged continued strong international support for the protection and support to the Rohingya communities anywhere in the world, including in Bangladesh. Read:Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah buried in Ukhiya camp "The UN continues to call for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees and internally displaced persons. The UN will continue to firmly provide its support in this endeavour." The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) also expressed its deep shock and sadness at the killing of Mohib Ullah.

More than 11 billion doses are needed to vaccinate 70% of the global population – a key threshold to ending the acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, the UN chief said Thursday. This will take the largest public health effort in history, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said while addressing the first International Forum on Covid-19 Vaccine Cooperation in China through a video message. The global pandemic has already claimed more than 4 million lives. Against this backdrop, Guterres underscored that the world needs a Global Vaccine Plan to at least double vaccine production and ensure equitable distribution, using COVAX as a platform. "We also need an Emergency Task Force – at the G20 level – to coordinate its implementation," he said. Read: Moderna says vaccine 93% effective but seeks 3rd-shot in fall Although the remarkable and rapid development of Covid-19 vaccines offers "great hope" that the devastating pandemic can be overcome, everyone must be reached everywhere, "as quickly as possible," the UN chief said. To double the manufacturing capacity, a much greater sharing of technology and know-how will be needed. It will also require strengthening and building local production capacities around the world and addressing supply chain bottlenecks, according to the UN chief. "This is a matter of fairness and justice – but it is also critical to avoid the emergence of further variants that can resist the current vaccines and undermine national vaccination efforts," he said. Read: Bangladesh to procure 6 crore Sinopharm vaccine doses: Minister The UN chief welcomed agreements signed last month with the UN-led equitable vaccine distribution initiative, COVAX, for the provision of Chinese-developed Sinopharm and Sinovac shots, saying the deal unlocked potential supplies of more than 500 million doses. Also, the top UN official described the first meeting of the International Vaccine Forum as "a critical opportunity to bring together countries with vaccine production capacities, pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers to advance global cooperation on vaccines."

The United Nations says it is committed to listening and responding to the voices of victims and survivors of human trafficking ensuring their rights and dignity. "The UN is committed to amplifying their stories and learning from them in the fight to prevent and put an end to this terrible crime," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The UN chief made the remarks in a message marking the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons “Victims’ Voices Lead the Way” that falls on July 30. In the midst of a global pandemic, Guterres said, accompanied by rising inequalities and economic devastation, the voices of human trafficking survivors and victims risk being drowned out.  But listening to their stories is more crucial than ever as the Covid-19 crisis increases fragilities and drives up desperation, he said.  Also read: All stakeholders must join hands for combating human trafficking: Webinar As many as 124 million more people have been pushed into extreme poverty by the pandemic, leaving many millions vulnerable to trafficking.  Children are at great and growing risk as they represent one-third of victims globally, a share that has tripled in the last 15 years.  "Half of victims in low-income countries are children, most of whom are trafficked for forced labour. Criminals everywhere are using technology to identify, control and exploit vulnerable people. Children are increasingly targeted through online platforms for sexual exploitation, forced marriage and other forms of abuse," said the UN chief.  Trafficking in women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation continues to be one of the most widespread and abhorrent forms of human trafficking, he said. "Migrants account for more than half of those trafficked in most regions." The UN chief said governments must take urgent steps to strengthen prevention, support victims and bring perpetrators to justice.  Also read: Bangladeshi returnee from Mauritius files human trafficking case against recruiting agency This includes implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. "Our efforts must be guided by survivors of trafficking," he said, adding that their contribution is essential to address risk factors and patterns, and to identify and protect victims and ensure their access to justice and recovery, while holding their exploiters accountable.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said greater international cooperation and support are needed to help low-income countries to take advantage of the advanced capabilities to predict emerging drug threats.  "Better data is also helping to identify trends and enable real-time monitoring of rapidly shifting trafficking routes. Science-driven early warning systems are helping to predict emerging drug threats," he said.  The UN Secretary-General made the remarks in a message marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking that falls on June 26. The theme of this year’s observance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, “Share facts on drugs. Save lives” is a call for solidarity. "I urge all member states to listen to the science and take action, building on agreed international frameworks and drawing on United Nations support for health and justice," said the UN chief.  READ: UN seeks its Special Envoy’s access to Myanmar to assess situation Science and trust in science are the ‘hero and lesson’ of the pandemic; the world needs both to win against the virus, Guterres said.  "Scientists delivered safe and effective vaccines in a record time. Access to reliable and verifiable information is making the difference between life and death," he said, adding that action based on evidence is crucial for their responses to drugs, too.  The UN chief said the world drug problem remains an urgent challenge that threatens to exacerbate pandemic impacts and hinder a healthy and inclusive recovery.  The forthcoming World Drug Report 2021 from the United Office on Drugs and Crime shows that deaths attributed to disorders related to drug use have nearly doubled over the past decade.   New HIV infections among adults worldwide have declined in recent years, but not among people who inject drugs, who accounted for 10 per cent of new infections in 2019, he said. Guterres said international cooperation has helped limit the proliferation of new psychoactive substances, but the problem is shifting to poorer regions where control systems are weaker. "Dark web drug sales continue to rise, and non-medical use of pharmaceuticals, including opioids, is expanding." Drug trafficking and organized crime fuel and perpetuate cycles of violence and conflict, Guterres said.  He said armed groups and terrorists make profits from the illicit drug trade, and the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic has left millions of people even more vulnerable to drug crime and illicit crop cultivation. Disparities in access to essential controlled medicines in low- and middle-income countries have been further heightened in the pandemic, he said. "For example, medical professionals in West and Central Africa in 2019 had four doses of pain medication every day for one million inhabitants; in North America, the number of doses was nearly 32,000." Guterres said investing in balanced prevention as well as control of drug use and drug use disorders produces solid returns -- saved lives, healthier populations, improved workforce participation and productivity, and reduced criminal justice costs.  Many of the risk factors associated with crime and violent behaviour are also drivers of drug use, and targeted efforts focusing on these overlapping dynamics -- including childhood maltreatment and lack of social support -- can help strengthen prevention, he said.  READ: UN seeks continuous collaborative effort to end AIDS epidemic Besides, research suggests that law enforcement and policing need to go after the criminals at the upper levels of the drug trafficking chain, who reap the highest profits and wreak the greatest violence.  "Public-private partnerships - with tech companies, postal and courier services, and shipping companies - represent an essential frontline response in the new fight against drug traffickers, who are increasingly exploiting the legal cargo trade and postal services to move their illicit product," Guterres said.