Following the presentation of his annual report, Secretary-General António Guterres lays out his priorities for 2024 during a briefing to the UN General Assembly on 7 February at 10am (EST). See the event on UN Web TV.

Our Common Agenda is the Secretary-General's vision for the future of global cooperation, in answer to the 75th anniversary pledge of Member States to strengthen global governance. It calls for inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism to better respond and deliver for the people and planet and to get the world back on track by turbocharging action on the Sustainable Development Goals. It outlines possible solutions to address the gaps and risks that have emerged since 2015, calling for a Summit of the Future, which will be held in September 2024.

2024 must be a year for rebuilding trust and restoring hope

“Humanity is strongest when we stand together”, says the Secretary-General of the United Nations in his message to the world for 2024. Acknowledging that “2023 has been a year of enormous suffering, violence, and climate chaos”, António Guterres encourages us to “come together across divides for shared solutions”.  He pledges that "the United Nations will keep rallying the world for peace, sustainable development and human rights", and urges us to "resolve to make 2024 a year of building trust and hope in all that we can accomplish together”.

In a world where conflicts are raging, poverty and hunger are increasing, and inequalities are deepening, the opening sentence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," is as important today as it was 75 years ago says the UN Secretary-General for Human Rights Day (10 December). This landmark document, which enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being, will be commemorated with a two-day high-level event in Geneva and several celebrations at the UN in New York.

The Secretary-General is traveling to Antarctica to witness the impact of the climate crisis firsthand. “Scorching temperatures mean Antarctic ice is melting ever-faster, with deadly consequences for people around the world,” said António Guterres. He’ll take his experiences to the UN climate change conference COP28 (30 November-12 December) where the world will take stock of progress on the Paris Agreement. Present trends are racing our planet down a dead-end three-degree temperature rise, but we know it is still possible to make the 1.5-degree limit a reality with climate action.

The United Nations Secretary-General ramped up appeals for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza after spikes in civilian casualties and attacks on UNRWA schools and shelters. António Guterres also welcomed the agreement to release hostages in Gaza. The UN facilitated the entry of aid and fuel into Gaza and sent a WHO-led humanitarian assessment team to Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza to assess the situation on the ground. According to the UN agency, Gaza now houses thousands of injured and critically ill people. Women and children are bearing the brunt of the hostilities' escalation.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has established a new AI Advisory Body to support the international community’s efforts to govern artificial intelligence. Comprising experts from diverse backgrounds, such as the private sector, the research community, civil society, and academia, the Body aims to develop a scientific consensus on risks and challenges, helping harness AI for the Sustainable Development Goals, and strengthen global cooperation on AI governance. It will issue preliminary recommendations by the end of 2023, with final recommendations by the summer of 2024, ahead of the Summit of the Future.

The United Nations has played a significant role in addressing the enduring conflict between Israel and Palestine, and has been actively involved in seeking a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Over the years, the UN has facilitated peace talks, provided humanitarian aid, and supported initiatives aimed at fostering understanding and reconciliation between the two parties. UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced grave concern over the on-going escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza, and stressed the need to prevent the violence from spreading into the wider region.

The UN Secretary-General urges “to end this vicious circle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization,” and warns against “irreversible action that would embolden extremists and doom any prospects for lasting peace.”

The UN chief has a strong message for those who say the absence of some key leaders is a blow to this year’s General Assembly week – rise to the moment and deliver on your promises. In this special edition of the Lid is On, we speak exclusively to Secretary-General António Guterres about the SDGs, climate change and much more.

Audio Credit: Mita Hosali and Matt Wells, UN News

Photo Credit: UN Photo/Mark Garten

The past year was marked by increasingly complex world crises – poverty, inequality, hunger and rising unemployment; an uncertain global economic outlook; the escalating climate emergency; and conflicts. In each case, the poorest and most vulnerable people are hit hardest. In his Annual Report for 2023, titled Determined, the Secretary-General highlights inspiring examples of the impact of the United Nations work across the globe, based on the belief that a better world is not only necessary, but within our grasp. The report focuses on eight key priorities established by the General Assembly.

Serving the cause of peace in a violent world is a dangerous occupation. Since the founding of the United Nations, more than 4,300 brave men and women have lost their lives in its service. Each year, the Secretary-General hosts a memorial service to remember and honour our fallen colleagues, who lost their lives in the line of duty in the course of the previous year, and to reflect upon their legacies. This year's ceremony takes place on 19 July 2023 from 9-10 am EST. You can follow it live on UN WebTV.

The Secretary-General Urges ‘Peace, Mutual Respect, Solidarity’, in message marking beginning of Ramadan:

"I send my warmest wishes as Muslims around the world begin observing the holy month of Ramadan. This is a moment of reflection and learning. A time to come together in a spirit of understanding and compassion, bound by our common humanity. That is also the mission of the United Nations — to foster dialogue, unity and peace. In these challenging times, my thoughts are with those facing conflict, displacement and suffering. I join everyone observing Ramadan to call for peace, mutual respect and solidarity. Let us take inspiration from this holy month and build a more just and equitable world for all. Ramadan Kareem."

"I send my warmest wishes as Muslims around the world begin observing the holy month of Ramadan.  This is a moment of reflection and learning. A time to come together in a spirit of understanding and compassion, bound by our common humanity. That is also the mission of the United Nations – to foster dialogue, unity and peace. In these challenging times, my thoughts are with those facing conflict, displacement and suffering. I join everyone observing Ramadan to call for peace, mutual respect and solidarity. Let us take inspiration from this Holy Month and build a more just and equitable world for all. Ramadam Kareem"

In recent years, major global shocks and setbacks to progress on the Sustainable Development Goals have increasingly underscored our shared vulnerabilities. International cooperation is needed more than ever, yet our collective problem-solving mechanisms do not match the pace or scale of the challenges we face. At the invitation of Member States with the adoption of the UN75 Declaration, the Secretary-General issued Our Common Agenda in 2021; his vision for the future of international cooperation. In March 2023, the Secretary-General began issuing a series of Policy Briefs to provide details on certain proposals contained in Our Common Agenda and to support Member States in their deliberations as they prepare for the Summit of the Future.