Secretary-General António Gutteres has renewed his call for an immediate global cease-fire of 23 March to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. He provided an update on the broad international support with which this appeal has been greeted, the response by conflict parties in a number of situations of armed conflict and the efforts on the ground by United Nations representatives and other actors to press forward and try to consolidate fragile advances towards laying down weapons. The UN Messengers of Peace have added their support. "We need to do everything possible to find the peace and unity our world so desperately needs to battle COVID-19," Mr. Guterres emphasized in his renewed appeal.

Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a global ceasefire, so that the world can concentrate its efforts on the response against the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives,” he said in a live virtual briefing on 23 March. He called on all warring parties to create safe corridors for life-saving aid to reach the most vulnerable, including refugees.

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar served as the fifth UN Secretary-General from 1982 to 1991. Mr. Pérez de Cuéllar was born in Lima, Peru in 1920, and was the first and only Secretary-General from Latin America so far. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has paid tribute to his predecessor - "an accomplished statesman, a committed diplomat and a personal inspiration who left a profound impact on the United Nations and our world." He said, "Mr. Pérez de Cuéllar played a crucial role in a number of diplomatic successes — including the independence of Namibia, an end to the Iran-Iraq War, the release of American hostages held in Lebanon, the peace accord in Cambodia and, in his very last days in office, a historic peace agreement in El Salvador."  

To mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations has launched the biggest-ever global conversation - UN75 - on the role of global cooperation in building the future we want. The campaign has initiated dialogues on issues such as the climate crisis, inequalities, demographic changes, cyber criminality and health epidemics that require cooperation across borders, sectors and generations. Join us for a discussion on these and other global challenges and possible solutions with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 25 February (10 – 11 am CET).

Pakistan-India Crossing is a ‘Corridor of Hope,’ UN Chief Says

United Nations chief António Guterres says the World Health Organization's characterization of the COVID-19 health emergency as a pandemic “is a call for action – for everyone, everywhere” adding that as we fight the virus “we cannot let fear go viral.” The United Nations is actively addressing the global COVID-19 outbreak on several fronts - from situation reports and technical guidelines, through funding and partnerships, to advice for the public. You can find information and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations. WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to rapidly expand scientific knowledge on this new virus, to track the spread and virulence of the virus, and to provide advice to countries and individuals on measures to protect health and prevent the spread of this outbreak.

Trygve Lie led the Norwegian delegation to the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, April 1945, and was Chairman of the commission for drafting the Security Council provisions of the Charter. He was also Chairman of the Norwegian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in London in January 1946. On 1 February 1946, Mr. Lie was elected the first Secretary-General of the United Nations. He was formally installed by the General Assembly at its 22nd meeting on 2 February 1946. The General Assembly on 1 November 1950, continued Mr. Lie in office for a further three years from 1 February 1951. He resigned as Secretary-General in November 1952.

In his video address, Secretary-General António Guterres greets the New Year with a message of hope addressed to the world's youth: "This year, my New Year’s message is to the greatest source of that hope: the world’s young people. From climate action to gender equality to social justice and human rights, your generation is on the frontlines and in the headlines. I am inspired by your passion and determination. You are rightly demanding a role in shaping the future. I am with you. The United Nations stands with you – and belongs to you." Recalling that 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, the Secretary-General announces that the UN is launching the Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals, the Organization's blueprint for a fair globalization.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres took questions from around the world alongside youth activist Marie Christina Kolo from Madagascar during the on-going COP25 climate conference on Thursday. The Facebook Live event was

Following up on a pledge made by UN Member States at the UN’s 75^th anniversary, the report Our Common Agenda looks ahead to the next