Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from 13 to 17 December:
The United Nations Population Fund launched a $835 million appeal to reach 54 million women, girls and young people in 61 countries in 2022 — the agency’s largest ever humanitarian appeal — seeking integrated sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services, as well as comprehensive support for survivors of violence.
The International Organization for Migration and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the today launched a $1.79 billion plan to help Venezuelan refugees and migrants and their host communities in 17 Latin American and Caribbean nations. The number of Venezuelan refugees has surpassed 6 million.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says more children and women were abducted for ransom between January and August 2021 than during the entire 2020. UNICEF estimates based on official sources say 71 women and 30 children were abducted in the first eight months of 2021, and 59 women and 37 children in 2020.
In Afghanistan, the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund today announced house-to-house polio vaccinations will resume 8 November across the country for the first time in three years, targeting more than 3.3 million children who were previously out of reach.
The new Special Representative of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to the United Nations, Odd Reidar Humlegård, presented his letter of appointment to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.
The World Meteorological Organization and its partners today released the first Hydromet Gap report, which states that an estimated 23,000 lives could be saved annually and at least $162 billion per year in potential benefits could be realized by improving weather forecasts, early warning systems, and climate information.
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed on 26 June:
Stronger measures are needed to prevent people in positions of power from misusing their authority for their personal gain, speakers said today as the General Assembly concluded its thirty-second special session on the fight against corruption.
Stressing that no country is exempt from corruption, Ministers and high‑level officials from Member States called for greater commitment and collaboration at the national and international levels in the fight against the scourge, as the General Assembly continued its thirty-second special session on the issue.
