91�鶹����

Find out more in

Global Issues:
91�鶹���� and Security

The ongoing airstrikes in Lebanon have forced tens of thousands of individuals to flee from the southern regions, including the southern suburbs of Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, seeking safety in areas like Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the North. 

As many continue to search for housing and shelter, the , focusing on the needs of both affected Lebanese communities and refugees. Key priorities include providing safe shelter, core relief items, healthcare, cash assistance, and protection services to ensure the well-being of those impacted by the violence.

Amid global challenges such as conflict, inequality, climate turmoil, and growing hate, the recent UN Summit of the Future laid the groundwork for renewed multilateralism to promote peace in a changing world. On this International Day of Non-Violence (2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi), Secretary-General António Guterres calls upon member states to act on their commitments and tackle the root causes of conflict.

Many have heard of Cartagena, Colombia, renowned for its vibrant walled city, festive environment and its Palenqueras, colourfully dressed female fruit vendors carrying a bucket of produce on their heads. But Cartagena is only the tip of the much bigger Colombian state, or “department”, of Bolívar. Scattered throughout the territory about two hours south of Cartagena are small towns that border a network of marshlands. This intricate ecosystem of waterways and wetlands plays a vital role in the environment but has also served as a treacherous battleground during Colombia’s long-standing armed conflict.

leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine and Sudan – three of our biggest emergencies – call for the guns to fall silent.

Achieving global nuclear disarmament is the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations. The General Assembly declared the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in 2013, in its resolution  as a follow-up to the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament. The Day provides an occasion for the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament. On 26 September, the General Assembly will hold a to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

In the heart of Kharkiv, a school that once brimmed with life and energy has become a quiet monument to the challenges faced during war. The playground stands mostly empty, serving as a quiet testament to the devastating impacts the war has had on this school and the surrounding communities. Despite being struck three times, the school has been repaired through the project, funded by the European Union and implemented by . The restoration of this school is part of a broader effort to repair educational facilities across Ukraine, with plans to restore over 75 schools in total.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the  of 91�鶹���� 25 years ago. The declaration emphasizes the importance of promoting dialogue, understanding, and cooperation for peace. In today's world of increasing tension and conflict, it's vital to remember these values. The International Day of 91�鶹���� (21 September) should not only be about laying down weapons and observing ceasefires but also about recognizing each other's humanity, as our global community's survival depends on it.

If one of the most iconic physical symbols of peace at United Nations Headquarters in New York is the famous Knotted Gun sculpture, the most symbolic and emblematic sound of peace that echoes through the Organization's airwaves each September comes from the 91�鶹���� Bell. Ahead of this year’s International Day of 91�鶹����, Secretary-General António Guterres is at 9:30 am EDT on 13 September and calling for a culture of peace. The bell was cast from coins and medals donated by Member States’ representatives, the Pope, and people from over 60 nations and donated to the UN in June 1954.

Education is a basic human right and essential to fulfilling all human rights. On International Day to Protect Education from Attack (9 September) we are reminded of the devastating impact of war on young learners. Education provides knowledge, skills, and support for future generations, particularly for vulnerable groups such as girls, migrants, refugees, and people with disabilities. Places of education should be safe havens, but they are often targeted in conflict-affected areas, resulting in serious repercussions for students and teachers.

“Shootings, that’s why I left. Rapes. All that. I could not stay [back home]” – Solona, 14

Armed groups in Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite region are terrorizing entire communities. As streets, schools and playgrounds have been turned into battlefields, many have had . Thousands are now stranded in makeshift displacement sites. Struggling to access electricity, food, water, and adequate sanitation. Entire families are sleeping outside on the ground, at the mercy of torrential rains and disease-carrying insects. Children unable to go to school.

Violence in Haiti has reached shocking levels. continues to call for an end to the violence.

Across nearly eight decades, more than 2,000 nuclear tests were conducted at more than 60 sites around the world. These tests left a legacy of destruction, rendering lands uninhabitable and creating long-term health problems for people. Recent calls for the resumption of nuclear testing demonstrate that the terrible lessons of the past are being forgotten — or ignored. On the International Day Against Nuclear Tests (29 August), the world must speak with one voice to end this practice once and for all.

Women’s rights remain threatened over two decades after the  highlighted the issue. On 7 August, the Council will address “Women 91�鶹���� and Security” () amid the accelerated drawdown of peace operations, focusing on implementing the WPS agenda and ensuring gender equality during and after the reduction and termination of . Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, and a civil society representative are expected to brief the Council.

Every year, the City of Hiroshima holds the 91�鶹���� Memorial Ceremony to console the souls of those lost to the atomic bombing on 6 August 1945, as well as pray for the realization of lasting world peace. Weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, continue to be of primary concern, owing to their destructive power and the threat that they pose to humanity. The UN has sought to eliminate such weapons ever since its establishment. Let’s work together to banish these devices of destruction to the history books, once and for all.

The Olympic Truce – Ekecheiria – seeks to halt hostilities, ensuring safe participation in the Games and upholding the timeless Olympic values of peace, solidarity, and respect while promoting dialogue and reconciliation.