Today, we recognize the millions of refugees forced to flee war, persecution, and disaster.
Every individual carries a story of profound loss – of a family uprooted and a future upended.
Many face closed doors and a rising tide of xenophobia.
From Sudan to Ukraine, from Haiti to Myanmar, a record number of people are on the run for their lives – while support is dwindling.
And...
Women leaders from across Bougainville came together last month in a major push to advance inclusive peacebuilding, strengthen grassroots advocacy, and shape a collective vision for the region’s future.
More than 200 women from across Papua New Guinea’s Autonomous Region of Bougainville convened in Arawa, Papua New Guinea, on 7 May 2025 for the first-ever Bougainville Women, Peace and Security Summit.
The two-day summit aimed to advance women’s leadership, knowledge-sharing and collective action on the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Bougainville’s. The Government of Papua New Guinea, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and women’s civil society organizations organized the summit with support from UN Women, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund.
Bougainville’s President, Ishmael Toroama, and UN Resident Coordinator Richard Howard opened the summit. Its theme, “sustaining peace in Bougainville,” highlighted women’s critical role in Bougainville’s peace process, including in bringing an end to the conflict in 1997, negotiating the Bougainville Peace Agreement and building and sustaining peace across the region in the decades since its signing.
Participants engaged enthusiastically in women-led and moderated discussion on topics including law and order– particularly in relation to gender-based and domestic violence– conflict resolution, and the impact of climate change and resulting food insecurity. The summit also included an evening session on cyber-security, a valuable addition for entrepreneurial women developing small, climate-resilient businesses, utilizing social media and embracing online banking.
In addition to the summit, the UN also organized trainings for Bougainville women and youth human rights defenders, equipping them with advocacy and legal skills and tools to to strengthen grassroots human rights initiatives in their communities.
The National Council of Women, fully functional for the first time in six years, played a key role in representing women from across the country and one of the summit’s follow up actions is the convening of a national women, peace and security summit in the second half of 2025.
Bougainville’s Women, Peace and Security Summit, alongside the “Empower Her” Peacebuilding Fund project are part of a larger commitment by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the broader UN system to the Bougainville peace process and to prevention in Papua New Guinea.
The independent moderator for the Bougainville post-referendum peace process receives continuous political support from the DPPA Liaison Officer in collaboration with a process design expert from the Standby Team of Mediation Experts as well as the Resident Coordinator and UNDP.
“Over 100 participants traveled from both Papua New Guinea and across Bougainville to voice their perspectives and aspirations for gender-responsive development and to address shared challenges in achieving a peaceful future. Their voices carried the hopes of entire communities — and the determination to create lasting change,” said Stephen Liston, UN Liaison Officer, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
The Peacebuilding Fund has invested more than $35 million in the peace process since 2015, with recent commitments from partners including Australia, the European Union, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom ensuring ongoing support to the moderator.
From mid-2024, the UN’s PNG Country Fund and Peacebuilding Fund will commit an additional USD $18 million to a second phase of the Highlands Joint Programme on peacebuilding, gender-based violence and sorcery accusation-related violence, in addition to work on livelihoods and youth, peace and security.
Papua New Guinea’s recently adopted National Prevention Strategy, aligned with the Pact for the Future, and with close World Bank and UN collaboration, will provide an invaluable framework for Papua New Guinea’s commitment to peacebuilding in the years ahead.
The participants at the Bougainville Women, Peace and Security Summit emphasized the central role of women in this peacebuilding journey, calling for sustainable, inclusive development, safety and freedom, representation in decision-making, business opportunities and an equal stake in the future of Bougainville.
Remarks by Rosemary DiCarlo,
Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Annual Session of the Peacebuilding Commission
New York, 19 June 2024
Madam Chair,
Distinguished colleagues,
I am honored to address you today on behalf of the Secretary-General, who conveys his regrets at not being able to attend this session.
The Secretary-General places the highest importance on conflict prevention and peacebuilding and is a firm advocate of a strengthened Peacebuilding Commission.
Madam Chair,
We are meeting at a moment of considerable strain on the international peace and security. Conflicts are becoming more numerous, more protracted and more complex.
They are increasingly shaped by global and regional geopolitical dynamics and exacerbated by the widening divides.
Violence continues to escalate around the world, while negotiated solutions have become harder and harder to achieve. Threats to life and dignity abound, and international norms and legal frameworks are being disregarded.
Against this backdrop, the role of the Peacebuilding Commission remains critical and more needed than ever.
Madam Chair,
When the UN’s peacebuilding architecture was established twenty years ago, then Secretary-General Kofi Annan described it as filling “a gaping hole in the United Nations institutional machinery.”
At the time, there was no dedicated mechanism to help countries transition from war to lasting peace or to support Member States to consolidate fragile gains.
Since then, the Commission has made significant strides to fill this “gaping hole” offering effective and timely assistance to countries and regions that have sought its support.
The Commission was instrumental in supporting the democratic transition in The Gambia and helped the Government and the people forge a new social contract.
The Commission’s collaboration with Timor-Leste not only advanced the country’s stability but enabled it to contribute to regional peacebuilding efforts through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
The Commission’s support to Sierra Leone during the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics helped sustain peacebuilding progress and resilience.
These are just a few examples among many.
Madam Chair,
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the UN’s peacebuilding architecture, we must build on these achievements.
The Pact for the Future provides us with a forward-looking framework.
It recognizes the importance of nationally led efforts, including the central role of civil society, women and youth, and the value of UN partnerships with regional organizations and international financial institutions.
Notably, the Pact calls for the strengthening of the Peacebuilding Commission.
The direction is clear. Our task is to translate this ambition into practical progress.
The ongoing Peacebuilding Architecture Review offers a timely opportunity to identify the next steps.
First, the Commission should be equipped, strengthened and empowered to assist interested Member States to develop and implement national strategies for prevention and peacebuilding.
The recent presentation of Sao Tome and Principe of its national strategy to the Commission is a promising example.
In line with this, the Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund has designated support to such national strategies as a new priority.
Second, the Commission should have more systematic and robust links to other UN bodies and processes. The recent joint meeting between ECOSOC and the Commission on Haiti illustrates the value the PBC can bring complementing the efforts of the Security Council.
And third, the Commission should be positioned to engage more deeply with regional organizations, international financial institutions and other critical partners whose contributions are essential to sustaining peace
Madam Chair,
At the first meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission, then Secretary-General Annan remarked that the Commission symbolized “both hope and perseverance”. That sentiment remains highly relevant today.
The Commission is no longer a new institution, but its relevance and potential are undiminished. At a time of increasing need, we must equip it to deliver fully on its mandate.
Thank you.
As deadly missile exchanges between Israel and Iran enter a second week, the United Nations is sounding alarm over the growing toll on civilians, warning of mass displacement and regional instability.
More than 100 days into Israel’s complete fuel blockade in Gaza, UN agencies still in the shattered enclave warned on Thursday that vital services are only “hours away” from shutting down.
Sexual violence in conflict is a tactic of war, torture and terror. It does not only devastate survivors but also tears apart families and communities. The trauma, shame and stigma are borne by victims, not perpetrators – echoing across generations.
Last year, 41,370 grave violations against children were documented and verified by the United Nations, according to the Secretary-General's annual report on children in armed conflict, released on Thursday.
Just days before Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran, the UN watchdog agency monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities warned that the country was in violation of its non-proliferation commitments.
Of the 700 million people worldwide living in extreme poverty, 40 per cent live in conflict-affected or fragile settings and this is on track to worsen, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Thursday.
Sexual violence is a grotesque tactic of war, used to brutalize, torture, and repress, scarring bodies, minds and entire communities. The horror of these heinous crimes echoes long after the guns fall silent.
Too often, perpetrators walk free, cloaked in impunity, while survivors often bear the impossible burden of stigma and trauma. The pain does not end with them. It stretches across lifetimes, ravaging generations of families, and forces the inherited legacy of trauma...
As the Iran-Israel crisis continued into a sixth day on Wednesday, the UN deputy human rights chief Nada Al-Nashif called for urgent talks to end the ongoing missile attacks between Tehran and Tel-Aviv.
As the pall of starvation hangs over Gaza, UN agencies have sounded the alarm over deadly violence at food distribution points, where over 400 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in recent weeks while trying to access desperately needed humanitarian aid.
Civilian deaths in conflict surged by 40 per cent last year, according to new data released by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) with already marginalised groups facing disproportionate levels of discrimination.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday he remains “profoundly alarmed” by the ongoing military escalation between Israel and Iran, as the sides continued to trade airstrikes.
The ongoing crises in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Sudan are in the spotlight this week at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva.
A senior UN official has warned against the impact of regional escalation on Syria as the country continues on the path to political transition following the overthrow of the Assad regime last December and nearly 14 years of devastating civil war.
Gaza’s health system is at breaking point, overwhelmed time and again by scores of people killed or injured near aid distribution sites, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
At least 14 civilians were reportedly killed and more than 100 injured in Kyiv overnight into Tuesday, as Russian drone and missile strikes struck multiple Ukrainian cities in one of the heaviest nights of bombing in months.
After a weekend of massive strikes and counter-strikes between Tel Aviv and Tehran, the UN's human rights chief, Volker Türk on Monday condemned the violence and echoed wider calls for a negotiated end to the attacks. Meanwhile in Gaza, aid workers report that mobile communications networks continue to be cut in the shattered enclave. We'll be covering these developments and more across the UN system and beyond today, thanks for joining us. UN News app users can follow our live coverage here.
In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwandan-backed rebels, Congolese troops, and allied militias have all committed human rights abuses, some possibly amounting to war crimes, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in Geneva on Monday.
The UN Secretary-General is set to launch a global campaign to boost support for disarmament and mine action.
Eighty years after the United Nations was established to end war, uphold fundamental human rights and promote justice and international law, those founding principles are increasingly under threat, the UN’s human rights chief warned on Monday.
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Thank you Madame President,
Today, at approximately 3:15am local time, the Israeli military launched waves of airstrikes across Iran, targeting a number of locations, including residential areas in Tehran.
These attacks, which are reportedly continuing this afternoon, have targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, military bases, radar installations and nuclear facilities, among others.
They have reportedly caused significant damage, including reportedly dozens of civilian casualties.
In retaliation, Iran launched some 100 drones towards Israel, all of which were reportedly intercepted before reaching Israeli airspace. As I speak, there are reports of Iranian missiles heading towards Israel.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) called the attack a “precise, pre-emptive strike”, and declared an “imminent threat” from Iran’s nuclear program, while also announcing a domestic state of emergency.
According to the IDF, over 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft were involved in the opening strikes, dropping over 330 munitions on some 100 targets. Multiple nuclear installations were struck, including in Natanz, one of the central sites of Iran’s nuclear programme.
In a video message, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israeli forces also attacked Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and top Iranian nuclear scientists. He stated that the attacks were intended to ward off an existential threat, vowing that the battle would continue for “as many days as it takes.”
The impact of these attacks has already been felt throughout the region, with neighboring countries closing their airspace and putting their security forces on high alert. The Houthis have reportedly launched missiles towards Israel, one of which has hit the occupied West Bank, causing injuries.
Many regional leaders have condemned the attack as a flagrant violation of international law and an escalation that is pushing the region toward more conflict and tension.
According to Iran’s state media and statements made by Iran’s Supreme Leader today, at least four top Iranian generals and three leading nuclear scientists were killed. A number of civilians have also reportedly been killed and injured. The Supreme Leader has promised “severe punishment” for Israel.
Madame President,
I reaffirm the Secretary-General’s condemnation of any military escalation in the Middle East. I also underline the obligation of Member States not to use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.
I reiterate the call by the Secretary-General to both sides to show maximum restraint at this critical moment and to avoid at all costs a descent into deeper and wider regional conflict.
Of particular concern is the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. It has been reported that the Natanz Enrichment Complex, which houses both the Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, suffered significant damage, including centrifuge cascade halls.
The International Atomic Energy Agency resolution adopted on 12 June, calls on Iran to meet its legal obligations and to fully cooperate with the IAEA to urgently remedy its non-compliance with its Safeguards Agreement.
Finally, the latest dangerous escalation follows some significant diplomatic developments. Talks between Iran and the US were to resume in Oman this weekend.
I encourage such diplomatic efforts to continue. A peaceful resolution through negotiations remains the best means to ensure the inclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.
We must at all costs avoid a growing conflagration that would have enormous global consequences.
Thank you.
As diplomatic efforts continue to end fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN development agency (UNDP) issued an appeal on Friday on behalf of people uprooted by the violence to help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods.
Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Israeli strikes in Iran late Thursday evening, urging ‘maximum restraint’ from Member States. The head of the UN-backed atomic watchdog also highlighted the risk of a wider conflict.
Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities mark a dangerous new escalation in the Middle East, a top UN official told the Security Council during an emergency session convened on Friday.
Yemen cannot endure more years of division, economic collapse and human suffering, the UN’s top official on the crisis told the Security Council on Thursday, warning that “time is not on our side.”
Meeting in emergency session on Thursday in New York, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
A London-bound Air India jet carrying 242 people crashed moments after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday, reportedly killing more than 200 on board, with dozens still unaccounted for.
Tens of thousands of people went missing in Syria over the past 50 years including during 14 years of civil war. Now, some families are able to live in hope as the Middle Eastern country emerges from the traumatic period of dictatorship and conflict.
The General Assembly overwhelming backed a resolution on Thursday demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and resumption of humanitarian aid to stave off famine. There were 149 votes in favour, 12 against – including Israel and the US – and 19 abstentions. App users can follow our live coverage here.
The UN-backed atomic watchdog voted through a resolution on Thursday declaring that Iran is not complying with its obligations regarding nuclear non-proliferation.
A Cambodian woman who grew up amid landmines now clears them as a UN peacekeeper in Lebanon. A Sudanese civil society leader rallies displaced women to reclaim their voices in peacebuilding. Young activists from the divided communities of Cyprus foster dialogue and understanding in a deeply complex and long-standing conflict. These are just a few of the extraordinary stories captured in Through Her Lens: Women Rising for Peace, a striking photo exhibition that premiered on 7 June 2025 at Brooklyn Bridge Park as part of the Photoville Festival.
A joint initiative of the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO), UN Women, the Elsie Initiative Fund, and the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), in partnership with Photoville, the exhibit highlights the stories of women as leaders, negotiators, and protectors in conflict-affected societies — told through the lenses of women photographers from those very communities.
“Too often, women in conflict are portrayed only as victims,” said Natasha Lamoreux of UN Women. “But these photographs tell a different story. They show women as peacekeepers, negotiators, human rights defenders — leaders actively shaping peace.”
From Sudan to Cyprus, Haiti to Lebanon, the UN collaborated with local women photographers who not only document the lives of women but also share in their struggles, striving to build peace in their communities, which creates an intimate and powerful perspective.
“This exhibit is the culmination of months of partnership between the four organizing entities as well as between headquarters and field-based colleagues,” said Shatha Hussein from the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. “We worked on very difficult contexts and turbulent situations that are changing by the day. So working with women on the ground to amplify their efforts through this initiative was not easy in any of the contexts featured, but their commitment, despite the odds, made this possible.”
Preparing this exhibit has been a profound challenge — one that mirrors the obstacles women face daily in conflict zones. Intense fighting spiked early this year in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan as the photoshoots were being planned.
“These images are more than art — they are a collective story of resilience, acts of resistance, and transformation,” said Sophie Boudre of the UN Department of Peace Operations. “They declare that women’s rights must be protected, their leadership recognized, and their voices heard wherever peace is made.”
Rooted in the Women, Peace and Security agenda launched by UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the exhibit underscores both the critical roles women play in peacebuilding and the persistent challenges they face — including a rising global backlash against gender equality.
The Through Her Lens exhibit is on view through 22 June 2025 at Pier 1 of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. It will also be shown at UN Headquarters in time for a Security Council open debate on Women, Peace and Security at the end of October. Importantly, the exhibit will travel to the regions featured in the photographs — bringing these powerful stories full circle.
To view the exhibit online, visit https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/exhibit/through-her-lens
Civilian deaths and injuries in the first five months of 2025 were nearly 50 per cent higher than the same period last year, UN rights experts tasked with monitoring abuses in war-torn Ukraine said on Wednesday in their latest report.
Civilian deaths and injuries in the first five months of 2025 were nearly 50 per cent higher than the same period last year, UN rights experts tasked with monitoring abuses in war-torn Ukraine said on Wednesday in their latest report.
The very real risk of famine continues to stalk Sudan’s communities impacted by war, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday, in an appeal for more funding to support immediate needs and boost longer-term recovery across the country.
The top UN official in Iraq reiterated his confidence in the resilience of the country’s people, and the determination of their leaders, in a briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday.
The Israeli military’s destruction of Gaza’s education and cultural infrastructure amount to war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination, a UN investigative body said on Tuesday, as humanitarian agencies warned of continued mass suffering across the Strip.
Nearly three months after a catastrophic earthquake struck Myanmar, the country continues to grapple with its aftermath alongside the brutal civil war which has devastated the country since the February 2021 military coup.
