Angélique Kidjo: A Call to End Female Genital Mutilation

In 2012, renowned singer-songwriter and #unicef Goodwill Ambassador Angélique Kidjo spoke out at the United Nations against Female genital mutilation (FGM) and urged countries to outlaw and end the practice. She later gave a special performance in the General Assembly Hall to raise awareness of the practice of FGM and its harmful effects.


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!

Artificial Intelligence - Press Conference | United Nations

UN Secretary-General António Guterres submitted for the consideration of the General Assembly a list of “40 distinguished individuals from every region” to serve on the new Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. Addressing the press, on the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The Panel is a direct response to the mandate given by Member States in the Pact for the Future to strengthen multilateral solutions for emerging technologies that are reshaping every aspect of our lives.” He highlighted, “It will be the first global, fully independent scientific body dedicated to helping close the AI knowledge gap and assess the real impacts of AI across economies and societies. And this could not be more urgent. AI is moving at the speed of light. No country can see the full picture alone”” He then recognized the office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, the International Telecommunication Union, and UNESCO “for their vital support of this initiative. The three organizations will provide the members to the Secretariat of the panel, and the Secretariat of the panel will be coordinated by my Special Envoy, Amandeep Gill.” Answering a question, he said, “One of the most important things is exactly to have a scientific entity that is independent, that is reliable, that doesn't serve the interest of any country, able to say exactly what is the state of the art of the applications of AI. And obviously one of the major concerns we have is about the weaponization of AI, and I hope that this panel will be a very important instrument to clarify what exactly is happening.”


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!

Counter-Terrorism: threat posed by Da’esh increased steadily & complex - Briefing | United Nations

Briefing by Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!

Texas Maga man, Chad Watts has been arrested who assaulted a high school student at an ICE protest

For more information, to subscribe to the channel or to watch video on YouTube, click here.

Yemen, Sudan & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Secretary-General’s Press Encounter - Secretary-General’s Travel - Yemen - Sudan - South Sudan - Democratic Republic of the Congo - Occupied Palestinian Territory - Syria - Lebanon - Security Council - Cuba - International Day of Human Fraternity - Honour Roll Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-02-04


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!

Agrihoods Explained: Rethinking How We Build Communities | United Nations

Urban planners in Brazil are at the forefront of a bold design revolution that could redefine how cities tackle climate change. One of the most promising ideas is the “agrihood” — a residential community built around a working farm, blending sustainable food production with low-carbon urban living. As cities expand and emissions rise, agrihoods offer a powerful alternative to traditional development by reducing carbon footprints, strengthening local food systems, and reconnecting people with nature. This innovation comes at a critical moment. According to the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) latest State of Finance for Nature report, global investments that damage the planet outweigh nature-positive solutions by 30 to 1. Despite their potential, climate-friendly models like agrihoods remain vastly underfunded. Could Brazil’s urban experiments point the way toward a more sustainable future for cities worldwide?


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!

Palestine: the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People 'Must Be Realized' - UN Chief | UN

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people “must be realized.” At the at the 426th Meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Guterres said, “Any sustainable solution in Gaza must be consistent with international law, and result in Gaza and the West Bank – including East Jerusalem – being governed by a unified, legitimate, and internationally recognized Palestinian Government. Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State.” He also said, “The recently published tender by Israel for 3,401 housing units in the E1 area – alongside continued demolitions – is profoundly alarming. If carried forward, it would sever the northern and southern West Bank, undermine territorial contiguity, and strike a severe blow to the viability of a two-State solution.” He reaffirmed his full support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and condemned the adoption by the Israeli parliament of laws that “further impede the Agency’s ability to operate and carry out its mandate activities. I also condemn in the strongest terms actions by Israeli authorities to demolish the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound in occupied East Jerusalem. Let me be clear: UNRWA premises are United Nations premises. They are inviolable and immune from any form of interference. Public threats by officials of Israel against the staff of UNRWA are utterly abhorrent and must be met with unequivocal repudiation.” Guterres concluded, “The occupation must end, as affirmed by the International Court of Justice. The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people must be realized. The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people must be realized.” Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour, said, “The ceasefire has to be permanent. It should not be fragile. Israel should not continue to go and to kill our people as they wish in the Gaza Strip and in other parts of the occupied Palestinian territory.” He also said, “Gaza is not a piece of land that is hanging in the air for anyone to grab it. It belongs to its people. It belongs to the Palestinian people. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, constitute a single territorial unit. Their unity, integrity and status must be preserved, and they must be unified under the Palestinian Authority, as affirmed by the Security Council and GA resolution.” Michael Contet, Director of the UNRWA Representative Office in New York said, “In Gaza, UNRWA remains the largest and most comprehensive service provider, effectively acting as the public sector for more than half the population.” He highlighted, “The operational constraints imposed by Israel on UNRWA, compounded by an unprecedented financial shortfall, severely undermine our GA mandate, which has just been renewed for another three years, and pose an existential threat to our work in the occupied Palestinian territory. They are taking place in utter disregard for international law and the UN Charter.” He stressed, “The actions against UNRWA include a large-scale dis- and mis-information campaign. The repeating of allegations that have already been proven wrong or unsubstantiated, including by the world’s highest court, or have been addressed, continues to form the backdrop for reduced or increasingly conditioned financial contributions. This reduction, combined with a suspension of funding by two major donors, has left a gaping hole in the finances of the Agency to this day.” He reported, “The estimated shortfall for 2026 is 220 million USD – amounting to 40 percent of the funds required for basic operations, including paying our local staff, who directly deliver UNRWA’s services to beneficiaries. As a result, the Commissioner-General was compelled to take the difficult decision to implement as of this month a reduction of UNRWA’s service-delivery working hours by 20 percent, in all five fields, with salaries of Area staff adjusted accordingly. This was taken as a measure of last resort, to preserve the Agency and its mandate.” Full remarks [as delivered]: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statements/2026-02-03/secretary-generals-remarks-the-2026-opening-session-of-the-committee-the-exercise-of-the-inalienable-rights-of-the-palestinian-people


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!

UN Secretary‑General Addresses Committee on Palestinian Rights

The Secretary‑General opened the 2026 session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the #palestinian People, warning that conditions in #gaza and the West Bank remain “perilously fragile.” He urged full implementation of the October agreement, unimpeded humanitarian access, respect for international law, and renewed commitment to a two‑State solution.


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!

Model UNs 2026: A Message from the Secretary-General | United Nations

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivers a video message for the 2026 Model United Nations.


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!

Women’s leadership. Country perspectives. Real impact.

Join the conversation at the Goals Lounge as UN Resident Coordinators spotlight women driving SDG progress on the ground—across regions and contexts. 🗓 5 February | 10:00 AM EST 🎥 Watch live on UN WebTV https://webtv.un.org/en


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!

Security Council Agenda February 2026 - UK Presidency | Press Conference | United Nations

Press conference by James Kariuki, Chargé d'Affaires at the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations, and President of the Security Council in February 2026, on the programme of work during the month of February.


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here!