Resolve in a crisis: Guterres highlights the impact of the United Nations in his annual report

At the SDGs Pavilion in September 2023

In an era of escalating global crises – from rising poverty to worsening climate emergencies – the United Nations remains steadfast in its commitment to peace, sustainable development and the alleviation of human suffering.

Secretary-General António Guterres' Annual Report on the Work of the United Nations, released ahead of the high-level segment of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, highlighted the UN's tireless efforts to address these pressing challenges.

Guterres underlined the perseverance of UN staff. He said that despite their work in difficult circumstances, they are committed to bringing hope and help to those in need.

"I am immensely proud of the staff of the United Nations who carry out their duties in a divisive and sometimes dangerous world," he said. ”

"In 2023, together with partners on the ground, we coordinated humanitarian response plans for 245 million people in 74 countries and provided life-saving assistance and protection to nearly 160 million people in need," he said.

The United Nations has also mobilized a record $22.7 billion in humanitarian assistance from donors around the world, enabling life-saving programs in Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and areas affected by natural disasters such as the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, floods in Libya, Malawi and Mozambique, the report said.

These actions have also taken a toll on them, he said. 2023 was the deadliest year for United Nations staff and humanitarian workers, with the vast majority of casualties being those of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East working in the Gaza Strip. Guterres paid tribute to their sacrifices and underscored the UN's commitment to stand with the world's most vulnerable.

Peace and security are at the heart of the mission of the United Nations

In the context of escalating challenges to global peace and security, peace diplomacy remains at the heart of the work of the United Nations. To that end, the Secretary-General has launched a New Agenda for Peace, which calls for multilateral action to address the intertwined threats to our common future.

The report also stresses that, for the first time in 34 years, the Secretary-General has invoked Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations to draw the Council's attention to the hostilities in Gaza and Israel and to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of hostages. The United Nations works to prevent escalation in the region and advance peace efforts aimed at ending the occupation and achieving a two-state solution in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

The United Nations also facilitates peace negotiations, supports nation-building efforts, and helps protect civilians around the world, including in Sudan. In addition, the United Nations has overseen the withdrawal of some 13,000 personnel from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation.

The Peacebuilding Fund has allocated more than $200 million to support national peace plans in 36 countries, with a focus on gender equality. Partnerships with regional organizations, such as the African Union, have further strengthened conflict prevention efforts.

A call to action on the Global Goals

In 2023, the SDG Summit brought together more than 6,000 attendees to reaffirm the global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with only 15% of the targets expected to be achieved by the globally agreed 2030 deadline, and many developing countries face challenges in accessing the resources they need to ensure a sustainable future.

Environmental initiatives such as the Water Action Agenda and a landmark agreement on plastic pollution are key achievements in 2023. Global climate action advocated by the United Nations has also been a highlight of the past year, calling for a fossil fuel transition, a drive for loss and damage fund operations, and an end to deforestation by 2030.

Human rights and multilateralism

Human rights remain at the forefront of the United Nations mandate. In 2023, the UN supports initiatives to eliminate violence against women, empower rural women, and ensure their representation in the constitutional process.

The Secretary-General also expressed concern about the erosion of multilateral principles, noting that some parties to the conflict target civilians, hospitals, humanitarian assistance and schools with impunity.

In preparation for the landmark Summit of the Future, the United Nations has released a policy brief on peace, security, and AI governance, aiming to strengthen the values of the UN Charter and address global challenges such as misinformation and disinformation in the public sphere.

Conscientious staff

"This Organization and our staff will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of the world every step of the way through difficult times, as we seek to build together a more peaceful, healthy, equal and prosperous future, and a world where no one is left behind," Guterres said. ”

"Their determination is to achieve results for the people of the world, bringing the help and hope that everyone deserves – help and hope that the human family needs today more than ever," Guterres said. ”