UN Chief Calls for Global Unity Amid Rising Crises
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday, October 24, called on all countries to renew and strengthen their commitments to global cooperation and solidarity, marking United Nations Day.
Guterres warned that the world is facing escalating challenges—from rising conflicts and the climate crisis to increasingly uncontrollable technologies and serious threats against multilateralism. He stressed that no nation can tackle these issues alone, making global collaboration more essential than ever.
Describing the United Nations as “more than an institution,” Guterres highlighted the organization’s eight-decade-long legacy of inspiring generations and connecting nations. He underscored its key roles in promoting peace, fighting poverty and hunger, advancing human rights, and fostering sustainable development.
Guterres called UN Day an opportunity to recommit to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. He urged countries to demonstrate their concrete commitment to these values, stating, “Let us show the world how the collective will of the people can bring about profound change.”
Founded in 1945 after World War II, the United Nations was established with the primary goal of preventing further wars and promoting international peace and cooperation. Today, with initiatives like the 2030 Agenda and the Pact for the Future, it aims to meet the needs of the 21st century.
Against a backdrop of mounting global crises and the growing indifference of some powers toward international institutions, Guterres’ message reaffirmed the necessity of collective action. He particularly emphasized the plight of oppressed nations such as Afghanistan, now under Taliban rule, where fundamental rights, political participation, and basic freedoms have been suppressed. He stressed that the voices of the Afghan people must be heard more prominently on the global stage.
