UN Secretary-General Outlines 2026 Priorities, Discusses Global Conflicts and Humanitarian Issues

UN Secretary-General's 2026 Priorities

• 🌍 António Guterres presented his priorities for his final year as UN Secretary-General, vowing to make every day of 2026 count amidst global conflict, inequality, and unpredictability.
• 💡 He highlighted the UN's success in carving out space for action in areas like artificial intelligence, financing for development, and climate change, despite shrinking resources.
• ⚠️ Guterres warned that the current financial situation is unsustainable, urging all countries to honor their financial obligations or for Member States to overhaul financial rules to prevent a budget breakdown.

Three Core Priorities for the Year Ahead

• 📜 First, adherence to the UN Charter must be absolute and faithful, as it is not an "à la carte menu" but "prix fixe."
• 🕊️ Second, a relentless pursuit of peace with justice, peace between nations, and peace with nature, with ongoing efforts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan.
• 🤝 Third, building unity in an age of division by fostering welcoming societies instead of "walled-off citadels," and uniting migrants and other groups within a world of united nations.

Secretary-General's Travel and Engagements

• 🇬🇧 Guterres will travel to London to mark the 80th anniversary of the General Assembly's first meeting, delivering a keynote address and meeting with the UK Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary.
• 🇨🇭 In Switzerland, he will attend a retreat with representatives and envoys before heading to Davos for the World Economic Forum, focusing on "Dialogue" and outlining priorities including peace, justice, climate action, and AI governance.
• 🇫🇷 The Deputy Secretary-General will attend a Mo Ibrahim Foundation Council retreat in France and then join the Secretary-General in Switzerland.

Humanitarian Situations and Security Council Briefings

• 🇵🇸 In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the humanitarian coordinator visited Gaza, noting plans to restore electricity and observing fuel deliveries, while thousands are affected by winter storms and thousands of buildings are at risk.
• 🇸🇾 In Syria, nearly 90,000 have returned home after recent clashes, with UN funds allocated to provide assistance to displaced families.
• 🇸🇩 Sudan faces over 21 million people with acute hunger after more than 1,000 days of conflict, with famine confirmed in parts of the country.
• 🇮🇷 The Security Council was briefed on Cyprus and will discuss the situation in Iran, with the UN exploring possibilities for contact with the Iranian government.
• ⚖️ The UN stands against the death penalty and has raised concerns about the legal treatment of Palestinians, opposing the destruction of civilian structures and infrastructure in Gaza.