COVID-19: Messages from the UN Secretary-General

Public Service Day

António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on World Refugee Day 2020  Nearly 80 million women, children, and men around the world have been forced from their homes as refugees or internally displaced people. Even more shocking: ten million of these people fled in the past year alone.  On World Refugee Day, we pledge to do everything in our power to end the conflict and persecution that drive these appalling numbers.  Today, we also recognize the generosity and humanity of host communities and countries that often struggle with their own economic and security concerns. We owe these countries our thanks, our support and our investment.  We must all work to re-establish the integrity of the international refugee protection regime, and to implement the pledges made at the Global Refugee Forum, so that refugees and host communities receive the support they need.  This year, the COVID-19 pandemic poses an additional threat to refugees and displaced people, who are among the most vulnerable. My recent Policy Brief on COVID-19 and People on the Move called on governments to ensure that they are included in all response and recovery efforts.  Refugees and displaced people are also prominent among those who are stepping up to make a difference on the frontlines of the response.  From camps in Bangladesh to hospitals in Europe, refugees are working as nurses, doctors, scientists, teachers and in other essential roles, protecting themselves and giving back to the communities that host them.  On World Refugee Day, we thank refugees for their resourcefulness and determination to rebuild their own lives, and to improve the lives of those around them.  Today and every day, we stand in unity and solidarity with refugees and recognize our fundamental obligation to shelter those fleeing war and persecution.

World Refugee Day

António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (19 June 2020)     Sexual violence in conflict is a brutal crime, mainly perpetrated against women and girls, but also affecting men and boys.  It reverberates throughout communities and societies, perpetuating cycles of violence and threatening international peace and security.  As the COVID-19 pandemic rages through regions of the world that are affected by armed conflict, survivors confront even greater challenges.   Reporting crimes may be difficult; shelters and clinics may be closed.  I commend frontline staff who are finding ways to support those affected despite lockdowns and quarantines.  On this International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we stand in solidarity with survivors. We vow to listen to them and act on their experiences and decisions.  We must prevent and end these crimes; place survivors at the centre of our response; hold perpetrators accountable; and expand support for all those affected.    

International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict

António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the World of Work  The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world of work upside down. Every worker, every business and every corner of the globe has been affected. Hundreds of millions of jobs have been lost.  Those toiling in the informal economy — often without rights at work and social protection — are projected to have suffered a 60 percent decline in earnings in the first month of the crisis alone. Women have been especially hard hit — working in many of the most critically affected sectors, while also carrying the greatest burden of increasing levels of unpaid care work.  Young people, persons with disabilities, and so many others are facing tremendous difficulties.  Many small and medium-sized enterprises – the engine of the global economy – may not survive.  This crisis in the world of work is adding fuel to an already burning fire of discontent and anxiety.  Massive unemployment and loss of income from COVID-19 are further eroding social cohesion and destabilizing countries and regions— socially, politically and economically.  Yes, many companies and workers have adapted in innovative ways to the changing circumstances. For example, millions have moved overnight to working online, in many cases with surprising success.  But the most vulnerable are at risk of becoming ever more vulnerable, and poor countries and communities risk falling even further behind.  We need action on three fronts:  First, immediate support for at-risk workers, enterprises, jobs and incomes to avoid closures, job losses and income decline. Second, greater focus on both health and economic activity after lockdowns ease, with workplaces that are safe, and rights for women and populations at risk. Third, we need to mobilize now for a human-centred, green and sustainable, inclusive recovery that harnesses the potential of new technologies to create decent jobs for all — and draws on the creative and positive ways companies and workers have adapted to these times.  There is a lot of talk about the need for a “new normal” after this crisis. But let’s not forget that the pre-COVID-19 world was far from normal.  Rising inequalities, systemic gender discrimination, lack of opportunities for young people, stagnant wages, runaway climate change — none of these things were “normal”.  The pandemic exposed tremendous shortcomings, fragilities and fault lines.  The world of work cannot and should not look the same after this crisis.  It is time for a coordinated global, regional and national effort to create decent work for all as the foundation of a green, inclusive and resilient recovery.  For example, a shift of taxation from payroll to carbon could help to go a long way in this direction. With smart and timely action at all levels, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as our guide, we can emerge from this crisis stronger, with better jobs and a brighter, more equal and greener future for all.

COVID-19 and the World of Work: Policy Brief

Food Security and COVID-19: Policy Brief

António Guterres (United Nations Secretary-General) on COVID-19 and People on the Move. COVID-19 continues to devastate lives and livelihoods around the globe — hitting the most vulnerable the hardest.  This is particularly true for millions of people on the move — such as refugees and internally displaced persons who are forced to flee their homes from violence or disaster, or migrants in precarious situations.  Now they face three crises rolled into one.  First, a health crisis — as they become exposed to the virus, often in crowded conditions where social distancing is an impossible luxury — and where basics such as health care, water, sanitation and nutrition are often hard to find. This impact will be even more devastating to the large number of people on the move who live in least developed countries.  One-third of the world’s internally displaced population live in the 10 countries most at-risk to COVID-19. Second, people on the move face a socio-economic crisis — especially those working in the informal economy without access to social protection.   In addition, the loss of income from COVID-19 is likely to lead to a colossal $109 billion drop in remittances. That’s the equivalent of nearly three-quarters of all official development assistance that is no longer being sent back home to the 800 million people who depend on it. Third, people on the move face a protection crisis.  More than 150 countries have imposed border restrictions to contain the spread of the virus. At least 99 states make no exception for people seeking asylum from persecution.  At the same time, fear of COVID-19 has led to skyrocketing xenophobia, racism and stigmatization.  And the already precarious situation of women and girls is ever more dire, as they face higher risks of exposure to gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation.  Yet even as refugees and migrants face all these challenges, they are contributing heroically on the frontlines in essential work.  About one in eight of all nurses globally, for example, is practicing in a country different from where they were born. The COVID-19 crisis is an opportunity to reimagine human mobility.  Four core understandings must guide the way: First, exclusion is costly and inclusion pays. An inclusive public health and socio-economic response will help suppress the virus, restart our economies and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Second, we must uphold human dignity in the face of the pandemic and learn from the handful of countries that have shown how to implement travel restrictions and border controls while fully respecting human rights and international refugee protection principles. Third, no-one is safe until everyone is safe. Diagnostics, treatment and vaccines must be accessible to all. Fourth and finally, people on the move are part of the solution. Let us remove unwarranted barriers, explore models to regularize pathways for migrants and reduce transaction costs for remittances.  I am grateful to countries, especially developing countries, that have opened their borders and hearts to refugees and migrants, despite their own social, economic, and now health, challenges.  They offer a moving lesson to others in a period when doors are closed.  It is essential that these countries are provided increased support and full solidarity. We all have a vested interest to ensure that the responsibility of protecting the world’s refugees is equitably shared and that human mobility remains safe, inclusive, and respects international human rights and refugee law.  No country can fight the pandemic or manage migration alone.  But together, we can contain the spread of the virus, buffer its impact on the most vulnerable and recover better for the benefit of all. Thank you.

Refugees, IDPs and Migrants and COVID-19: Policy Brief

António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on the International Day for Biological Diversity 2020 (22 May) This year’s message for the International Day for Biological Diversity is clear. Our solutions are in nature. Preserving and sustainably managing biodiversity is necessary for mitigating climate disruption, guaranteeing water and food security and even preventing pandemics. COVID-19 –which emanated from the wild -- has shown how human health is intimately connected with our relationship to the natural world.  As we encroach on nature and deplete vital habitats, increasing numbers of species are at risk. That includes humanity and the future we want. As we seek to build back better from the current crisis, let us work together to preserve biodiversity so we can achieve our Sustainable Development Goals. That is how we will protect health and well-being for generations to come.

International Day for Biological Diversity 2020

 As COVID-19 spreads across the continent, Africa has responded swiftly to the pandemic, and as of now reported cases are lower than feared. Even so, much hangs in the balance. In recent years Africans have done much to advance the well-being of the continent’s people. Economic growth has been strong. The digital revolution has taken hold. A free trade area has been agreed.  But the pandemic threatens African progress. It will aggravate long-standing inequalities and heighten hunger, malnutrition and vulnerability to disease. Already, demand for Africa’s commodities, tourism and remittances are declining. The opening of the trade zone has been pushed back – and millions could be pushed into extreme poverty. The virus has taken more than 2500 African lives. Vigilance and preparedness are critical. I commend what African countries have done already, together with the African Union.  Most have moved rapidly to deepen regional coordination, deploy health workers, and enforce quarantines, lockdowns and border closures. They are also drawing on the experience of HIV/AIDS and Ebola to debunk rumours and overcome mistrust of government, security forces and health workers. I express my total solidarity with the people and governments of Africa in tackling COVID-19.  United Nations agencies, country teams, peacekeeping operations and humanitarian workers are providing support.  United Nations solidarity flights have delivered millions of test kits, respirators and other supplies, reaching almost the entire continent. The policy brief we are issuing today highlights a spectrum of urgent challenges. We are calling for international action to strengthen Africa’s health systems, maintain food supplies, avoid a financial crisis, support education, protect jobs, keep households and businesses afloat, and cushion the continent against lost income and export earnings.  African countries should also have quick, equal and affordable access to any eventual vaccine and treatment, that must be considered global public goods I have been calling for a global response package amounting to at least 10 per cent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product. For Africa, that means more than $200 billion as additional support from the international community. I also continue to advocate a comprehensive debt framework -- starting with an across-the-board debt standstill for countries unable to service their debt, followed by targeted debt relief and a comprehensive approach to structural issues in the international debt architecture to prevent defaults.  It will also be essential for African countries to sustain their efforts to silence the guns and address violent extremism – and I welcome African support for my call for a global ceasefire. Political processes and elections in the coming months offer potential milestones for stability and peace. Women will be central to every aspect of the response. Stimulus packages must prioritize putting cash in the hands of women and increasing social protection.  We must empower African youth. The human rights of all must be respected. Many difficult decisions will need to be taken as the pandemic unfolds, and it will be essential to retain the trust and participation of citizens throughout. These are still early days for the pandemic in Africa, and disruption could escalate quickly. Global solidarity with Africa is an imperative – now and for recovering better. Ending the pandemic in Africa is essential for ending it across the world. Thank you.

Impact of Covid-19 on Africa: Policy Brief

António Guterres (United Nations Secretary-General) on COVID-19 and the need for action on mental health. Mental health is at the core of our humanity.  It enables us to lead rich and fulfilling lives and to participate in our communities.  But the COVID-19 virus is not only attacking our physical health; it is also increasing psychological suffering.   Grief at the loss of loved ones… Shock at the loss of jobs…  Isolation and restrictions on movement… Difficult family dynamics… Uncertainty and fear for the future… Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, are some of the greatest causes of misery in our world.  Throughout my life, and in my own family, I have been close to doctors and psychiatrists treating these conditions. As prime minister of my country, Portugal, and as High Commissioner for Refugees, I became acutely aware of the suffering they cause. This suffering is often exacerbated by stigma and discrimination, which is absolutely unacceptable.  After decades of neglect and underinvestment in mental health services, the COVID-19 pandemic is now hitting families and communities with additional mental stress.  Those most at risk are frontline healthcare workers, older people, adolescents and young people, those with pre-existing mental health conditions and those caught up in conflict and crisis.  We must help them and stand by them.  Even when the pandemic is brought under control, grief, anxiety and depression will continue to affect people and communities.   This is the background to the policy brief on COVID-19 and mental health that we are launching today.  Mental health services are an essential part of all government responses to COVID-19. They must be expanded and fully funded.  Policies must support and care for those affected by mental health conditions, and protect their human rights and dignity.  Lockdowns and quarantines must not discriminate against those with poor mental health.  As we recover from the pandemic, we must shift more mental health services to the community, and make sure mental health is included in universal health coverage.  The United Nations is strongly committed to creating a world in which everyone, everywhere, has someone to turn to for psychological support.  I urge governments, civil society, health authorities and others to come together urgently to address the mental health dimension of this pandemic.  And I call on governments in particular to announce ambitious commitments on mental health at the upcoming World Health Assembly. 

COVID-19 and Mental Health: Policy Brief

António Guterres (United Nations Secretary-General) Global Appeal to Address and Counter COVID-19 Related Hate Speech     COVID-19 does not care who we are, where we live, what we believe or about any other distinction. We need every ounce of solidarity to tackle it together. Yet the pandemic continues to unleash a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering. Anti-foreigner sentiment has surged online and in the streets. Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories have spread, and COVID-19-related anti-Muslim attacks have occurred.  Migrants and refugees have been vilified as a source of the virus -- and then denied access to medical treatment.  With older persons among the most vulnerable, contemptible memes have emerged suggesting they are also the most expendable.  And journalists, whistleblowers, health professionals, aid workers and human rights defenders are being targeted simply for doing their jobs. We must act now to strengthen the immunity of our societies against the virus of hate. That’s why I’m appealing today for an all-out effort to end hate speech globally. I call on political leaders to show solidarity with all members of their societies and build and reinforce social cohesion.   I call on educational institutions to focus on digital literacy at a time when billions of young people are online – and when extremists are seeking to prey on captive and potentially despairing audiences.  I call on the media, especially social media companies, to do much more to flag and, in line with international human rights law, remove racist, misogynist and other harmful content. I call on civil society to strengthen outreach to vulnerable people, and religious actors to serve as models of mutual respect.  And I ask everyone, everywhere, to stand up against hate, treat each other with dignity and take every opportunity to spread kindness.  Last year, I launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech to enhance United Nations efforts against this scourge. As we combat this pandemic, we have a duty to protect people, end stigma and prevent violence.  Let’s defeat hate speech – and COVID-19 - together.

Countering Hate Speech related to COVID-19: Global Appeal

António Guterres (United Nations Secretary-General) at launch of Policy Brief on Persons with Disabilities and COVID-19    The COVID-19 crisis is affecting every aspect of our societies, revealing the extent of exclusion that the most marginalized members of society experience.  Today, I would like to highlight how the pandemic is affecting the world’s 1 billion people with disabilities. Even under normal circumstances, persons with disabilities are less likely to access education, healthcare and income opportunities or participate in the community. This is exacerbated for those in humanitarian and fragile contexts. People with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty, and they experience higher rates of violence, neglect and abuse.  The pandemic is intensifying these inequalities -- and producing new threats. Today we are launching a report that recommends a disability-inclusive response and recovery for everyone. People with disabilities are among the hardest hit by COVID-19.  They face a lack of accessible public health information, significant barriers to implement basic hygiene measures, and inaccessible health facilities.  If they contract COVID-19, many are more likely to develop severe health conditions, which may result in death.  The share of COVID-19 related deaths in care homes -- where older people with disabilities are overrepresented -- ranges from 19 per cent to an astonishing 72 per cent. In some countries, healthcare rationing decisions are based on discriminatory criteria, such as age or assumptions about quality or value of life, based on disability.  We cannot let this continue.  We must guarantee the equal rights of people with disabilities to access healthcare and lifesaving procedures during the pandemic. Persons with disabilities who faced exclusion in employment before this crisis, are now more likely to lose their job and will experience greater difficulties in returning to work.  Yet, only 28 per cent of people with significant disabilities have access to benefits -- and only 1 per cent in low-income countries. People with disabilities -- particularly, women and girls -- face a greater risk of domestic violence, which has surged during the pandemic.  I urge governments to place people with disabilities at the center of COVID-19 response and recovery efforts and to consult and engage people with disabilities.  Persons with disabilities have valuable experience to offer of thriving in situations of isolation and alternate working arrangements.  Looking to the future, we have a unique opportunity to design and implement more inclusive and accessible societies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Last year, I launched the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy to ensure the UN system is doing its part.  The Strategy represents the UN’s commitment to achieve transformative and lasting change.  When we secure the rights of people with disabilities, we are investing in our common future. 

Disabilities and COVID-19: Policy Brief

Journalists and media workers are crucial to helping us make informed decisions. As the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic, those decisions can make the difference between life and death.   On World Press Freedom Day, we call on governments -- and others -- to guarantee that journalists can do their jobs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.  As the pandemic spreads, it has also given rise to a second pandemic of misinformation, from harmful health advice to wild conspiracy theories.  The press provides the antidote: verified, scientific, fact-based news and analysis.  But since the pandemic began, many journalists are being subjected to increased restrictions and punishments simply for doing their jobs.  Temporary constraints on freedom of movement are essential to beat COVID-19. But they must not be abused as an excuse to crack down on journalists’ ability to do their work.  Today, we thank the media for providing facts and analysis; for holding leaders – in every sector – accountable; and for speaking truth to power.  We particularly recognize those who are playing a life-saving role reporting on public health.   And we call on governments to protect media workers, and to strengthen and maintain press freedom, which is essential for a future of peace, justice and human rights for all.   

World Press Freedom Day

António Guterres (United Nations Secretary-General) on the Launch of the Policy Brief on Older Persons    The COVID-19 pandemic is causing untold fear and suffering for older people across the world.  The fatality rate for older people is higher overall, and for those over 80, it is five times the global average.  Beyond its immediate health impact, the pandemic is putting older people at greater risk of poverty, discrimination and isolation. It is likely to have a particularly devastating impact on older people in developing countries. As an older person myself, with responsibility for an even older mother, I am deeply concerned about the pandemic on a personal level, and about its effects on our communities and societies.  Today we are launching a policy brief that provides analysis and recommendations to address these challenges. Our response to COVID-19 must respect the rights and dignity of older people.  There are four main messages. First, no person, young or old, is expendable. Older people have the same rights to life and health as everyone else. Difficult decisions around life-saving medical care must respect the human rights and dignity of all.  Second, while physical distancing is crucial, let’s not forget we are one community and we all belong to each other. We need improved social support and smarter efforts to reach older people through digital technology.  That is vital to older people who may face great suffering and isolation under lockdowns and other restrictions.  Third, all social, economic and humanitarian responses must take the needs of older people fully into account, from universal health coverage to social protection, decent work and pensions.  The majority of older people are women, who are more likely to enter this period of their lives in poverty and without access to healthcare. Policies must be targeted at meeting their needs.   And fourth, let’s not treat older people as invisible or powerless.  Many older people depend on an income and are fully engaged in work, in family life, in teaching and learning, and in looking after others. Their voices and leadership count.  To get through this pandemic together, we need a surge in global and national solidarity and the contributions of all members of society, including older people.  As we look to recover better, we will need ambition and vision to build more inclusive, sustainable and age-friendly societies that are fit for the future.

Older Persons and COVID-19: Policy Brief

  The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency — but it is far more.  It is an economic crisis. A social crisis. And a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis. In February, I launched a Call to Action to put human dignity and the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the core of our work. As I said then, human rights cannot be an afterthought in times of crisis — and we now face the biggest international crisis in generations. Today, I am releasing a report highlighting how human rights can and must guide COVID-19 response and recovery.  The message is clear: People — and their rights — must be front and centre.  A human rights lens puts everyone in the picture and ensures that no one is left behind. Human rights responses can help beat the pandemic, putting a focus on the imperative of healthcare for everyone.  But they also serve as an essential warning system — highlighting who is suffering most, why, and what can be done about it.  We have seen how the virus does not discriminate, but its impacts do — exposing deep weaknesses in the delivery of public services and structural inequalities that impede access to them. We must make sure they are properly addressed in the response.  We see the disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response. Against the background of rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a pushback against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic.  This is unacceptable. More than ever, governments must be transparent, responsive and accountable. Civic space and press freedom are critical. Civil society organizations and the private sector have essential roles to play. And in all we do, let’s never forget: The threat is the virus, not people. We must ensure that any emergency measures — including states of emergency — are legal, proportionate, necessary and non-discriminatory, have a specific focus and duration, and take the least intrusive approach possible to protect public health. The best response is one that responds proportionately to immediate threats while protecting human rights and the rule of law. Looking ahead, we need to build back better. The Sustainable Development Goals — which are underpinned by human rights — provide the framework for more inclusive and sustainable economies and societies.  Strengthening economic and social rights bolsters resilience for the long haul.  The recovery must also respect the rights of future generations, enhancing climate action aiming at carbon neutrality by 2050 and protecting biodiversity. We are all in this together. The virus threatens everyone. Human rights uplift everyone. By respecting human rights in this time of crisis, we will build more effective and inclusive solutions for the emergency of today and the recovery for tomorrow.  Thank you.

Human Rights and COVID-19 Response and Recovery

I extend my warmest wishes as millions of Muslims around the world begin observing the holy month of Ramadan. This will, of course, be a very different Ramadan.  Many community activities will naturally be affected by measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, many people in conflict zones will once again be tragically marking this month with war and insecurity all around. I recently called for an immediate global ceasefire to focus on our common enemy — the virus. I repeat that appeal today, recalling the words of the Holy Quran “and if they incline to peace, then incline to it”. Ramadan is also about supporting the most vulnerable. I thank governments and people throughout the Muslim world who live by their faith, supporting those fleeing conflict in the best Islamic tradition of hospitality and generosity — a remarkable lesson in this world where so many doors have been closed to those in need of protection, even before COVID-19. Once again, my best wishes to all for mercy, solidarity, and compassion in these trying times.  Ramadan Kareem.

Start of Ramadan

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the global challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts of the international community to work together effectively to face these issues.

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COVID-19: Messages from the UN Secretary-General

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