Africa-Press – Namibia. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has urged world leaders to take concrete steps to end conflicts.
This is as the world marks the International Day of Peace yesterday.
Speaking ahead of the UN General Assembly’s high-level debate, which begins in New York this week, Guterres said peace is more urgent than ever as wars continue to devastate lives across the globe.
“This year’s International Day of Peace urges each of us to give voice to that call,” he said.
“Around the world, lives are being ripped apart, childhoods extinguished and basic human dignity discarded amidst the cruelty and degradations of war,” he added.
The UN chief warned that international law is being ignored and that more people more than ever are being forced to flee their homes.
“All they want is peace. Peace is everyone’s business,” he stressed.
Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and stronger efforts to fight racism, dehumanisation and misinformation, which he said fuel violence.
“We must silence the guns and suffering, build bridges, and create stability and prosperity,” he said.
Linking peace to development, he noted that nine of the ten countries struggling most with development are caught in conflicts.
“Sustainable development supports peace,” he said, adding that where peace exists, “families unite, communities rebuild, and children learn and play”.
The Secretary General also challenged world leaders to use next week’s UN General Debate as a moment for real progress.
“Our times demand more than posturing and promises. They demand progress,” he said.
“Get serious, bridge divides and deliver. Let this be a week of solutions,” he said. The UN General Debate, which brings together leaders from around the world, is scheduled to open on 24 September.
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