Latest news with #Guterres
Morocco World
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
UN Honors Fallen Moroccan Peacekeeper at Annual Memorial Ceremony
Rabat — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has posthumously honored Corporal Karim Temara, a member of Morocco's Royal Armed Forces, who died in 2024 while serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of a UN peacekeeping mission. The tribute took place during the UN's annual memorial ceremony held Thursday, May 29, at the organization's headquarters in New York, commemorating civilian and uniformed personnel who lost their lives in peacekeeping operations. The event was attended by Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Omar Hilale, and Colonel Najim Assid, Military Adviser to Morocco's Permanent Mission. Corporal Temara was serving with the Moroccan contingent deployed to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) when he died from accidental electrocution. In recognition of his sacrifice, the Secretary-General awarded him the 'Dag Hammarskjold' Medal – an accolade named after the UN's second secretary general, and given posthumously to UN military personnel or civilians who gave their life while serving UN's peacekeeping missions. Temara was not the only Moroccan peacekeeper to lose his life in the line of duty recently; on May 13, another member of Morocco's contingent tragically died in a fatal road accident in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which also left four fellow Moroccan peacekeepers injured. This year's ceremony also paid homage to the more than 4,400 UN peacekeepers who have died in service since 1948, including 57 military, police, and civilian personnel who died in 2024 alone. 'We pay tribute to these brave women and men who died — far from home and their loved ones — while serving the most noble cause of humanity: peace,' said Guterres in his address. 'Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.' Guterres noted that over the decades, more than two million individuals have served in 71 peacekeeping missions across four continents. The secretary-general expressed deep gratitude to all member states for their ongoing support and contributions. Ambassador Hilale offered condolences on behalf of Morocco to the families of fallen peacekeepers and the global peacekeeping community. He praised the courage and dedication of those who died defending peace, security, and the shared values and principles of the United Nations. The official ceremony was preceded by a military parade, during which three officers of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces were honored by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, and Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support — emphasizing the UN's deep appreciation for Morocco's steadfast and significant contributions to global peacekeeping initiatives. Morocco currently ranks among the top ten contributors of uniformed personnel to United Nations peacekeeping missions, with 1,714 Moroccan troops deployed in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). These deployments play a vital role in sustaining the UN's peacekeeping presence amid persistent political instability, armed conflict, and complex humanitarian crises in both countries.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
UN seeks 20% cut in staff to help deal with a funding shortfall
UNITED NATIONS: More than 60 United Nations offices, agencies and operations have been ordered to submit proposals by mid-June to cut 20% of their staff, as part of a major reform effort to consolidate operations in the face of a critical funding crunch. The cuts affect about 14,000 posts covered by the regular budget, or about 2,800 posts, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Friday. These include staff in the UN's political and humanitarian offices, and its agencies helping refugees, promoting gender equality and dealing with international trade, the environment and cities. The UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is also on the list. UN Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan said in a memo to the affected agencies that the staff cuts are part of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' goal of achieving a reduction of between 15% and 20% in the UN's current budget of $3.72 billion. The cuts are part of the UN80 reform initiative launched by Guterres in March as the world body approaches its 80th anniversary later this year. The U.N. chief has dismissed any relationship with the cuts to foreign aid and other programs by US President Donald Trump. Instead, he has pointed to shrinking UN resources over at least the past seven years as not all member states pay their yearly dues and many don't pay on time. The US, with the world's biggest economy, is expected to pay 22% of the regular budget, while China, with the second-largest economy, recently had its share raised to 20%. Last year, 152 of the UN's 193 member nations paid their dues in full, including China, but 41 countries did not, including the United States. In an executive order dated Feb. 4, Trump ordered a review within 180 days of US participation in and funding for all international organizations, including the United Nations. The controller's memo, obtained Thursday night by The Associated Press, gives advice to the heads of agencies on which posts to cut: 'Assess functions based on efficiency; Prioritize based on impact; Target redundant, overlapping or non-critical functions or roles for consolidation or abolition.' Guterres and his predecessors in past decades have struggled to reform the United Nations, which was established following World War II, and bring it into a modern era with different powers, new technology and greater global divisions.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
‘Justice Is Long Overdue': Guterres Calls For Reparations For Enslavement And Colonialism
'Africa is a continent of boundless energy and possibility. But for too long, the colossal injustices inflicted by enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism have been left unacknowledged and unaddressed,' he said. The United Nations has repeatedly said that slavery and the transatlantic slave trade constituted crimes against humanity, and the Secretary-General has repeatedly called for redress for these injustices. Speaking to the Africa Dialogue Series — which is focused on the theme of justice through reparations — the Secretary-General noted that the movement for reparatory justice is gaining momentum around the world as reflected by the declaration of the Second Decade for People of African Descent, which runs through 2035. The last decade, which ended in 2024, yielded tangible results, with over 30 Member States revising laws to better tackle racial discrimination. However, the Secretary-General noted that much work remains. 'We point to the poisoned legacies of enslavement and colonialism, not to sow division but to heal them,' he said. 'Long shadow of colonialism' Mr. Guterres underlined the entrenched nature of racism and exploitative systems, saying that these systems have disadvantaged African countries and people of African descent beyond the end of colonialism and enslavement. 'Decolonization did not free African countries, or people of African descent, from the structures and prejudices that made those projects possible,' he said. In fact, when the United Nations was founded and many of the global structures established, some African countries were still colonies. 'When African countries gained their independence, they inherited a system built to serve others — not them,' the Secretary-General said. The President of the General Assembly, Philémon Yang, underlined the importance of teaching this history through national curricula and monuments such as The Ark of Return at UN Headquarters. 'Knowledge of our true history can serve as a powerful compass in our onward march towards progress,' he said. The Ark of Return, the Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, located at the Visitors' Plaza of UN Headquarters in New York. Transforming 'poisoned legacies' To address the inequities of this system, the Secretary-General called upon the global community to take action on international financial systems which are burdening developing economies in Africa and the Caribbean. Specifically, he emphasized the importance of restructuring debt systems which are 'suffocating' these countries' economies. Previous UN reports have noted that some poor countries spend more on debt repayments than they do on health, education and infrastructure combined Mr. Guterres also called for massive investments into clean energy infrastructure in Africa which has been deeply impacted by climate change. 'African countries did not cause the climate crisis. Yet the effects of our heating planet are wreaking havoc across the continent,' he said. He also reiterated his call for the establishment of a permanent Security Council position for an African Member State. Mr. Yang, the General Assembly President, underlined the urgency of the Secretary-General's remarks, urging member states to act imminently. 'Now is the moment to turn recommendations into rights, apologies into action and aspirations into accountability.'
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 days ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
UN Seeks 20% Cut in Staff to Help Deal with a Funding Shortfall
Reuters U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (not pictured), in Berlin, Germany, May 14, 2025. UNITED NATIONS (AP) — More than 60 United Nations offices, agencies and operations have been ordered to submit proposals by mid-June to cut 20% of their staff, as part of a major reform effort to consolidate operations in the face of a critical funding crunch. The cuts affect about 14,000 posts covered by the regular budget, or about 2,800 posts, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Friday. These include staff in the U.N.'s political and humanitarian offices, and its agencies helping refugees, promoting gender equality and dealing with international trade, the environment and cities. The U.N. agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is also on the list. U.N. Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan said in a memo to the affected agencies that the staff cuts are part of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' goal of achieving a reduction of between 15% and 20% in the U.N.'s current budget of $3.72 billion. The cuts are part of the UN80 reform initiative launched by Guterres in March as the world body approaches its 80th anniversary later this year. The U.N. chief has dismissed any relationship with the cuts to foreign aid and other programs by U.S. President Donald Trump. Instead, he has pointed to shrinking U.N. resources over at least the past seven years as not all member states pay their yearly dues and many don't pay on time. The U.S., with the world's biggest economy, is expected to pay 22% of the regular budget, while China, with the second-largest economy, recently had its share raised to 20%. Last year, 152 of the U.N.'s 193 member nations paid their dues in full, including China, but 41 countries did not, including the United States. In an executive order dated Feb. 4, Trump ordered a review within 180 days of U.S. participation in and funding for all international organizations, including the United Nations. The controller's memo, obtained Thursday night by The Associated Press, gives advice to the heads of agencies on which posts to cut: 'Assess functions based on efficiency; Prioritize based on impact; Target redundant, overlapping or non-critical functions or roles for consolidation or abolition.' Guterres and his predecessors in past decades have struggled to reform the United Nations, which was established following World War II, and bring it into a modern era with different powers, new technology and greater global divisions. One key problem is that while the secretary-general is the U.N.'s chief executive, power rests with the 193 member nations, which have very different ideas about the U.N. and the world. The proposed cuts must be submitted to the controller by June 13. Dujarric said they will be incorporated into Guterres' proposed 2026 budget, to be adopted by the General Assembly in December. The U.N.'s 11 peacekeeping missions are financed by a separate budget, and many of its far-flung agencies and operations are funded entirely by voluntary contributions, including the Rome-based World Food Program, known as WFP. Several U.N. agencies were already planning to slash jobs or cut costs in other ways, with officials pointing to funding reductions mainly from the United States and warning that vital relief programs will be severely affected as a result. WFP is expected to cut up to 30% of its staff, and the head of the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said it would downsize its headquarters and regional offices to reduce costs by 30% and cut senior-level positions by 50%, according to internal memos obtained by the AP. Other agencies, including UNICEF, the U.N. children's agency, and OCHA, the U.N. humanitarian agency, have also announced or plan to make cuts.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
UN seeks 20% cut in staff to help deal with critical funding crunch
More than 60 United Nations offices, agencies and operations have been ordered to submit proposals by mid-June to cut 20 per cent of their staff, as part of a major reform effort to consolidate operations in the face of a critical funding crunch. The cuts affect about 14,000 posts covered by the regular budget, or about 2,800 posts, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Friday. These include staff in the UN's political and humanitarian offices, and its agencies helping refugees, promoting gender equality and dealing with international trade, the environment and cities. The UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is also on the list. UN Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan said in a memo to the affected agencies that the staff cuts are part of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' goal of achieving a reduction of between 15 per cent and 20 per cent in the UN's current budget of USD 3.72 billion. The cuts are part of the UN80 reform initiative launched by Guterres in March as the world body approaches its 80th anniversary later this year. The UN chief has dismissed any relationship with the cuts to foreign aid and other programmes by US President Donald Trump. Instead, he has pointed to shrinking UN resources over at least the past seven years as not all member states pay their yearly dues and many don't pay on time. The US, with the world's biggest economy, is expected to pay 22 per cent of the regular budget, while China, with the second-largest economy, recently had its share raised to 20 per cent. Last year, 152 of the UN's 193 member nations paid their dues in full, including China, but 41 countries did not, including the US. The controller's memo, obtained Thursday night by The Associated Press, gives advice to the heads of agencies on which posts to cut: Assess functions based on efficiency; Prioritise based on impact; Target redundant, overlapping or non-critical functions or roles for consolidation or abolition. Guterres and his predecessors in past decades struggled to reform the United Nations, which was established following World War II, and bring it into a modern era with different powers, new technology and greater global divisions. One key problem is that while the secretary-general is the UN's chief executive, power rests with the 193 member nations, which have very different ideas about the UN and the world. The proposed cuts must be submitted to the controller by June 13. Dujarric said they will be incorporated into Guterres' proposed 2026 budget, to be adopted by the General Assembly in December. The UN's 11 peacekeeping missions are financed by a separate budget, and many of its far-flung agencies and operations are funded entirely by voluntary contributions, including the Rome-based World Food Programme, known as WFP. Several UN agencies were already planning to slash jobs or cut costs in other ways, with officials pointing to funding reductions mainly from the United States and warning that vital relief programs will be severely affected as a result. WFP is expected to cut up to 30 per cent of its staff, and the head of the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said it would downsize its headquarters and regional offices to reduce costs by 30 per cent and cut senior-level positions by 50 per cent, according to internal memos obtained by the AP. Other agencies, including UNICEF, the UN children's agency, and OCHA, the UN humanitarian agency, have also announced or plan to make cuts.
