As the spotlight aimed at the center of the General Assembly, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today called upon everyone that we are here to serve; to relief the suffering of “we the peoples”; and help to fulfil their dreams.

Mr. Guterres kicked of the morning session of the General Debate and stroke a somber tone warning that “we are a world in pieces”, adding that “we need to be a world in peace.”

As he continued to embark on his first address to the General Assembly he identified seven threats and tests that stand in our way – from nuclear peril to mismanaged human mobility.

The solution must be political, he said when addressing the escalating situation in the Democratic Republic of Korea. “This is a time for statesmanship. We must not sleepwalk our way into war,” he warned.

See the Secretary-General of the United Nations as he addresses the General Assembly:

Presidents continue to visit UN Social Media Space

While talking about a conflict that started over 5 decades ago, President of Colombia Juan Manual Santos said that “when there is a will, when there is a capacity for dialogue, all conflicts can be solved.”

As the South American country marches towards lasting peace,  Mr. Santos said the United Nations played a very important role in the process with FARC.

The United Nations supported the countries peace efforts over the years through its agencies, funds, and programmes, and the UN Mission in Colombia, which is mandated to verify the ceasefire and the laying down of arms.

Mr. Santos, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts, stressed that now that there is peace in his country, it is much easier to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and SDG1 on Poverty in particular.

As Mr Santos addressed the SDG on poverty, elsewhere in Headquarters a roundtable dialogue, organized by the Group of Champions on Women’s Economic Empowerment and UN Women, discussed how to advance women’s economic empowerment.

Mr. Guterres, present at the dialogue, called for translating the Group’s guidance into actions. “It is the time to take concrete measures to realize our shared vision of gender equality and women’s rights in the economy.”

Also happening today, was the unveiling of the gift of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Nations, a scaled replica of the Registan. The Registan represents architectural ensemble of buildings around a public square in the ancient city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

registan

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The Social Media Team welcomed many dignitaries today at the UN Social Media Space. With the assistance of Facebook, the team interviewed the following guests:

H.E. Juan Manual Santos, President of Colombia

H.E. Juan Manual Santos, President of Colombia (Spanish)

H.E. Bert Koenders, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands

H.E. Shamma Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Youth Minister of the United Arab Emirates

Erik Solheim, UN Environment chief

Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Salaheddine Mezouar, former Foreign Minister or Morocco and President of COP22

Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, Walton Webson

Keith Hansen, Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank Group

Marina Silva, former Environment Minister of Brazil

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Photos of UN Photo from behind the scenes