UN ECOSOC President

At the event marking the #WorldDayForGlaciers under the theme, “Glaciers in a Changing World: Safeguarding the Planet’s Cryosphere,” I highlighted that glaciers provide a critical source of freshwater for millions and are key indicators of a planet in crisis. Their rapid retreat is affecting ecosystems, agriculture, energy production, and livelihoods. As @UNECOSOC President, I stressed the urgent need to strengthen climate resilience and address the growing threat of glacial lake outburst floods. We must take urgent, coordinated action - through science, cooperation, and protection of vulnerable communities - to safeguard glaciers. #GlobalGoals

As part of commemorating #WorldWaterDay 2026 on the theme “Water and Gender Equality,” I emphasized that water is at the heart of sustainable development - linking our health, food systems, economies, ecosystems, and climate resilience. Yet, billions still lack safely managed drinking water and sanitation, while climate-induced droughts and floods are intensifying worldwide. Women and girls bear a disproportionate share of this burden. Advancing water security is therefore not only a development priority - it is a matter of dignity, justice, and gender equality. Let us ensure that no one is left behind in access to water - and that gender equality becomes the cornerstone of sustainable water governance. #SDG6 #GlobalGoals

I participated today in the #CSW70 side event on “Women at the Heart of Africa’s Food Security Transformation.” I stressed that in sub-Saharan Africa, women make up nearly half of the agrifood systems workforce, contributing across the entire value chain - from production and processing to distribution, consumption, and packaging. Despite their indispensable role, women continue to face systemic barriers. To better support and elevate their contributions, we must adopt gender-responsive policy frameworks that promote women’s leadership, strengthen governance, and encourage innovation in the agrifood sector. Similarly, I underscored the need to support them with finance, technology and social protection, and deeper partnerships. Let us commit to concrete actions that place women firmly at the centre of Africa’s food security agenda. We have the tools - now we need decisive action.

🔔 It's that time of year again! We're just 1️⃣ month away from the @UNECOSOC Youth Forum! Count down with us towards the biggest UN gathering of bold young minds. Get a sneak peak: ecosoc.un.org/en/what-we-do/… #ECOSOCYouth @UNDESA @UNMGCY @icmyo

At the High-level event “From Youth Priorities to Local Action: Advancing Young Women’s Access to Justice in Agrifood Systems,” I stressed that, as President of @UNECOSOC, I remain committed to ensuring that youth voices, including the voices of young women, are reflected in global policymaking. Young people bring innovation, energy and resilience to the challenges facing agrifood systems, especially in the context of climate change and economic uncertainty. Realizing this potential requires supportive policies, targeted investment and inclusive governance. Transforming agrifood systems demands a cross-sectoral and intersectional approach. Young women must have equitable access to productive resources, finance, markets and entrepreneurship opportunities, supported by stronger gender-responsive agricultural policies.

It was an honour to address today the 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs - #CND69. At a time of deep global uncertainty, the world drug problem is becoming more complex and more dangerous with profound impacts on societies and individuals. Drug trafficking continues to fuel organized crime, corruption and violence, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable, including women, youth and marginalized communities. As the central policymaking body of the United Nations on drug-related matters, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs plays a more critical role than ever.

I stated today at the #CSW70 parallel event on the issues related to discrimination and injustice against Dalit and Indigenous Women and Girls must be able to thrive without fear that, "We must guarantee the rights of Indigenous women by implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into domestic legislation.  We have a profound obligation to ensure that Dalit and Indigenous women and girls are no longer left behind. True transformation requires that solutions are developed and implemented with their meaningful participation.” #ForAllWomenAndGirls

I stressed today at the UN Commission on the Status of Women - #CSW70 that "Equality must be lived, protected, and delivered — through laws that uphold rights, institutions that ensure justice, and systems that leave no one behind. Justice must be accessible to every woman and every girl— wherever she lives, whatever her circumstances. Without justice, rights remain abstract, and dignity and opportunity remain unfulfilled. And gender equality must remain at the heart of our shared efforts to achieve the #SDGs.” #ForAllWomenAndGirls

The UN Commission on the Status of Women gets underway at UNHQ on Monday. This year’s session is an opportunity to highlight the need for unbiased laws and justice systems that deliver #ForAllWomenAndGirls. More on #CSW70: unwomen.org/en/articles/in…

#CND69 opens today in Vienna by H.E. Andranik Hovhannisyan 🇦🇲 @ARMEmbVienna @MFAofArmenia - with statements from H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa (@UNECOSOC), @JohnBrandolino, @WHO @DrTedros and @INCB_President. Stay tuned for drug-related challenges! 📺 Watch live: bit.ly/4r98Fzz

On International Women’s Day 2026 (#IWD2026), women’s rights mean nothing if we cannot defend them. Women and girls have just 64% of the legal rights of men. When justice fails, women pay the price. Without justice, rights are just words. With justice, rights become power. #ForAllWomenAndGirls, we’ll never back down. Rights. Justice. Action. ✊ 🔗 unwo.men/8mOM50YqGZU

Pleased to meet today with Mr. Daniiar Imanaliev, Member of the Board (Integration and Macroeconomics) of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). We discussed the EEC’s efforts to integrate the #SDGs into national policy frameworks and its contribution to regional economic development. I also informed him about the good preparations underway for the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and the ECOSOC High-Level Segment. #DeliveringBetter

Today I delivered opening remarks at the Member States and Stakeholders briefing for the May 2026 STI Forum, emphasizing that science, technology and innovation are critical to delivering the SDGs amid interconnected global crises. This year’s Forum carries added importance as the first since the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and the Second World Summit for Social Development, with outcomes set to support the Pact for the Future and inform the July HLPF. I also highlighted the Call for Innovations, which drew over 900 global submissions, and encouraged Member States to help scale solutions from a growing community of young changemakers. #DeliveringBetter #2030Agenda #SDGs #BridgingDigitalDivide

On 2 March 2026, I convened the Second Expert Group Meeting of the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group to turn the 2026 Partnership Forum into action. During my address, I stressed moving from declarations to delivery, with accountability, demand-driven partnerships, and a firm commitment to leaving no one behind, especially for countries in special situations. To inform the ECOSOC cycle and the GA review of the HLPF, I called for recommendations and actions on programme design, strategic direction for the next five years, and stronger follow-up. #DeliveringBetter

Today, H. E. Ms Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly @UN_PGA and I held our fourth monthly meeting, advancing our shared vision for a more coherent and aligned United Nations. Building on our 30 January joint briefing, we discussed how to deliver a more streamlined and impactful intergovernmental agenda. We also exchanged views on UN80 initiatives; the General Assembly’s review of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the High-Level Political Forum; the selection process for the next Secretary-General; and preparations for upcoming joint engagements and meetings of the General Assembly and ECOSOC, including the Special Thematic Event on Least Developed Countries, among others. #DeliveringBetter

I delivered today a statement at the Special Event, “From plastic waste to circular solutions in South - East Asia”. I stressed that plastic waste is one of the most pressing environmental and sustainable development challenges of our time. Since 2000, global plastic production and waste have more than doubled, with 19-23 million tons leaking into aquatic ecosystems every year. With only 17 per cent of SDG targets on track, incremental progress is no longer enough, we must accelerate implementation and embrace transformative solutions. #DeliveringBetter

It was a pleasure to meet Hon. Fane Fotu Fituafe, Minister of Internal Affairs of Tonga, during the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development in Bangkok. I congratulated the Minister on her election as the Chair of the Forum. We underscored the urgency of addressing climate change impacts and discussed the interconnected of glacier melting with the sea level rise. I thanked the Minister for being a part of and contribution to the High Level Event of the President of ECOSOC entitled “Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) to the Sea: Vanishing Glaciers and Rising Seas in a Warming World”- Catalyzing the pact for the future in Asia and the Pacific. #DeliveringBetter