UN SG Antonio Guterres New Years Message - English

In his New Year’s message, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres said "As we begin this New Year, let’s resolve to confront threats, defend human dignity and build a better future --- together."

In his message, Guterres also pointed to "These are anxious times for many, and our world is undergoing a stress test."

He noted that "Climate change is running faster than we are. Geo-political divisions are deepening, making conflicts more difficult to resolve," adding that "record numbers of people are moving in search of safety and protection." 

On South Sudan, Guterres said "the agreement between the parties to the conflict in South Sudan has revitalized chances for peace, bringing more progress in the past four months than in the previous four years."

Listen to the full message here.