Renewing our commitment to the peoples and purposes of the United Nations, UN SG Speech, New York, 22 November 2013

The United Nations Charter expresses the determination of “We the peoples” to “reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights” and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for international law can be maintained.

The General Assembly, the Security Council, the Human Rights Council and other UN bodies have further defined the responsibilities of Member States and the UN system, with a special emphasis on their role to prevent armed conflict and to protect people from atrocities and egregious crimes.

When people face such risks they expect the UN to act, and the Organization’s performance is rightly measured by this benchmark. Every day, in zones of conflict, humanitarian emergency and insecurity, as UN staff, we try to meet our responsibilities to protect people. Staff often show tremendous courage and commitment, as in Timor Leste in 1999. They sometimes give their lives to UN service.