World Teachers’ Day 2026; October 5th.

 

FORUM: “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures”. World Teachers’ Day 2026. The year 2026 will mark the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. We will celebrate progress in recognizing teachers’ vital role, we will highlight the challenges the profession continues to face, and we will call on society and policymakers to protect, promote and elevate its status. Especially the case today, as the world needs 50 million more teachers to achieve SDG 4 by 2030. Sixty years after the adoption of the Recommendation, World Teachers’ Day 2026 provides an opportunity to ask how societies envision the purposes of education today, the role of teachers in achieving them, and the obstacles to realising these purposes and enabling teachers to fulfil their role. At a time when the Recommendation is being revised, World Teachers’ Day will examine how effective policies are in elevating the status of teachers; whether these policies are negotiated through social dialogue and collective bargaining with teachers and their representatives; and the quality and availability of data and evidence used to ascertain teachers’ “status” and determine policy actions. Building on the call of the first World Summit on Teachers and its outcome document, the Santiago Consensus, adopted in August 2025, World Teachers’ Day 2026 will also celebrate teachers’ work and the progress enabled by the Recommendation, while considering its limitations, including challenges in monitoring and implementation. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #Teachers, #WorldTeachersDay, #5October, #valuingteachervoices, #teaching, #teachingasacollaborativeprofession, #teachthem.

EVENTS: On October 5th at UNESCO HQ, from 8:00 to 06:30 pm GMT will be held the the World teacher's day 2026 and the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize. Co-convened by UNESCO, the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF and Education International, the celebration will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and will be opened by UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany. It will bring together teachers, ministers of education, policymakers, academics, young people, teacher organizations, education partners and institutions from around the world. 

The 2026 event will have three main objectives: 

(i) celebrate World Teachers’ Day, drawing the attention of decision-makers and the international community to the chosen theme by sharing data, analyses and knowledge about the facts and challenges related to teacher status around the world, as well as promising strategies for addressing these challenges; 

(ii) advocate for changes in teacher status by calling on relevant actors to take action to address the challenges facing the profession; 

(iii) recognise innovations and promising practices in teacher professional development through theawarding of the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development.

The programme will feature high-level discussions on protecting and advancing the teaching profession, opportunities for teachers and members of the public to interact and share their perspectives, and a performance by a teachers’ choir. The day will also include the award ceremony for the ninth edition of the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development. Read the concept note, the agenda programme and  Register to participate!

Provisional programme 

Time (UTC+2)                                Session 

08:30 – 09:10 Welcome coffee World Teachers’ Day ceremony 

09:10 – 09:50 Welcome message and musical interlude Opening remarks by the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Khaled El-Enany Interactive activity with the audience Keynote by Prof Gert Biesta, Professor of Education, University of Melbourne, and Adjunct Professor, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, on the 60th anniversary of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers (1966)

09:50 – 10:45 Panel discussion with the co-conveners of World Teachers’ Day - Mr Qun Chen, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO - Ms Vera Paquete-Perdigão, Director of Labour Governance & Sectoral Policies Department, ILO - Ms Brenda Haiplik, Global Lead Teacher Development and Workforce, UNICEF - Mr David Edwards, General Secretary, Education International Musical interlude.

- UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development award ceremony-

10:45 – 12:30 Opening remarks by UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education, Mr Qun Chen Presentation of the 10 finalists’ teacher development programmes - Recognition of the International Jury - Video celebrating the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize - Thematic discussions with the 10 Prize finalists Remarks by His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates Announcement of the three laureates.

13:00 – 14:30 High-level lunch (by invitation only) 

- Afternoon panel discussion -

15:00 – 17:00 Rethinking and elevating the status of teachers: Thematic conversation with Ministers of Education, teachers and international experts 

17:00 – 17:30 Visit to the exhibition of finalists’ projects 

17:30 – 19:00 Closing reception of World Teachers’ Day 2026

The international event will include two key moments: (1) a morning session featuring the official World Teachers’ Day commemoration and the award ceremony for the 9th edition of the UNESCO Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development, including a discussion with the 10 finalists on their innovative approaches and projects; and (2) an afternoon session featuring a high-level discussion with Ministers of Education and international experts on policy solutions to elevate the status of teachers and support the transformation of the teaching profession. 

International Day of Non-Violence 2026; October 2nd.

EVENT: Commemorative event to mark the International Day of Non-Violence on the theme 'Non Violence as a means to Peace and Development', and the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, October 2nd. Stay tuned to Watch the commemoration of International Day of Non-Violence (High-level Event Duration:00:53:57)

World Coffee Day 2026; October 1st.

FORUM: ''Celebrating Coffee, Honouring the people behind every cup.'' World Coffee Day 2026. Coffee is part of the daily routine for millions and a livelihood for millions more. Follow the conversation with the hashtags; #Coffee, #coffeegrowers, #coffeetrends, #coffeetrade, #coffeemarkets, #coffeelovers, #honouringthepeoplebehindeverycup, #webcasts

EVENT: Join us for the inaugural celebration of International Coffee Day at FAO headquarters on Thursday, 1 October 2026, from 12.15 to 13.30 hours CEST. Inaugurated by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, the ceremony brings together Members and partners to celebrate coffee’s economic, social and cultural significance and its contribution to livelihoods and sustainable agrifood systems. It places the people, cultures, traditions and partnerships that bring coffee from farm to cup at the heart of the celebration. Watch the livestream!

COMMUNICATION MATERIALS: Get the poster, the campaign toolkit and other material assets!

International Day of Older Persons 2026; October 1st.

FORUM: "The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives." International Day of Older Persons 2026. The 2026 observance will explore one of the defining transformations of our time: humanity is living longer than ever before. Global life expectancy has increased steadily over more than seven decades and is projected to continue rising through mid-century. Yet in 2019, the gap between global life expectancy and healthy life expectancy stood at 9.6 years, a gap that has widened since 2000, reflecting the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases. Longer lives are bringing greater attention to how health, social and economic conditions, and human rights are experienced across the life course. Longevity intersects with health systems, labour markets, social protection frameworks, education systems, housing and infrastructure planning, and fiscal sustainability in ways that are deeply interconnected and cannot be addressed in isolation. Where years of life are lived in good health and supported by inclusive labour markets and effective social protection systems, longer lives can generate what has been described as a longevity dividend, reflecting the gains that arise whensustained health, productivity and participation accompany extended life spans. Conversely, where gains in life expectancy are not accompanied by improvements in healthy life expectancy, older persons may spend more years in poorer health, limiting their functional ability, well-being, autonomy and participation. This underscores the need for responsive health systems, care provision and public financing arrangements that support well-being across longer lives. Outcomes vary significantly across and within countries, reflecting deep inequalities in social, economic and environmental conditions that accumulate across the life course. Persistent misconceptions about ageing, including assumptions that chronological age determines ability or that population ageing inevitably constrains economic growth, can distort policy design and reinforce the very outcomes they purport to describe. Older persons should be recognized as active contributors to society rather than passive recipients of care, and policies should reflect the diversity of ageingtrajectories and the capacities and contributions in later life. Addressing these realities requires policy approaches that recognize the linkages between wellbeing, productivity and financial resilience across the life course. The Madrid International Plan ofAction on Ageing (MIPAA), adopted in 2002, remains the cornerstone of international efforts in this regard, alongside a growing international momentum to strengthen the human rights framework for older persons. This year's commemoration, The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for LongerLives, invites Governments, civil society, the private sector, researchers and older persons   themselves to examine how societies can ensure that the additional years gained translate into healthy, productive, dignified and equitable lives for all. Population ageing is no longer a distant projection; it is an unfolding global reality. The globalpopulation aged 60 or over is projected to rise from approximately 1.22 billion in 2025 to more than 2.1 billion by 2050, a transformation that is without historical precedent, most pronounced in developing regions. Growth is fastest at the oldest ages: populations aged 80 or over are expected to more than double, and the number of centenarians to increase more than fourfold by mid-century. In 2025, remaining life expectancy at age 60 varies substantially across regions, from 17.4 years in Africa to 24.9 years in Oceania, reflecting deep inequalities in access to health, social protection and economic opportunity. Despite significant overall gains, healthy life expectancy has not kept pace with longevity in many settings. Low-income regions have achieved substantial gains in healthy life expectancy, while high-income countries have seen a marked slowdown in improvement after 2010, demonstrating thatwealth alone does not guarantee healthy longevity, and that sustained policy investment remains essential regardless of income level. While life expectancy has increased substantially, improvements in healthspan, the years of life livedin good health, have not always kept pace. Extending healthspan, not just lifespan, is increasingly recognized as the defining objective of health policy in an ageing world. Social determinants account for 80 to 90% of health outcomes, and evidence from communities around the world where people live measurably longer and healthier lives consistently points to the power of place, purpose and social connection. Advances in geroscience and artificial intelligence are creating newopportunities to extend life expectancy further, yet without equitable access and sustained investment in prevention, these gains risk widening existing disparities. Longer lives also have profound implications for economic security and social protection. Globally, 3.8 billion people remain without any social protection coverage, and more than 57.8% of the world's workers are in informal employment. Women are disproportionately affected by longevity related financial risk due to lower lifetime earnings, caregiving interruptions and longer average life expectancy. Adapting labour markets, expanding lifelong learning opportunities and extending social protection coverage to informal workers are among the key policy responses needed to ensure that longer lives translate into sustained participation, security and dignity, grounded in the full enjoyment of human rights by all. At the same time, policy design should draw on the knowledge, lived experiences and diverse perspectives of older persons themselves, whose participation is essential to developing responses that reflect the diversity of ageing trajectories. In line with MIPAA, this means enabling older persons not only to take the lead in their own betterment, but also to participate actively in the betterment of society as a whole. The macroeconomic stakes are significant. In the absence of reform, average Government deficits could rise from 2.4 per cent of GDP in 2025 to around 9.1 per cent by 2060. Yet when longer lives are accompanied by sustained health, productivity and participation, a longevity dividend becomes possible and the policy challenge shifts from managing the costs of ageing to investing in the conditions under which longer lives generate shared gains for all generations. Realizing this potential requires moving beyond fragmented, sector-by-sector responses. Pensionreforms too often proceed independently of health strategies; social protection systems were largely designed for shorter lives and formal employment; and preventive investments are rarely linked to fiscal objectives. Strengthening whole-of-government approaches involves clarifying mandates andensuring longevity considerations are reflected across health, labour, fiscal and social protection systems, in line with the implementation of MIPAA. It also requires coordinated action beyond Government alone, engaging civil society, older persons and their representative organizations, the private sector, academia and researchers, each with a distinct role in translating policy into outcomes that ensure the age of longevity becomes an opportunity for all. The 2026 commemoration of the International Day of Older Persons in New York aims to: • Examine how longer lives are reshaping health, social and economic realities over time, including the need for health systems, labour markets, social protection frameworks and public financing arrangements that are better aligned with the realities of longer lives, as well as the opportunities that healthy longevity can generate for individuals, communities and economies. • Highlight evidence on the factors that influence well-being in later life, with a focus on the social, economic and environmental determinants of health across the life course, the importance of prevention, and the cumulative effects of inequality on ageing trajectories. • Explore how policies and systems can better respond to longer lives, including through ageinclusive labour markets, lifelong learning, expanded social protection coverage for informal workers, integrated care models, and whole-of-government approaches that reflect the interconnected nature of longevity across sectors. • Share perspectives from different regions on the experience of ageing, recognizing the significant diversity in how population ageing is unfolding across income levels and geographies, and the importance of solutions that reflect local realities and lived experience. • Encourage dialogue between research, policy and practice, drawing on insights from demography, geroscience, economics, public health and human rights to support evidencebased responses to the opportunities and policy implications of an ageing world.

EVENT: The 2026 event in New York is sponsored by The Permanent Mission ofArgentina to the United Nations. Organized by United Nations Department of Economic andSocial Affairs Programme on Ageing in partnership with the NGO Committee on Ageing in NewYork. The event will include a keynote address followed by a moderated, interactive panel discussion. Time will be reserved for interactive dialogue with participants. 

The 2026 United Nations International Day of Older Persons will explore one of the defining transformations of our time: humanity is living longer than ever before. Global life expectancy has increased steadily over more than seven decades and is projected to continue rising through mid-century. Related Sites and Documents: Event Site & Concept Note. Watch the 36th UN International Day of Older Persons Celebration! 

On Tuesday October 8th, starting at 16:00 pm est, a side event entitled ''Older Women Matter: Addressing Violence Across the Life Course'' was held -This event will feature Ms. Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, as well as a panel of experts, including representatives from Member States and representatives of NGOs engaged in the topic. Watch the livestream!

 

International Day of Peace 2026; September 21st.

FORUM: “Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.” International Day of Peace 2026. Today, amidst staggering volatility, the search for peace feels overwhelming—but it has never been more urgent. Peace is more than the absence of war; it is the foundation necessary to collectively tackle humanity’s challenges. It is the lived experience of safety, dignity, opportunities and cooperation in our daily lives. This year’s International Day of Peace honours the 'everyday architects of peace'—people driving local action, laying the groundwork for stability, and building a lasting peace from the ground up. Remember, peace isn’t just built in conference rooms—it is shaped by everyone, everywhere, every day. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #Peaceday, #sustainingpeace, #InternationalDayofPeace, #21September.

EVENTS: On Monday September 21st, 2026, the world marks the International Day of Peace.

On Monday, September 21st will held at United Nations Headquarters, a ceremony under the theme ''Invest in Peace - For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day '' to observe the International Day of Peace 2026. This year's theme focuses on honoring local community builders and everyday people who create stability and cooperation. Peace is more than the absence of war. It is a daily practice of safety, dignity, and inclusion. Several events are being held throughout the world to observe the Day. The Peace Bell Ceremony will be Held at the UN headquarters in New York, where leaders ring the bell and observe a minute of silence. The United Nations calls on all combatants worldwide to observe a 24-hour cessation of hostilities and violence. Communities, schools, and youth groups host "Peace Circles" and educational events. Register to participate!

Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on International Day of Peace 2026; September 21st.

As we mark the International Day of Peace, we face a world where this vital asset is in dangerously short supply.

Communities are shaken by violence and division.

Conflicts are growing in scale and complexity, spilling across borders and inflicting enormous suffering.

Dialogue is faltering, solutions are elusive and global solidarity is missing in action.

But around the world, people are showing that we are not powerless.

Volunteers, advocates, civil society leaders, peacekeepers and peacemakers are bridging divides, uniting communities and pushing for dialogue.

Action by action, they are building peace from the ground up.

Like this year’s theme — “Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day” — these champions of peace are showing us that achieving peace is not passive or automatic.

It’s an active and deliberate choice to invest in a better future.

By building inclusive communities where peace can take hold.

By investing in sustainable development — in people’s health, education, nutrition and social protection.

By bridging divides and ensuring everyone’s voice is heard.

By safeguarding the human rights and dignity that belong to every person.

And by strengthening the proven tools of peace — diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation and peacekeeping.

On this International Day of Peace, let us all be inspired by the courage of those who champion peace in neighbourhoods, classrooms and communities.

And let’s call on world leaders to invest in a peaceful future for all people.

António Guterres.

Secretary-General's remarks at the UN Peace Bell Ceremony

Each year, the toll of the Peace Bell reminds us of the most important and consequential job we have:

Building peace.

Peace is never a passive achievement.

Peace is hard work.

Peace is action.

But in our world today, action for peace is faltering.

Violence and division are tearing apart communities.

Conflicts are widening and deepening.

People are suffering.

And the dialogue and solidarity that solutions require are missing in action.

But where governments are failing to deliver peace, people are showing another way.

Around the world, volunteers, advocates, civil society leaders, peacekeepers and peacemakers are doing the heavy lifting of peace.

Raising their voices.

Bridging divides.

Healing communities.

Through their actions, large and small, they are bringing to life the theme of this year’s International Day of Peace: “Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”

As world leaders prepare to gather at the United Nations in the coming weeks, I urge them to follow the lead of these champions of peace.

By investing in sustainable development — in people’s health, education, nutrition and social protection.

By building institutions and systems that people can trust.

By safeguarding the human rights and dignity that belong to every person.

By re-committing to the proven tools of peace — diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation and peacekeeping.

And by ending wars and conflicts. Now.

Today, I call on world leaders to stand with us:

Take action;

Invest in solutions;

And do the hard work of building lasting, sustainable peace.

This is the last time I will ring the Peace Bell.

But I will always stand with the champions of peace around the world.

Thank you.

António Guterres, 9 September 2026.

Secretary-General's 100-day countdown to the International Day of Peace message

In a world rocked by conflict, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless. But all around us are everyday architects of peace – from volunteers to campaigners and civil society leaders – showing us how to take action to reshape our communities for the better.

Over the next 100 days, as we count down to the International Day of Peace, let us honour these changemakers – and take inspiration from their example.

Peace is not just made at conference tables, but in classrooms, neighbourhoods, and everywhere people meet with open minds and open hearts. Together, day by day, we can build a more just world, with compassion, equality and dignity for all.

António Guterres,

13 June 2026.

TAKE ACTION: Everyone, everywhere can do their part for peace. Take one small step for peace every day:

Give your time to help someone else.
Lend your voice to drive positive change.
Host a Peace Circle - an intergeneration youth-led conversation on solutions.
Use your platform to promote a cause or tell a story of peace and hope

Show us how you're building the architecture of peace and justice using #InvestInPeace.

Actions for peace

Here are some activities you can consider and help raise awareness about peace and global goals.

1. Act Now for Our Common Future through social media.

Promote and participate in the Act Now 1 Million Actions for Our Common Future campaign. Download the app, select the campaign, and log your action to Speak up for Peace.

2. Launch a digital awareness campaign for peace.

3. Organize a peace walk or run.

4. Hold a “Sports Day for Peace”.

5. Host a peace-themed film night.

6. Volunteer for a peace organization.

7. Tend to a community garden for peace.

8. Host a peace concert in your community.

9. Organize an exhibit of art for peace.

10. Spearhead an environmental clean up effort.

11. Write a poem for peace.


Definitions from the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace

Cultivating a Culture of Peace:

A culture of peace is a set of values, attitudes, traditions and modes of behaviour and ways of life based on:

(a) Respect for life, ending of violence and promotion and practice of non-violence through education, dialogue and cooperation;

(b) Full respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and non-intervention in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law;

(c) Full respect for and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms;

(d) Commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts;

(e) Efforts to meet the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations;

(f) Respect for and promotion of the right to development;

(g) Respect for and promotion of equal rights and opportunities for women and men;

(h) Respect for and promotion of the right of everyone to freedom of expression, opinion and information;

(i) Adherence to the principles of freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations; and fostered by an enabling national and international environment conducive to peace.

COMMUNICATION ASSETS: Download International Day of Peace 2026 promotional material on Trello

ActNow for A Peaceful World

Explore what you can do for peace.

Join the 1 Million Actions for Our Common Future campaign.
Find out how you can be part of the UN Summit of the Future.
Download the UN ActNow app and log your actions for peace!

LIVESTREAM: Watch the United Nations Peace Bell Ceremony on the occasion of the International Day of Peace 2026.

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. The Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly will celebrate the International Day of Peace in the Peace Garden at United Nations Headquarters by ringing the Peace Bell and observing a minute of silence.

World Cleanup Day 2026; September 20th.

FORUM: ''From Clean Plates to Clean Cities.'' United Nations World Cleanup Day 2026. This year’s global observance will focus on food waste, one of the largest and most preventable waste streams affecting cities and communities worldwide. It was estimated that1.1B people live in informal settlements, monitored that between 8–10% of global GHG emissions are from food waste, and about 1B+meals are wasted daily Every day, more than 1 billion meals are wasted globally, while millions of people continue to face hunger and lack basic services. Food waste places enormous pressure on waste systems, contributes to climate change, wastes land and water resources, and represents a missed opportunity to build more resilient and equitable systems. During this observance we will focus on the urgent need to: Raise awareness and encourage everyday habits that reduce waste; to Promote responsible production, purchasing and consumption practices; to Strengthen local food recovery, organic waste and circular economy systems; to Advance partnerships and policies that support resilient and resource-efficient cities and to Encourage waste separation, redistribution, composting and recovery of organic waste. What’s your go-to habit for wasting less food at home?.This year, we will Showcase #innovativepolicies, technologies and partnerships that #accelerateaction on #foodwasteprevention, #circulareconomy & #sustainableurbandevelopment.

EVENTS: On Sunday, September 20th, 2026, people around the world unite for World Cleanup Day. It is a global movement that goes beyond cleaning up waste and aims to address the systems that generate it. The global observance of World Cleanup Day 2026 will take place on 20 September 2026. The event will provide a platform for international dialogue, knowledge-sharing and partnership-building to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda —advancing more resource-efficient, resilient and inclusive cities. The city host is the city of📍 Shaoxing, in the Zhejiang Province, in China.

Food waste fuels the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Food loss and waste account for an estimated 8-10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and food waste alone contributes significantly to methane emissions from disposal sites. These impacts are felt most acutely in cities, where inadequate waste management and growing volumes of waste place additional pressure on urban infrastructure and public health. For the more than 1.1 billion people living in informal settlements and slums, the consequences are particularly severe, increasing exposure to pollution, disease, flooding and other climate-related risks. Addressing food waste is therefore not only an environmental imperative but also an important step towards building healthier, more resilient and more equitable cities. By reducing food waste, World Cleanup Day supports progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and more circular and resilient urban food systems. Get the agenda programme!

Statement of the United Nations Under Secretary General Li Shaoxing on World Cleanup Day 2026.

Excellencies, distinguished participants, it is my great honor to address the global observance of the world clean update 2026.

Today we focused on vital road of the cities and citizens in tackling west challenges and advancing the transition towards a circular economy.

I thank the government of China our host city of Shiaoing UN Habitat and all partners for bringing us together around an issue so fundamental to protecting and sustaining our planet's ecosystems.

We meet at a critical moment. With only four years remaining until 2030, the global community faces profound sustainable development challenges. According to the latest 2026 SDG progress report, progress remains deeply uneven across the goals and among countries, severely hampered by compounding shocks, interconnected crisis and escalating conflicts.

In addition, unmet financing targets risk putting many SDGs targets beyond reach. Yet, if there is one lesson from the first decade of implementing the 2030 agenda, it is these challenges are not merely problems to be managed.

They are catalysts to transform. They demand a fundamental transformation which will reshape our societies, our economies and our relationship with the planet. This transformation will not happen in isolation. It requires the underlying commitment, creativity and the leadership of the governments, international organizations, development banks, the private sector, academia, civil society, youth representatives, and many others around the world.

The theme of this year's water cleanup day, from clean plate to clean city, highlights a critical entry point for real progress. Transitioning to a circular society, allows us to build a sustainable model that harmonizes economic growth with environmental stewardship. Excellencies, my department, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, is deeply honored to lead and coordinate many of these efforts, working closely with the broader UN system and partners worldwide.

Together, we can forge a future where the resources are valued rather than discarded, where the waste is eliminated by design, and where our economies and ecosystems shrived together.

By leveraging digital innovation, artificial intelligence and a smart urban infrastructure, we can build clean, green and resilient cities. Let elevate the quality of life for all people. Let us act with ambition, solidarity and determination this moment demands. We are working to ensure that the 2030 agenda delivers meaningful lasting change for present and future generations.

Thank you.

United Nations Under Secretary General Li Shaoxing.

Statement by the UN-Habitat Executive Director on World Cleanup Day 2026.

Around 1/3 of all food produced globally is lost or wasted. Food loss and waste account for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, placing immense pressure on [music] our climate, natural resources, and municipal waste systems. As we mark World Cleanup Day 2026, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the city of Shiaoeng for hosting this year's global observance. I commend the leadership in advancing practical solutions, demonstrating how cities can drive innovation, collaboration, and collective action towards more sustainable urban futures.

I also want to recognize the extraordinary World Cleanup Day Movement. Last year alone, around 25 million volunteers in more than 190 countries and territories came together to clean their [music] communities, demonstrating the power of collective action. This year's theme, from clean plates to clean cities, reminds us that the journey to sustainable cities starts at home. The choices we make in our [music] kitchens and communities shape the way our cities function. Young people, community groups, and citizens are leading this transformation through everyday actions that inspire change. At UN Habitat, we see waste as part of a larger urban ecosystem. Waste is reduced when cities are well planned, when essential services are accessible, and when communities are actively engaged. Yet too many people, particularly 1 billion people living in informal settlements and slums, still lack regular waste collection and basic services. Addressing the global housing crisis and improving access to basic services and resilient infrastructure are essential to building cleaner, healthier, and more inclusive cities.

City governments are at the forefront of action. They design [music] and oversee waste management, regulate services, and work directly with communities. National governments play a critical role in [music] creating policies, incentives, and investments needed to scale solutions. Equally important is cooperation across cities and regions.

Networks of cities can accelerate progress by sharing solutions, [music] scaling innovation, and learning from one another. This is why bringing cities together to exchange knowledge, strengthen capacity, and support the development of solutions for waste management and the circular economy [music] is important. We already see inspiring examples. Cities are recovering surplus food, reducing waste, and turning organic waste into compost and energy. Communities, including informal workers, waste pickers, and local entrepreneurs, are leading innovations that create jobs while protecting the environment by keeping materials in use for longer, recovering valuable resources and [music] reducing waste as at its source. The secular economy helps cities cut emissions, strengthen resilience, and create new economic opportunities.


By acting at every level, from households to neighborhoods, cities and national policies, we can turn waste] into opportunity. Let us move from clean plates to clean cities, from awareness to action, embracing circular solutions that value resources rather than discard them. Building communities that are cleaner, healthier, [music] and more resilient for everyone.

UN-Habitat Executive Director.

Happy 9th World Cleanup Day 2026! A message to our global family.

TAKE ACTION: Simple habits to cut food waste at home.

GET INVOLVED!

COMMUNICATION MATERIALS: Discoverthe posters and toolkits and other assets ob theTrello board!

International Equal Pay Day 2026; Septembre 18th.

FORUM: “Equal Pay for work of equal value — For everyone, everywhere.” International Equal Pay Day 2026. During the day, we will celebrate achievements and discuss the challenges on the way to achieving equal pay as well as provide an opportunity for you to make a new equal pay pledge. Across all regions, women are paid less than men, with the gender pay gap estimated at around 20% globally. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls continue to be held back owing to the persistence of historical and structural unequal power relations between women and men, poverty and inequalities and disadvantages in access to resources and opportunities that limit women’s and girls’ capabilities. Progress on narrowing that gap has been slow. While equal pay for men and women has been widely endorsed, applying it in practice has been difficult. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promote decent work and economic growth by seeking full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. Mainstreaming of a gender perspective is crucial in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Achieving equal pay is an important milestone for human rights and gender equality. It takes the effort of the entire world community and more work remains to be done. Follow the conversation with the hashtags #EqualPayDay, #GenerationEquality, #SDG5, #EqualPay and #18September.

EVENTS: You are invited attend a High-Level Pledging Event to mark International Equal Pay Day 2026 on September 18th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm EDT organized by the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC), which is led by the International Labour Organization , the UN Women, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). During the observance of the International Equal Pay Day, the ILO is reaffirming a fundamental principle: work of equal value deserves equal pay. The participants are invited to share lessons learned and good practices that can be adapted and applied to different contexts.

Statement from the ILO Director-General on International Equal Pay Day 2026; Septembre 10th.

On International Equal Pay Day, the ILO reiterates a simple but fundamental principle: work of equal value deserves equal pay.

Yet women around the world earn 18 per cent less than men.

This is not just a statistic. It is millions of women whose work supports families, businesses, communities and economies, but who are still not being paid fairly.

This must change.

Together, governments, employers and workers can remove the structural barriers that underpin this injustice and strengthen the laws and institutions that promote equal pay. And through social dialogue, including collective bargaining, they can address the undervaluation of work done by women, strengthen pay transparency, build fairer wage structures, and ensure that women have an equal voice in shaping their economic life.

The world of work is changing profoundly. But our principles remain steadfast.

The new Resolution concerning the ILO transformative agenda for gender equality in the world of work only confirms our determination to close the gender pay gap.

Equal pay is a matter of rights, principle, dignity and social justice – for every worker, everywhere.

ILO Director-general.

Statement of the UN Women on the celebration of the International Equal Pay Day 2026; Septembre 18th.

The gender pay gap affects far more than a pay cheque. It means lower lifetime earnings, less economic security, smaller pensions, and greater inequality across generations. And for many women – including migrant women, women with disabilities, and women from racial and ethnic minorities – the gap can be even wider.

Equal pay for work of equal value is therefore critical for reducing poverty, advancing women’s economic justice and rights, and building more inclusive economies globally.

This year has brought renewed momentum. At the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, governments, employers, workers, and private-sector leaders renewed commitments to tackling the structural barriers holding women back at work. The adoption in June of ILO Convention no. 193, the first international labour standard on decent work in the platform economy, holds the potential for stronger protections for women working through digital platforms – from unfair pay, harassment, and discrimination to opaque algorithmic decisions.

Through the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC), UN Women, ILO, and OECD continue to work with governments, employers, workers’ organizations, and other partners to turn commitments on equal pay into action.

At a time of economic uncertainty and widening inequality, equal pay is not only a matter of justice. It strengthens families, economies, and societies.

As the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly opens in New York, UN Women reaffirms its commitment to women’s economic empowerment as a cornerstone of our Strategic Plan 2026–2029.

Closing the gender pay gap is possible. What is needed now is action – to ensure that every woman is valued equally for work of equal value.