Every New Year is a moment of rebirth.
We sweep out the ashes of the old year and prepare for a brighter day.
In 2022, millions of people around the world literally swept out ashes.
From Ukraine to Afghanistan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond, people left the ruins of their homes and lives in search of something better.
Around the world, one hundred million people were on the move, fleeing wars, wildfires, droughts, poverty and hunger.
In 2023, we need peace, now more than ever.
Peace with one another, through dialogue to end conflict.
Peace with nature and our climate, to build a more sustainable world.
Peace in the home, so women and girls can live in dignity and safety.
Peace on the streets and in our communities, with the full protection of all human rights.
Peace in our places of worship, with respect for each other’s beliefs.
And peace online, free from hate speech and abuse.
In 2023, let’s put peace at the heart of our words and actions.
Together, let’s make 2023 a year when peace is restored to our lives, our homes, and our world.
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Three years ago this month, the virus that causes Covid-19 was first detected.
The costs have been catastrophic. Millions of lives have been lost, and hundreds of millions of people have fallen ill. Economies were shattered, health systems were stretched, and trillions of dollars were lost. Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals has been thrown off track. And developing countries were often left to fend for themselves, shamefully denied the vaccines, tests or treatments they needed to protect their people.
Covid-19 will not be the last epidemic or pandemic humanity faces. As a global community, we must heed the harsh lessons of Covid-19 and make bold investments in pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response.
We need better surveillance to detect and monitor viruses with epidemic potential. We need more resilient health systems supported by universal health coverage. And we need a health workforce that is well-trained, well-equipped and well-paid.
We also need equitable access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and life-saving technology for all countries.
And we must fight the scourge of misinformation and pseudoscience with science and fact-based information.
A pandemic cannot be fought country by country. The world must come together. Covid-19 was a wake-up call.
I urge all countries to stand with our efforts to ensure the world is equipped and ready to take on the health challenges to come.
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The Secretary-General’s New Year Video Message 2023 and Message for the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness