Daily Times

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned the Security Council that the coronavirus pandemic was threatening international peace and security, potentially leading to an increase in social unrest and violence.

Antonio Guterres urged the Security Council to unite on tackling the deadly virus and said that its engagement would be critical to mitigating the peace and security implications of coronavirus pandemic and would count for a lot at this anxious time.

The UN chief further said that the coronavirus crisis has hindered international, regional and national conflict resolution efforts, exactly when they are needed most.

He cited other pressing risks to global security from the pandemic: militants seeing an opportunity to strike, potentially with a biological attack, the erosion of trust in public institutions, economic instability, political tensions from postponing elections, uncertainty sparking further division and turmoil in some countries, and COVID-19 “triggering or exacerbating various human rights challenges.”

The secretary-general reiterated that the United Nations faces “its gravest test” since the organization was founded 75 years ago from the pandemic and concluded saying: “This is the fight of a generation — and the raison d’être of (the reason for) the United Nations itself.”

Guterres spoke by video conference at the meeting on COVID-19’s impact on the council’s mandate, which is the preservation of international peace and security. While the meeting was closed, the U.N. spokesman released Guterres’ briefing, and a number of ambassadors released their remarks to the media.