(AGENPARL) – Thu 18 September 2025 ImageCouncil of Europe – Conseil de l’Europe
MEDIA DEPARTMENT
Media Advisory
Democratic security: Secretary General to promote the core foundations of peace at the UN General Assembly week in New York
Ahead of the visit, the Secretary General said: “The Council of Europe, with its 46 member states, has a unique role in global affairs: to defend the values that protect human dignity, strengthen democratic institutions and ensure justice — in Europe and beyond — whenever these fundamental values are under pressure.”
“Recent events expose the scale of the challenge. Ukraine continues to suffer horrendous daily attacks on civilian life. In Gaza, relentless hostilities continue to claim civilian lives and plunge the population into an intolerable humanitarian crisis. The attack on peace negotiators in Doha was a flagrant breach of international law. In Sudan, Yemen and other neglected regions, people are enduring forced displacement, sexual violence, deprivation and attacks on civil society, journalists, and humanitarian workers.”
“Protecting civilians, safeguarding mediation efforts and upholding international law are fundamental obligations that must be respected without exception. I call on the international community to put human dignity and the rule of law at the core of its efforts — to strengthen multilateral cooperation, end human rights violations, ensure humanitarian access to people in need and hold aggressors to account.”
During the UN General Assembly week, Secretary General Berset will contribute to several high-level discussions, including:
Monday 22 September
Tuesday 23 September
· High-level meeting on “Restoring Childhood and Humanity – Advancing Peace in Ukraine Through the Return of Ukrainian Children,” organised by the co-chairs of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Wednesday 24 September
· Fifth Summit of the International Crimea Platform, with participation from the President of Ukraine and other heads of state and government
· Council of Europe and UN Women event on “Combatting Technology-Facilitated Violence against Women and Girls (CTFVWAG)”
Thursday 25 September
· Club de Madrid UNGA Dinner 2025 on “Powering Progress: AI, Competitiveness, and Democratic Resilience”
The Secretary General will also take part in a series of bilateral meetings with heads of state, government leaders and senior officials from Council of Europe member and non-member states, the United Nations, and other international organisations.
Press contact
Council of Europe, Media Department
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Council of Europe/Conseil de l’Europe, Avenue de l’Europe, Strasbourg, . 67000 France