The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova, said that the launch of the National Youth and Sports Strategy by Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports reflects the government’s commitment to sport “as a cultural force and as a driver of national development, and as a catalyst for empowerment, inclusion, and opportunity.”The statement came during the launch of the National Youth and Sports Strategy (2025–2032) at a ceremony held in the New Administrative Capital under the patronage of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, in partnership with the United Nations system in Egypt, and coinciding with the celebration of International Youth Day on August 12. During the event, Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhy presented the new strategy, which aims to promote youth and sports development through investment in human capital, supporting smart economic contributions, and achieving sustainable development. In her address to an audience that included young participants; Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif; Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women; UNFPA Representative in Egypt Yves Sassenrath; UNICEF Representative in Egypt Natalia Winder Rossi; and other representatives from ministries, UN agencies, and government entities, Panova said:“In Egypt, sport is a source of unity, identity, and ambition. Egypt’s new strategy embraces this reality. It positions sport both as a cultural force and as a driver of national development… This is a statement of intent that Egypt sees its young people, not only as the promise of tomorrow, but already as active contributors to the progress of today.” Noting that nearly 60% of Egypt’s population is under the age of 30, Panova said the country has “a huge demographic potential” and with it “a responsibility to ensure every young person has the chance to learn, to work, and to thrive… One powerful way to unlock that potential is through sport as a catalyst for empowerment, inclusion, and opportunity.”She highlighted that the strategy’s distinguishing feature is the way it was developed — through “a truly national conversation led by the Ministry of Youth and Sports: over 21 workshops in 11 cities, more than 10,000 young people surveyed, and over 400 concrete measures proposed.” “This is policy made with youth, not just for youth. It builds on the strong partnership between the United Nations and the Government of Egypt to make sure young people’s voices are not only heard but acted upon,” Panova said.She pointed to the UN’s belief that meaningful, diverse, and effective youth participation — inside the UN and beyond — is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Panova referred to the Shabab Balad initiative, through which Egypt is part of the UN’s global Generation Unlimited movement to connect every young person to education, employment, and empowerment; and the UN in Egypt’s Youth Advisory Board, which ensures that young women and men contribute to shaping UN strategies, programmes, and decisions at every level. Panova said the UN’s priorities for youth — including skills development, decent work, civic engagement, and digital innovation — are closely aligned with Egypt’s national vision for its young people. She cited tangible results from joint work, noting that “in 2024 alone, more than 364,000 people — most of them young — gained new skills through UN-supported programmes.” She added that community coach initiatives are empowering young women to become local champions in sport and social innovation, while across Egypt, young entrepreneurs are leading green growth projects ranging from agribusiness to smart green ventures. Panova reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to working “for and with” young people, ensuring that collective actions are guided by their perspectives and energy.  For his part, Yves Sassenrath, UNFPA Representative in Egypt, said: “Youth are not a side agenda; they are the agenda. UNFPA is proud to support Egypt’s new National Youth and Sports Strategy, shaped by more than 10,000 young voices—this is their platform for leadership. UNFPA is also proud to work hand in hand with the Government of Egypt in its efforts to ensure that every young woman and man has the skills, health, and rights that enable them to lead change.”UNICEF Representative in Egypt and Co-Chair of the UN Egypt Youth Taskforce, Natalia Winder Rossi, said: "Real change starts close to home—in classrooms, playgrounds, and communities where young people shape the future. Egypt’s new strategy puts youth at the heart of progress, and the UN stands with them every step of the way."The new strategy is built on four main pillars: the comprehensive development of youth and adolescents; promoting sport as a lifestyle; developing competitive sports and creativity; and improving governance in the youth and sports sectors.

 Elena Panova, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, stated that the launch of the National Operational Plan for Food and Nutrition Systems 2025–2030 and the Roadmap to Accelerate Anemia Reduction in Egypt reflects the country's deep and sustained commitment to putting food systems, food security, and nutrition at the core of its human capital development agenda—and making them an essential component of its national development priorities.In a speech delivered on behalf of the United Nations Country Team in Egypt, Panova described the National Operational Plan as a transformational, evidence-based, multisectoral effort. She emphasized that transforming food systems and improving nutrition outcomes is a shared national endeavor requiring broad collaboration across sectors to maximize impact. Panova noted that the launch follows a series of major national strategies and investments, including Egypt’s National Food and Nutrition Strategy (2022–2030), the recently launched National Stunting and Malnutrition Prevention Program, the Takaful and Karama Program, the “First 1,000 Days” initiative, and the Egyptian Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes and Baby-Friendly Health Facility accreditation. She called these programs “clear expressions of Egypt’s progress and ambition.”She described the Anemia Reduction Roadmap as a wise investment for Egypt, noting that every $1 invested in reducing anemia could generate up to $12 in economic returns. The roadmap, she added, will improve the health of pregnant women and their children and could also enhance academic performance among students.“We view both the National Operational Plan for Food and Nutrition Systems and the Roadmap to Accelerate Anemia Reduction not only as means to improve food and nutrition security but as levers for broader social and economic outcomes,” Panova said. "Economic prosperity, social cohesion, and national resilience begin with a food ecosystem that is not only nutrition-sensitive but also addresses inequities and reduces gaps by reaching the most vulnerable population groups, including women, children, the elderly, and others,” she added.Panova presented four critical enablers to ensure the successful implementation of the plan:Strong multisectoral coordination mechanisms to ensure alignment and convergence across all sectors and systems—health, agriculture, education, and social protection.Robust accountability and monitoring frameworks to track progress, promote transparency, and drive continuous improvement.Investment in data systems and evidence generation, enabling timely and informed policy decisions and effective scaling of successful approaches.Sustainable financing and capacity development, ensuring national ownership and long-term resilience of systems.In conclusion, Panova affirmed the United Nations’ strong commitment to supporting these enablers—whether through technical assistance, policy guidance, institutional capacity building, or innovation and knowledge exchange.

It wasn’t an average Thursday morning in Manhattan. In the early hours, UN diplomats (and UN News) hit the streets in their sneakers – from Times Square to East River – following a route that traced the shape of “UN@80”. Inside the General Assembly Hall, delegates gathered to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its signing.They reflected on the past eight decades in which the UN helped rebuild countries after the Second World War, supported former colonies’ independence, fostered peace, delivered aid, advanced human rights and development, and tackling emerging threats like climate change.To save succeeding generations from the scourge of warGeneral Assembly President Philémon Yang described the moment as “symbolic” but somber, noting ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, and the growing challenges to multilateralism.He urged nations to choose diplomacy over force and uphold the Charter’s vision of peace and human dignity: “We must seize the moment and choose dialogue and diplomacy instead of destructive wars.”Secretary-General António Guterres echoed this call, warning that the Charter’s principles are increasingly under threat and must be defended as the bedrock of international relations.“The Charter of the United Nations is not optional. It is not an à la carte menu. It is the bedrock of international relations,” he said, stressing the need to recommit to its promises “for peace, for justice, for progress, for we the peoples.”Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Security Council President for June, emphasized the urgency of renewed collective action to address emerging global threats.“Let this 80th anniversary of the Charter be not just an occasion for reflection, but also a call to action,” she urged.UN Photo/Loey FelipeGeneral Assembly commemorates 80th anniversary of the signing of UN Charter.To unite our strength to maintain international peace and securityEighty years ago, on 26 June 1945, delegates from 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to sign a document that would change the course of history.Forged in the aftermath of the Second World War, by a generation scarred by the Great Depression and the Holocaust and having learnt the painful lessons of the League of Nations’ collapse, the Charter of the United Nations represented a new global pact.Its preamble – “We the peoples of the United Nations” – echoed the determination to prevent future conflict, reaffirm faith in human rights, and promote peace and social progress.That very document, preserved by the United States National Archives and Records Administration, has returned – for the first time in decades – to the heart of the institution it founded.Now on public display at UN Headquarters through September, the original Charter stands as a powerful symbol: not just of a past promise, but of an enduring commitment to multilateralism, peace and shared purpose. Video: UN Charter returns to UN HeadquartersTo promote social progress and better standards of lifeMore voices – from the presidents of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – also took the floor, reaffirming the enduring relevance of the Charter and the need to defend it.Bob Rae, ECOSOC President, drew an arc through human history to underscore the UN’s relative youth – just eight decades old in a global context of millennia.“We currently have the advantage of being able to lucidly look at what we have accomplished, while also recognizing our successes and failures,” he said, holding up a copy of the Charter once used by his father.“The United Nations is not a government and the Charter is not perfect,” he said, “but it was founded with great aspirations and hope.”ICJ President Judge Yuji Iwasawa reflected on the progress since 1945 and the challenges still facing the global community.“In the 80 years since the drafters of the Charter set down their pens, the international community has achieved remarkable progress. However, it also faces many challenges,” he said. “The vision of the Charter’s drafters to uphold the rule of law for the maintenance of international peace and security, remains not only relevant but indispensable today.”UN Photo/Loey FelipeJordan Sanchez, a young poet, speaks at the General Assembly during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter.To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rightsIn a powerful reminder that the Charter speaks not only to the past but to future generations, Jordan Sanchez, a young poet took the stage.Her spoken word piece, Let the Light Fall, evoked not declarations, but feelings of hope and vision for a better world.“Let the light fall,” she began, “on fallen faces hidden in the shadow of scorn…where may the children run towards the light of your face, towards the warmth of your presence and the stillness of your peace.”“There is no fear, only abundance, of safety, of security, of knowing there will always be enough light for me” she said, describing a dreamscape of Eden restored – not a paradise lost, but glimpsed in justice, fairness and shared humanity.“Let us be bold enough to look down and take it, humble enough to kneel down and bathe in it, loving enough to collect and share it, and childish enough to truly, truly believe in it.”The equal rights of men and womenAs the world marks 80 years of the UN Charter, it’s worth remembering that its promise of equal rights for men and women was hard-won from the very start.In 1945, just four women were among the 850 delegates who gathered in San Francisco to sign the document, and only 30 of the represented countries granted women the right to vote.In a 2018 UN News podcast, researchers spotlighted these overlooked trailblazers – and asked why the women who helped shape the UN’s founding vision are so often left out of its story.
 

Joint Op-ed by Ambassador Khaled El Bakly, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs for Multilateral & International Security Affairs Elena Panova, UN Egypt Resident Coordinator As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, the legacy of UN peacekeeping stands as one of the clearest and most enduring expressions of multilateral cooperation. For nearly eight decades, the service and sacrifice of Blue Helmets have saved and changed lives—helping countries navigate the difficult path from war to peace.From Cyprus to Lebanon, and from the Central African Republic to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than 76,000 civilian, military, and police personnel currently serve in 11 missions around the world. These men and women offer a lifeline to millions living in some of the world’s most fragile political and security environments.In light of these growing pressures, it is essential to rethink the role of peacekeeping within the broader international peace and security architecture. As President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has rightly asserted “peacekeeping—while a vital tool of the international community—should not be viewed as the sole means of maintaining peace”. H.E further emphasized that “it cannot substitute preventive diplomacy, mediation, peacebuilding, or the political, economic, and social measures necessary to address root causes and mend societal fractures”, underscoring that “peacekeeping must not become the default or immediate response to every crisis”.This year’s International Day of UN Peacekeepers is observed under the theme “The Future of Peacekeeping”—a theme that could not be more timely or relevant. Peacekeeping today faces mounting and unprecedented challenges. Conflicts are growing longer, deadlier, and more complex. They increasingly spill across borders and are exacerbated by terrorism, organized crime, cyber warfare, disinformation, and the weaponization of technology. Climate change, meanwhile, deepens instability in already-vulnerable regions. And divergent views within the UN Security Council have made consensus more elusive — slowing the pace of action, precisely when urgency is most needed.As UN Secretary-General António Guterres bluntly put it: “Trust is in short supply among—and within—countries and regions… This is a grim diagnosis, but we must face facts.” Among the most urgent issues is the growing and persistent mismatch between what peacekeeping missions are asked to achieve and the resources that are not available to do so. This undermines effectiveness and places peacekeepers in situations “where there is little or no peace to keep”.The Pact for the Future, adopted at the 2024 Summit of the Future, offers a moment of reckoning—and opportunity. It affirms that peace operations can only succeed when backed by political will and accompanied by inclusive strategies that address the root causes of conflict. It rightly emphasizes the need for peacekeeping missions to be supported by predictable, adequate, and sustained financing.The Pact also mandates a comprehensive review of UN peace operations—a chance to rethink and reform the peacekeeping model. Today’s high-risk environments demand that missions be equipped with the right tools, partnerships, and strategies to protect civilians and support peacebuilding effectively.Egypt, through its 65 years of active participation in United Nations peacekeeping has long demonstrated a strong, sustained and unwavering commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Since it first deployed troops to the UN Operation in the Congo in 1960, Egypt has contributed over 30,000 of its sons and daughters to 37 missions across 24 countries and has consistently remained one of the top contributors of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping. Egypt currently has 1205 peacekeepers, including women, serving across five missions in AfricaEgypt’s longstanding record of service and sacrifice in peacekeeping is globally recognized. This is reflected in its re-election as Rapporteur of the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, its recent election to the UN Peacebuilding Commission, and its appointment as co-facilitator for the upcoming 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review in both the General Assembly and the Security Council.Egypt’s leadership in peacekeeping is not limited to troop contributions. It plays an active role in shaping strategic thinking around reform. Through the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA)—an African Union Center of Excellence. Egypt has championed context-sensitive, innovative, and inclusive peace operations. The CCCPA emphasizes prevention, civilian protection, and regional partnerships while strengthening the participation of women in peacekeeping, in line with the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Through the CCCPA annual Aswan Forum, Egypt further promotes African-led solutions and stronger peacekeeping–peacebuilding synergies. This work, carried out in close cooperation with the UN in Egypt, is a prime example of effective South-South cooperation and the value of locally driven solutions. Egypt also actively contributes to training African and international uniformed peacekeepers through specialized facilities operated by the Ministry of Interior via the Egyptian Center for Peacekeeping Operations, and by the Ministry of Defense through its Liaison Agency with International Organizations (LAWIO).Egypt is also a staunch supporter of the UN Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative. In 2018, Egypt convened a landmark high-level international conference aimed at improving peacekeeping effectiveness. The event led to the “Cairo Roadmap for Peacekeeping Operations,” a concrete framework of shared commitments that was later endorsed by the African Union in 2020. This year, as we remember the 4,430 peacekeepers who have given their lives in the pursuit of peace, we must go beyond commemoration by upholding the principles for which they paid the ultimate sacrifice. Over 60 Egyptian peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives while serving as part of UN operations across the globe. Their sacrifice is a sobering reminder of the growing risks peacekeepers face, and our collective duty to ensure they are provided with the necessary means to fulfill their mandates.At the recently concluded 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin this May, Egypt reaffirmed its strong commitment to advancing UN peacekeeping through planned deployments, the preparation of well-trained officers, and expanded training efforts. It pledged to provide specialized capabilities, deploy qualified personnel to UN missions, and enhance training in coordination with international partners. Egypt also highlighted the importance of integrating technology, drawing on lessons from regional transitions, and promoting gender parity—underscoring its intention to surpass the UN’s targets for women's participation in uniformed roles.As the United Nations continues to face significant challenges and in the context of a region affected by multiple conflicts, Egypt has stood firm as a staunch and reliable partner to global peace and security. Furthermore, Egypt has expressed its readiness to provide all necessary support for the UN80 initiative this year in order to help make it a success to achieve effectiveness and rationalization to help meet the acute financial challenges faced by the United Nations and peacekeeping. In that regard, Egypt’s readiness and preparedness to host United Nations’ agencies, programs and offices that might be up for relocation as per the UN80 initiative is to be highly commended. Egypt’s strategic location—at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East—positions it as a natural hub for connectivity and cooperation. Its central time zone and proximity to key regions make it an ideal and cost-effective location, reducing travel time and facilitating seamless coordination. With direct access to both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal - a vital artery of global trade - Egypt offers unmatched maritime connectivity. It’s highly connected international airports and geographical proximity to conflict zones further enhances its relevance as a center for diplomacy, crisis response and peacekeeping efforts.Egypt’s vast experience with peacekeeping and related provision of humanitarian assistance are certainly also worth highlighting as advantageous. As host to multiple international and regional organizations and offices including the seat of the League of Arab States and with over 140 represented embassies in Cairo, Egypt remains a geo-political hub with an already strong United Nations’ presence, a modern infrastructure, and well-recognized levels of safety. As the Secretary-General has said: “Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations—and the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges.” Peacekeeping missions are under strain. However, with renewed multilateral resolve, adequate resourcing, and bold reforms, we can empower UN peacekeepers to remain a vital force for peace, stability, and hope in a troubled world, and Egypt, in cooperation with the United Nations remains at the forefront of nations providing such support.