Mogadishu, October 24, 2026: Today, 24 October 2026, the United Nations commemorates the 81st anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945, reaffirming its commitment to international peace, security, human rights, and cooperation.
In his message for this year’s commemoration, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasises the importance of international cooperation in advancing peace, sustainable development, and human rights for all.
The UN’s key priorities include the Pact for the Future, which outlines global commitments to address current and emerging challenges, and the UN80 Initiative, which seeks to strengthen the organisation’s effectiveness, efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
In Somalia, a warning issued by the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in October 2026 indicates that nearly 874,000 people could be displaced between October and December due to heavy rains and flooding associated with El Niño.
The Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) joins the international community in commemorating United Nations Day on 24 October, reaffirming its commitment to the principles of peace, justice, human rights, equality, and international cooperation enshrined in the UN Charter. The occasion highlights the importance of international cooperation in promoting peace, protecting fundamental freedoms, and advancing sustainable development and human dignity.
In Somalia, the United Nations plays an important role in supporting peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, institutional development, human rights, and democratic governance. FESOJ emphasises the importance of continued cooperation among the UN, Somali institutions, civil society organisations, and media stakeholders in addressing the country’s political, humanitarian, and development challenges.
FESOJ underscores that press freedom, freedom of expression, and access to information are essential pillars of peace, accountability, and democratic governance. Journalists play a vital role in informing the public, countering disinformation, promoting inclusive dialogue, exposing abuses, and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities. FESOJ therefore calls on Somali authorities, international partners, and relevant stakeholders to protect journalists, uphold fundamental freedoms, strengthen accountability, and support independent and sustainable media.
On this United Nations Day, FESOJ encourages the UN and its partners to strengthen engagement with independent media organisations and journalists’ associations in Somalia. FESOJ reaffirms its commitment to promoting ethical journalism, protecting journalists’ rights, advancing inclusion, and contributing to a peaceful, inclusive, and democratic Somalia.
Peace, justice, human rights, and press freedom are shared responsibilities that require sustained commitment and collective action.
The Significance of 24 October and UNESCO
UNESCO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, promotes education, science, culture, access to information, and freedom of expression. These priorities contribute to building inclusive, informed, and peaceful societies.
The United Nations observes 24 October as United Nations Day, while the International Day for Universal Access to Information is commemorated annually on 28 September, highlighting the importance of transparency and the public’s right to access information.
UNESCO also promotes media and information literacy to help people critically evaluate information, identify disinformation, and engage responsibly with media and digital platforms. In 2026, Global Media and Information Literacy Week is observed from 24 to 31 October.
