Guterres concerned about declining interest in UN reports

Staff Correspondent. Washington, August 2, 2025

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently expressed concern that UN reports are being widely ignored by global readers, releasing the results of a study he shared with the organization’s member states, sparking a debate within the international community.

Guterres said that while UN reports contain detailed information on important issues such as human rights, peacekeeping, climate change and sustainable development, interest in them among ordinary people and policymakers has significantly declined. He blamed the information overload, the fast-paced news cycle on social media and the growing apathy among the public towards information.

“Our reports provide important information and solutions, but if they are not read, the impact of our work is diminished,” Guterres said. He called on UN member states to make a concerted effort to highlight the importance of these reports and raise awareness among the public.

According to analysts, UN reports often lack appeal to general readers due to complex language and lengthy analyses. In addition, these reports often lag behind due to the diversity of global information flows and rapidly changing news cycles.

“These reports highlight serious human rights violations that amount to international crimes, but a lack of public interest in them is hindering their effective implementation,” said Rory Mungoven, representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Advocate Elina Khan, Chairperson of the Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation, believes that UN reports provide an important information base, but political unity and public awareness are essential for its implementation. “It is challenging to take practical action instead of emotional reactions, but it is possible,” she said.

UN officials have suggested simplifying the language of reports, increasing social media outreach, and strengthening awareness-raising activities at the local level to address this problem. Guterres stressed, “The work of the UN is for the people of the world, and it is our responsibility to get this information to them.” Analysts believe that cooperation with local organizations, educational institutions, and the media is needed to increase interest in UN reports. In addition, they believe that it is possible to increase the acceptance of these reports through concise and attractive presentations on digital platforms.