“Around the world, we hear much talk of peace, but we see far too little of it,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at a ceremony in Türkiye while accepting the Atatürk International Award for Peace.

“International law continues to be trampled, power politics are gaining ground [and] inequalities are growing. New technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), risk accelerating violence rather than preventing it. Military spending is skyrocketing, while lifesaving aid is in freefall.”

Unacceptable price

Through it all, civilians keep paying the price in rising death tolls and shattered lives and communities, he warned, pointing to the unfolding crisis in the Middle East stands as a most tragic example.

“The massive military strikes launched by the United States and Israel and the subsequent attacks by Iran on so many countries constitute a grave threat to international peace and security and has caused immense suffering for civilians,” he stressed. “The region is being pushed to the breaking point.”

The consequences are “cascading around the world” amid disrupted trade, rising energy and food prices and deepening insecurity and instability.

Off-ramp desperately needed

“As always, the most vulnerable are being hurt first and worst,” he said.

“The region and the world desperately need an off-ramp.”

De-escalation and dialogue are the only way out, he said.

‘Together, let us give peace a chance’

The UN chief’s visit to Türkiye – his latest solidarity visit to a Muslim nation to mark the holy month of Ramadan in what has become an annual tradition – included receiving the peace award.

“These visits are a powerful reminder, to me and to the world, of the true spirit of Islam: compassion, community and empathy,” he said.

“This Ramadan, I felt strongly that my solidarity visit must be here, in Türkiye. I came to shine a global spotlight on the extraordinary and generous spirit of the Turkish people.”

Mr. Guterres accepted the award on behalf of United Nations staff, honouring their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and build peace around the world and mourning the loss of aid workers, including in Gaza.

“Together, let us give peace a chance,” he said.