On Tuesday afternoon at the UN headquarters in New York, Annalena Baerbock officially opened the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). With the theme Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights, this session marks a milestone for the world’s biggest global forum.
'Eighty years. Longer than the average human lifespan. Normally this would be a moment to celebrate, but are we really in a mood for celebration?' the new UNGA president asked. She reminded everyone of the stark realities shaping our world—parents in Gaza facing starvation, Afghan girls barred from school, women in Darfur hiding their daughters from violence, Pacific Islanders battling rising seas, and 808 million people still trapped in extreme poverty. 😔
Rather than a party, Baerbock posed a tougher question: 'Where is the United Nations, which was created to save us from hell?' Her answer was clear: the UN is the only organization that unites every country and can act on a truly global scale. This is the year to adapt, evolve, and build the UN we need for the next 80 years—for our children’s lifetimes. 'It is a moment to show eight billion people why this organization still matters.' 🌍✨
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added that eight decades ago, UN founders gathered in San Francisco with a vision to create 'something different'—a global problem-solving body to prevent wars and tackle poverty, hunger, illness, and inequality. 'The United Nations provides the place. The Charter provides the tools,' he said, highlighting last September’s Pact for the Future as a shot in the arm for multilateralism. 💉🤝
High-level week runs from September 22 to 30, featuring the General Debate and key gatherings: the 80th anniversary meeting, the Sustainable Development Goals Moment, the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Climate Summit, and the launch of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. 🚀🗓️ With Baerbock sworn in just hours earlier at the close of the 79th session, the UNGA is off and running—ready to redefine global cooperation for a new generation. Let’s go, UN! 💪
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
