Brazil will be the first to deliver a speech before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), followed by the United States as the host country of the international organization’s headquarters, after which representatives of member states will follow throughout the days of the general debate.
This debate is considered the highlight of each new session of UNGA. It is a global summit during which a large number of state and government leaders, or sometimes their deputies, meet within the UN premises and take the podium of the General Assembly Hall one by one to address an issue of their choice before the world.
In addition to the general debate, UNGA holds several meetings on the margins of the high-level week of the session, namely: the Summit of the Future, the Plenary Meeting on Addressing the Existential Threats Posed by Sea Level Rise, the Plenary Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, and the Special Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (
AMR).
During the high-level week, two meetings mainly focusing on Palestine will be held. The first meeting is convened by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Education Cannot Wait Fund (ECW). The meeting will be held on Sept. 25, during which keynote speakers: Chief of UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini and former UK prime minister Gordon Brown, will address education on the occupied Palestinian territories (Gaza and the West Bank).
On Sept. 26, the second high-level meeting will address support for UNRWA, during which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to deliver opening remarks.
On Sept. 10, UNGA started its 79th regular session (UNGA 79), chaired by current president of the session, Philemon Yang. During this session, the State of Palestine obtained an official seat among the UN member states for
the first time.
In his speech during the opening of the 78th session of UNGA, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concluded the session by saying, “we close this 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly after a tumultuous year. A year of continued poverty, inequality and injustice. A year of division, violence, and conflict. A year that was the hottest on record.” At the same time, Guterres indicated that “this session also closes at a time of growing hope and inspiration in what we can achieve if we work as one.” Meanwhile, President of new UNGA session Philemon Yang emphasized urgent global challenges such as climate change, conflicts, poverty, and inequality. He also highlighted the importance of cooperation among member states to realize humanity’s greatest aspirations such as peace, justice, and sustainable development.
Yang also pledged to continue efforts to reform the security council, revitalize the general assembly, and commit to a cooperative and inclusive approach that ensures the v
oices of all member states are heard, calling for global solidarity to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
Source: Qatar News Agency