The U.N. General Assembly, an annual congregation of global leaders, plays a significant role in shaping international affairs despite its diminished influence over time. The New York City-hosted event determines the agenda for the upcoming year, bringing key global social and diplomatic issues to the forefront.
The Role of the General Assembly
The General Assembly, as one of the six main components of the United Nations, was initiated in 1945 to serve as the primary debating, policymaking, and representative body of the U.N. This unique platform provides equal representation to all 193-member nations, unlike international alliances like NATO, BRICS, and Group of 20. Member states are required to contribute financially to the U.N.’s operations. The assembly is a forum where all nations can express their views, adding to its credibility.
During the assembly, representatives from each nation engage in discussions on global issues under the General Debate and participate in voting on several resolutions.
The Authority of the Assembly
The General Assembly does not have the same powers as the U.N. Security Council, which can enforce sanctions or authorize the use of force. The assembly’s strength lies in its ability to focus on issues of global significance and to offer recommendations. For example, one such recommendation led to the first United Nations observance of Palestinian displacement in Israel’s creation in May 2023.
Furthermore, the assembly is responsible for appointing the U.N. Secretary-General, currently António Guterres, for fixed five-year tenures, and the Security Council’s 10 nonpermanent members. Every year, a new president is elected from one of the five geographical regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe and others. The assembly provides a global platform for leaders to voice their perspectives on the annual theme.
This Year’s Focus
This year, the assembly is focused on “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: accelerating action on the 2030 agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals toward peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.” The emphasis lies on the “2030 agenda” and “Sustainable Development Goals.”
In 2015, the assembly endorsed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (S.D.G.s), a collective plan for peace and prosperity for humanity and the environment. These goals, with no specified end date, cover a wide range of issues from poverty and hunger eradication to climate action and gender equality. These goals, referred to as Agenda 2030, were officially adopted with specific progress indicators established in 2017.
For a couple of years, the world was preoccupied with the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Throughout these crises, issues such as climate change, poverty, and inequality have consistently been at the forefront of every United Nations General Assembly. As the 78th session begins, it’s clear that none of these recurring issues have been resolved. The assembly will discuss these in the context of ongoing wars, recent political upheavals in West Africa and Latin America, persisting COVID-19, economic instability, growing inequality, and a series of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and fires. This year’s meeting theme is about restoring trust, revitalizing global unity, and accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, and sustainability for everyone.
EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Despite lingering doubts about the effectiveness of the United Nations, the advantages of participating in the assembly are evident. The platform gives countries the chance to voice their plans, concerns, and appeals to a global audience for posterity. This multilateralism forum originated post-World War II, rooted in a desire for enduring peace. This week affords quieter countries the opportunity to draw attention from a wider audience. It also enables leaders to hold discussions in a neutral environment.
WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THIS YEAR’S ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK?
This year, leaders from a minimum of 145 countries are set to speak at the UN General Assembly. Among the attendees are President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, President Joe Biden of the U.S., and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, who is expected to make his first physical appearance at the UN since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, he was granted special permission to deliver a pre-recorded speech. However, not all key figures will be present. The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, China, and Russia, who are permanent members of the UN Security Council, are not attending but will send representatives instead. The presence of Russia’s Vladimir Putin would have been unexpected. However, France’s Emmanuel Macron is a regular participant and this would have been British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s inaugural opportunity to address the assembly. Macron and Sunak cited a royal visit and a busy schedule, respectively, as reasons for their absence. Other significant countries like India, which recently hosted the G20 summit in New Delhi, and Mexico, will also send their ministers instead of their top leaders.
WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE CURRENT GENERAL DEBATE?
As per the norm, the General Debate this year also spans over six days. However, the conclusion is on Tuesday, Sept. 26, a day later than usual. Previously, the General Debates were from Tuesday to the next Monday, excluding Sunday. This year, there’s an added break day. A U.N. representative confirmed the omission of the last Monday’s speeches in respect of the Jewish festival, Yom Kippur.
WHY IS BRAZIL THE FIRST TO ADDRESS THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY?
This is a matter of convention. Brazil stepped up to the plate in the early days when no other nation would volunteer to go first. Now, several years later, the position is still held by this South American nation. As the hosting nation, the United States usually takes the podium second (though last year, President Joe Biden postponed his speech by a day due to his attendance at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral).
The sequence of the remaining speeches is determined by various factors, including the level of representation a country is sending (heads of state go before heads of government, who go before ministers and other delegates), countries’ own choices, and geographical balance.
CAN NON-UN MEMBERS PARTICIPATE?
Yes, to an extent. All member states are given the opportunity to speak, although not all choose to do so. The United Nations also hosts permanent observers who are granted access to “most meetings and relevant documentation,” according to the U.N. website.
