What To Expect from the UN General Assembly
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This week, global leaders will converge on United Nations Headquarters in New York for the opening of the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, marking the 70th anniversary of the Organization.
More than 150 Heads of State and Government will be joined by business leaders, activists, philanthropists, youth leaders, media and more from around the world, all coming together at what is a unique forum for finding common ground and tackling global challenges.
Here’s a snapshot of what to expect at UN Headquarters.
On Friday, His Holiness Pope Francis will speak in the General Assembly Hall before the official opening of the historic Summit on Sustainable Development. At the Summit, UN Member States will set the world on a path to a sustainable future for people and planet when they adopt the Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change by 2030. Achieving the 17 Goals will mean ensuring prosperity and environmental protection without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The Goals will be for everyone, everywhere and will leave no one behind.
Our world has enough food to feed every man, woman and child. Yet 795 million people ‐‐ one of every nine members of the human family ‐‐ go hungry. People across the world share my outrage at these unacceptable statistics and are taking up the Zero Hunger Challenge to end hunger in our lifetime. Youth leaders from across the globe, constituting some of the world’s freshest thinkers, will join Heads of State and senior UN officials to discuss how we reach our global goal to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition at the Mobilizing Generation Zero Hunger event.
The active engagement of the private sector will be essential for the success of the Sustainable Development Goals. At this year’s UN Global Compact Private Sector Forum, some of the top minds in business will come together with government leaders to examine the business case for sustainable development and explore how companies can take action.
Women and girls make up more than half the world’s population and they are often more deeply impacted than men and boys by poverty, climate change, lack of health care, and global economic crises. At the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: A Commitment to Action, over 80 world leaders will make history when they announce concrete commitments and firm pledges to overcome gender equality gaps.
Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the UN to assist host countries in navigating the difficult path from conflict to peace. Where peacekeeping succeeds, it proves to the world’s most vulnerable people that everyone has the right to live a life of dignity. With demand for peacekeepers at an all-time high, I have set out my agenda for how UN peace operations can be strengthened to better meet today’s challenges. We need to prioritize prevention and mediation, make peace operations more responsive and accountable, and advocate for greater involvement of women in peace and security. Next week, world leaders will develop new and concrete commitments in support of UN peacekeeping at next week’s Peacekeeping Summit.
Since the start of this year, over 400,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean and Aegean, undertaking treacherous journeys from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, and other countries torn apart by war, persecution, and a horrifying list of human miseries. Almost 3,000 people have drowned trying to reach safety in Europe. I commend those leaders and communities who have stepped up to our shared responsibilities and obligations. But much more is required. This is a human tragedy that requires a determined collective political response. At a high-level event next week, world leaders will meet to focus on strengthening cooperation on migration and refugee movements.
The UN works for all people, everywhere. You can be part of what’s happening at UN Headquarters this week -- by watching our webcast, visiting our website and, of course, by getting regular updates on social media. What takes place at the UN affects every one of us in every profession and from every walk of life -- so get connected, get informed and get involved.
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Photos: UN Photo; WFP
Regional área Manager | Mega Cash & Carry
8 年Congrats Mr. Charman
Joint Director (partner) at Innovative Business & Social Research (Reg)Islamabad
9 年Hon' Sir, World leaders should immediately start working on end of Syrian conflict. The best solution would be immediate elections.
Accounts, Budget, Finance & Administration Professional
9 年We want justice in the UN system. There is no check and balance of power and responsibility in a UN organization. Grievances against human resources management team is handled by a head of the human resources team themselves. A UN professional was attacked by UN people in a UN humanitarian organization going outside UN rules and regulations. Many appeals to two executive directors for over three and half years for justice fell into deaf ears. When there is no justice in a UN organization how can one expect justice in other places? A victim must be given justice.
Senior Consultant for Business and Social Enterprising Development
9 年His Excellency, Please guide me also on how North Borneo can restore its Independence from Malaysia.