Around 130 heads of state or government leaders will participate in the general debates during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, which begins tomorrow in New York. The debates will take place from September 22 to September 28 (with September 27 being a rest day), featuring high-level representatives from all 193 member states.
The Bulgarian delegation will be led by President Iliyana Yotova. Also participating will be Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova, whose involvement in the accompanying events begins today.
The President of the 81st session has been elected as the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Haliluur Rahman. The theme for this session is: "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all". In comparison, the theme of the previous 80th session was: "Better together: 80 years and moving forward in the name of peace, development and human rights".
The global organization stated on its website that the session will bring leaders together to revitalize global cooperation, boost the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and stimulate collective action for peace, dignity, and equality on a healthy planet. Two platforms have been prepared for participants: a special SDG media zone offering interviews and panel discussions from today until September 25, and an SDG salon from September 14 to 25, featuring unscripted dialogues, in-depth analyses, and interactive experiences.
Prior to the start of the debates, on September 18, a meeting dedicated to the SDGs was held in the UN General Assembly Hall to review the program's progress. This program, adopted in September 2015, defines 17 goals for sustainable development by 2030, comprising 169 specific targets.
The following important events are scheduled during the week of the general debates:
- September 23: A high-level meeting to mark the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. Adopted on December 4, 1986, via Resolution 41/128, it proclaims the right to development as an inalienable human right, through which every individual and all peoples can participate in and enjoy economic, social, cultural, and political development.
- September 23: A high-level meeting on climate action and a just transition, focusing on how the transition to a low-carbon economy can be fair and inclusive, ensuring that vulnerable regions, communities, and workers are not left behind.
- September 24: A summit on existential threats arising from rising sea levels, manifested through increasingly frequent extreme natural events such as flooding.
- September 25: A high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, addressing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that began at the start of this decade.
- September 28: A meeting marking the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. These documents were adopted by UN member states at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in South Africa from August 31 to September 8, 2001.
- September 29: A high-level plenary meeting to mark and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (observed on September 26). The day was declared by the UN in December 2013, based on a meeting held on September 26, 2013, to raise awareness about the threats posed by nuclear arsenals.
Parallel to the start of the session, the process to elect the next UN Secretary-General, who will succeed Antonio Guterres, is underway. The Portuguese leader's second five-year term expires at the end of this year. As a matter of principle, according to an informal agreement, the next Secretary-General is expected to be a representative from Latin America, although this is not guaranteed. It is also noted that a woman has never held the post, which may be a factor in the race.