First meeting of 81st UN General Assembly session held, priorities outlined
Quick Look
- The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly convened at UN headquarters in New York, with President Khalilur Rahman outlining priorities including peace and security, sustainable development, climate action, human rights, digital cooperation, and multilateral trust.
- He urged full and timely payment of assessed contributions by member states.
- The session runs until September 7, 2027, with the General Debate set for September 2026 and 2026, and the selection of a new UN Secretary-General underway as António Guterres' term ends December 31, 2026.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The United Nations General Assembly is the main deliberative body of the UN, where all 193 member states have equal representation. Its annual sessions set the agenda for global cooperation on peace, development, and human rights. The 81st session began in September 2026 and will continue until 2027, with the General Debate as a key forum for member state addresses.
The first meeting of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly has taken place at the UN headquarters.
During the meeting, which lasted just under an hour, Khalilur Rahman, president of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, addressed delegations on the session’s priorities. These include strengthening peace and security, advancing sustainable development, stepping up efforts to combat climate change, promoting and protecting human rights, ensuring universal access to cooperation in digitalization and new technologies, and restoring trust in multilateralism.
Rahman also emphasized the need to strengthen the UN’s financial stability. "I appeal to every member state to pay its assessed contributions in full, on time and without conditions," he said.
The 81st UN General Assembly session will run through September 7, 2027, with the General Debate, its first major event, scheduled for September 22-26 and September 28, 2026. Russia’s delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
One of the key tasks of the session is to select the next UN secretary general. The term of current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expires on December 31, 2026. UN Security Council members are currently considering candidates for the post, after which the General Assembly will hold a vote.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The UN General Assembly will vote on the next Secretary-General after Security Council consideration.
Very likely · Within months
The General Debate will take place in September 2026 as scheduled.
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- Which specific member states may delay or withhold assessed contributions?
- What criteria is the UN Security Council using to evaluate Secretary-General candidates?
- How will digital cooperation initiatives be implemented across member states with varying technological capacity?
