Doha, September 21 (QNA) - Amid a busy agenda of escalating global political, military, economic, and climate-related issues, conflicts, and crises, the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) convened on September 9 under the theme "Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights," chaired by former German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock.

At this session, leaders, politicians, and diplomats from more than 190 countries are gathering to chart a roadmap toward a more just and sustainable future while reviewing the achievements of the international community in advancing global peace and prosperity.

The new United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, which coincides with the 80th anniversary of the organization’s founding, is not merely an annual event but also a historical milestone for reassessing the role of the United Nations in a world facing turmoil and profound political and economic transformations.

This session is being held amid a complex international climate characterized by escalating geopolitical tensions and worsening humanitarian crises. Issues of global peace and security top the agenda, given ongoing armed conflicts across various regions and heightened tensions among major powers.

The Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the Russia-Ukraine crisis are among the most pressing items, with leaders attempting to address these complex challenges.

The session will feature several high-level events, most notably the General Debate, which will take place from Sep. 23 to 29, 2025.

The General Debate is the highlight of each new session of the UNGA, where leaders and representatives of UN member states and observers address the Assembly Hall on issues of their choice.

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara is expected to participate in the 80th session, marking the first time a Syrian president has addressed the UNGA since 1967.

On Sep. 22, as part of the new UN session, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with France, will co-chair the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, hosted in New York.

Last July, the conference was held at the ministerial level at the United Nations headquarters to reaffirm international support for the two-state solution, coordinate implementation steps, and contribute to ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent, sovereign Palestinian state.

The new session includes a week of high-level meetings, expected to bring together more than 100 Heads of State, 46 Heads of Government, and Ministers. The first high-level meeting, scheduled to begin on September 22, will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) event, which will provide an opportunity to assess the current situation and mobilize the political will and resources needed to accelerate implementation and ensure that no one is left behind.

The meeting also includes a High-Level Meeting to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women. 

On Sep. 24, the Biennial Summit for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Global Economy will take place to address commitments related to financing for development.

This summit will henceforth be held every two years. On the same day, the Climate Summit 2025 will take place, which is expected to result in more ambitious commitments to reduce emissions and support developing countries in their efforts to adapt to the devastating effects of climate change.

On Sep. 25, a High-level Meeting to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth, alongside another High-Level Meeting to Commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

On Sep. 30, the UN will convene a High-level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar, highlighting issues of displacement and persecution.

Annalena Baerbock is the fifth woman to hold the position of President of the UNGA in the 80-year history of the UN. On Sep, 9, 2025, she took the constitutional oath of office under the original UN Charter, affirming her commitment to carrying out the tasks entrusted to her faithfully, loyally, and wisely in the best interests of the UN.

Taking the oath of office is a testament to what the world can achieve together, but looking at Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Haiti reminds the international organization of how often it has failed to deliver on the Charter's promises of peace and security, human rights, justice, and sustainability, Baerbock said.

She added that the world is currently at a crossroads, with the UN under financial and political pressure, making the 80th session particularly significant, stressing the importance of sustaining the UN, strengthening it, and ensuring its relevance in the 21st century.

Baerbock said that the mission of the UN during this session is to demonstrate to the world's eight billion people the importance of this international organization, noting that her presidency will be guided by the session's theme, "Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights."

Baerbock also warned, “Today we live in challenging times. We are walking on a tightrope of uncertainty. But the birth of the United Nations, 80 years ago, reminds us we have lived through difficult times before, and it's up to us to take on these challenges.”

Regarding the UN80 initiative launched by the international organization, Researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and UN affairs expert Dr. Aicha Elbasri said that the UN80 initiative is a reform project that focuses largely on reducing the budget and staffing, to make the organization more effective and flexible, adding that initiative involves the formation of seven groups under the UN80 Task Force, covering issues of peace and security, humanitarian action, development, human rights, training and research, and specialized agencies, to improve the organization's operational capacity in light of the financial pressures it faces.

However, Dr. Elbasri pointed out in an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) that this initiative is not fundamentally different from the initiatives put forward by previous Secretaries-General since the 1990s to improve the organization's work, indicating that it does not respond to the structural problems facing the UN today, due to the erosion of the structures established in the post-World War II era and the dilemma of the veto power in the UN Security Council (UNSC).

In her interview with QNA, Dr. Elbasri stressed that the Security Council lacks fair regional representation, especially for Arab countries whose issues are at the forefront of UN agencies but do not enjoy permanent representation on the UNSC that would enable them to defend the region's interests.

She added that what the UN needs more than ever is structural reform that reflects its universal membership, that subjects the use of the veto in the UNSC to controls and accountability, and that ensures that member states respect international law and seek consensus rather than competition and conflict, stressing that this desired reform depends on the political will of the organization's member states, whether they desire international relations based on multilateral diplomacy and that the UN avoid the fate of its predecessor, the League of Nations, which was formed as the first international organization.

It is worth noting that the UN was founded in 1945, as a result of the pain and devastation caused by World War II, to put an end to international wars and conflicts and preserve world peace. The UN replaced the League of Nations, founded in 1919 after World War I.

Since its establishment, the UN has become the sole platform that brings together leaders from all countries to discuss common challenges and work toward solutions that serve humanity as a whole.

It also serves as a fundamental platform for cooperation and coordination among nations, provides support and assistance in resolving international conflicts, and issues resolutions that grant “legitimacy” to certain international interventions when necessary. (QNA)