oVERVIEW

The seventy-seventh session of the General Assembly opens on 13 September under the theme, “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges.”

The theme stems from the recognition that the world is at a critical moment in the history of the United Nations due to complex and interconnected crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, humanitarian challenges of unprecedented nature, a tipping point in climate change as well as growing concerns about threats to the global economy.

It is therefore necessary to find and focus on joint solutions to these crises and build a more sustainable and resilient world for all and for the generations to come.

#UNGA 77 Media Resources

Watch live and on-demand at UN WebTV

14 September 2022

Press Conference by UN Secretary-General

On the eve of the General Assembly High-level Week, Secretary-General António Guterres will hold a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York from 11:30 a.m. on 14 September, to speak about his priorities and answer questions from journalists. Watch it live or on demand at UN Web TV.

News Coverage:

‘Don’t flood the world today; don’t drown it tomorrow’, UN Chief implores leaders

20 – 26 September 2022

General debate

The curtain rises on the busiest diplomatic season of the year at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In the General Assembly General Debate, starting at 9 a.m. on 20 September, Heads of State and Government explore solutions to the intertwined global challenges under the theme, “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges.” This year’s General Debate, which runs through 26 September, is expected to be fully in-person. Watch the meeting live and on demand at UN Web TV or on the General Debate website.

Live List of Speakers

Speaker by Speaker Summaries

19 September 2022

SDG Moment

The SDG Moment serves to place an annual spotlight on the Sustainable Development Goals and will be held in person at the beginning of the United Nation’s General Assembly’s High-Level Week. It takes place as the world faces a deepening cost-of-living crisis that carries huge implications for the advancement of the SDGs, especially in developing countries.

This 90-minute event, to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the United Nations General Assembly Hall, will set the scene and lead into the Transforming Education Summit, featuring the SDG “To-Do List” for the world presented by the Secretary-General’s SDG Advocates Co-Chairs, a stocktaking moment and SDG Dialogues focused on solutions for inequalities and climate and environmental challenges. Watch the meeting live or on demand on UN Web TV.

Media Advisory:

To urgently address world’s most pressing challenges, SDG Moment to call for stronger commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals

Press Release:

Scaling up global efforts to invest in the Sustainable Development Goals and address world’s mounting crises at the heart of the SDG Moment

Black Pink’s message to SDG Moment

Malala’s message to Transforming Education Summit

16, 17 & 19 September 2022

Transforming Education summit

Amid an education crisis, the UN Secretary-General is convening the Transforming Education Summit to mobilize solidarity and solutions to recover pandemic-related learning losses, reimagine education for the future and reignite global efforts to deliver the education-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. World leaders will join “Leaders Day” discussions, taking place from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on 19 September – a major highlight of the General Assembly’s seventy-seventh session. The event will be preceded by a two-day segment focused on youth and solutions on Friday, 16 and Saturday, 17 September to scale up global support and action. Watch the meeting live or on demand at UN Web TV.

Media Advisory:

World Leaders to Make Ambitious Commitments to Transform Education at UN Summit

Press Release:

Education Summit offers ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ chance to recover learning losses, advance badly off-track goals and rethink education systems

(Closing Press Release) Over 130 countries heed call to reboot education systems, offering new hope to world’s children for a better future

Vision Statement of Secretary-General:

Transforming Education: An urgent political imperative for our collective future

20 September 2022

Platform of Women Leaders

The General Assembly will convene women Heads of State and Government for an event, titled the “UNGA Platform of Women Leaders,” to discuss priority issues on the international community’s agenda and identify solutions to today’s complex and interlinked challenges. It is a special initiative of Assembly President and UN-Women to help enhance the focus of the 193-Member organ on gender equality. The theme of this year’s meeting, taking place from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., is: “Transformative Solutions by Women Leaders to Today’s Interlinked Crises.” A meeting summary will be shared with all Member States. Watch the meeting live or on demand at UN Web TV.

Press Release:

New Platform of Women Leaders meets at UN General Assembly

UN News article:

New platform highlights women’s leadership in tackling global challenges

21 September 2022

30TH ANNIVERSARY OF DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF MINORITIES

As requested in resolution A/RES/76/168, the General Assembly convenes a high-level meeting to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The event takes place on the margins of the General Debate. Watch the meeting live or on demand at UN Web TV.

 

Summary:

Promise of Declaration on Protecting Minority Rights Still Not Fulfilled, Speakers Tell High-Level Meeting Marking Adoption’s Thirtieth Anniversary

UN News article:

World falling ‘far short’ of pledge to protect minority rights: Guterres

21 September 2022

LEADERS’ ROUNDTABLE ON CLIMATE ACTION

Amidst the worsening climate crisis, the Secretary-General, with the President of Egypt, will host a Leaders’ Roundtable on Climate Action, bringing together a small but diverse and representative group of heads of state and government to reboot international cooperation on climate action. This is a closed event, taking place from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., and aims for a frank and informal exchange in the lead-up to COP27. Comments by the Secretary-General to the media as well as a Chair’s summary of the meeting will be published after the event.

The Secretary-General’s Press Encounter

Chair’s Summary

22 September 2022

SECURITY COUNCIL HIGH-LEVEL DEBATE ON UKRAINE

World leaders, gathering at the United Nations Headquarters, will address the Security Council at 10:00 a.m. on 22 September to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Watch the meeting live or on demand at UN Web TV.

Summary:

Pointing to Dangerous Developments in Ukraine, Secretary-General Urges Cooperation with International Criminal Court, as Security Council Tackles Accountability

22 September 2022

high-level meeting on the sahel

For years, the Sahel’s development and economic growth have been overshadowed by complex, multi-dimensional and interlocking challenges, including poverty, insecurity, terrorism, displacement, and climate change. The Secretary-General will convene a high-level meeting on the region from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on 22 September. Watch the meeting live or on demand at UN Web TV.

The Secretary-General’s Remarks

UN News story

23 September 2022

Accelerating Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions

World leaders together with Heads of International Financial Institutions, Heads of United Nations agencies and other partners will convene at a high-level meeting organized by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on 23 September to strengthen the collective response needed to address the global job crisis and support the billions of people that continue to be excluded from social protection. The Secretary-General launched the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions in September 2021 to respond to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event, titled “Partnering for Action: Implementation of the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions”, will take place from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Watch it live or on demand at UN Web TV.

Media Advisory:

With billions of people facing greatest cost-of-living crisis in a generation, leaders to gather at UN to address solutions for job growth and social protection

The Secretary-General’s Remarks

23 September 2022

ending covid-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is not over. The virus is continuing to inflict a significant loss of lives and livelihoods, hampering the global economic recovery. This event, taking place from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., 23 September, aims to take stock of the global roll out of COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics and treatments, identify priority areas to accelerate equitable access, and mobilize additional political support to effectively end the pandemic this year by accelerating vaccination rates and implementing test to treat strategies everywhere. Watch the meeting live or on demand at UN Web TV.

Media Advisory:

UN Secretary General Convenes Event at 77th UNGA on Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic Through Equitable Access to Vaccines, Tests and Treatments

The Secretary-General’s Remarks

26 September 2022

COMMEMORATING INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR TOTAL ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

In line with resolution A/RES/69/58, the General Assembly holds a high-level plenary meeting to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. The event starts at 10 a.m. on 26 September. Watch the meeting live or on demand at UN Web TV.

UN News story

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

 23-26 September 2022

SDG Media Zone – UN General Assembly 77 Specials

Organized by the UN Department of Global Communications, the SDG Media Zone takes the conversation on advancing the 2030 Agenda out of the policy sphere and into the public discourse through impactful in-depth interviews and dialogues on global issues that matter to people everywhere. This year’s SDG Media Zone will highlight Tackling Climate Crisis, Advancing Education Goals, Biodiversity (Friday 23 September), SDG Media Zone Year-in-Review (Monday 26 September) and Hate Speech, among other issues. Join us and be part of conversations on the transformation and solutions.

See the full programme and watch it on UN Web TV.

21-23 September 2022 

SDG Action Zone

From 21 to 23 September 2022, the SDG Action Zone will take place during the High-level Week of the UNGA. It will champion the activists and allies accelerating progress towards the SDGs, through candid, honest and powerful conversations. The three-day virtual Action Zone will feature an ambitious array of speakers: from grassroots changemakers, to business leaders, government representatives, and the highest levels of UN leadership – bringing together diverse voices to meaningfully engage and collaborate during UNGA.