United Nations General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock (C) strikes the gavel to begin the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday.
In his address to the UNGA, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world has "entered an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering," with the principles of the United Nations "under siege" and the pillars of peace and progress "buckling under the weight of impunity, inequality, and indifference."
Noting that the world is becoming increasingly multipolar, Guterres said multipolarity without effective multilateral institutions courts chaos.
"The choices we face are not part of an ideological debate. They are a matter of life and death for millions," he said, adding that peace rooted in international law is humanity's first obligation.
Stressing that "human rights are not an ornament of peace -- they are its bedrock," he said these rights -- social, economic, political, civil and cultural -- are universal, indivisible and interdependent.
And while "we have the solutions and tools," he said the fuel to achieve them through the shared roadmap of the Sustainable Development Goals needs financing, but aid cuts are wreaking havoc.
The general debate will conclude on Sept. 29. Representatives and heads of state and government will also attend a series of high-level conferences and hold bilateral meetings during the High-level Week from Sept. 22 to 30. ■
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech during the opening of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech during at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
United Nations General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock delivers a speech during at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gestures after delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
United Nations General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
United Nations General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
United Nations General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures after delivering a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
United Nations General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd R) leaves after delivering a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) heads to the podium to deliver a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 23, 2025. Representatives from United Nations (UN) member states, including some 150 heads of state and government, will take turns at the podium of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to deliver an address on global issues during the UNGA general debate that kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan displays a picture from Gaza as he delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
King Abdullah II of Jordan delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
King Abdullah II of Jordan delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Surinamese President Jennifer Simons delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Surinamese President Jennifer Simons delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) gestures as he leaves after delivering a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
(250923) -- UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23, 2025 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
(250923) -- UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
(250923) -- UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
(250923) -- UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
(250923) -- UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
(250923) -- UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
(250923) -- UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Gabriel Boric delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
(250923) -- UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23, 2025 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
(250923) -- UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
(250923) -- UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Gabriel Boric delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
