General Debate
The debate of the 80th session is now closed. Links to on-demand videos and statements are available below.
This year, the theme for the general debate was "Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights".
Learn more about the General Debate in the FAQ.
Coming up next
Previously
President of the General Assembly
Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Daily schedule
- SEP 23 TUE
- SEP 24 WED
- SEP 25 THU
- SEP 26 FRI
- SEP 27 SAT
- SEP 29 MON
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation
Minister of State
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Secretary for Relations with States
Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs
Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Permanent Representative to the United Nations
President of the General Assembly
No matter the challenge. No matter the obstacle. No matter the hour. We must – and we will – overcome. Because in a world of many choices, there is one choice we must never make: The choice to give up. We must never give up.
A Viking gavel?
In 1952, Iceland, believed to be the oldest democracy in the world, presented the UN with a special gavel. This gavel has since been used to open and close meetings open or closed, mark the approval of the agenda, etc. and sometimes to restore order.
How long are the speeches?
A voluntary 15-minute limit is asked to be observed, but some speeches are longer. The record for the general debate? Cuba, in 1980: 269 minutes. 1960 was the year with most very long statements: Guinea (144 minutes), USSR (140 minutes) and Indonesia (121 minutes).
At meetings and conferences of Charter or mandated bodies, participants may speak in any of the six official languages. Their words are simultaneously rendered into the other five languages by conference interpreters.
Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. UN Photo/Manuel Elías.
The General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly is the opportunity for Heads of State and Government to come together at the UN Headquarters and discuss world issues.
On this site, you will find a daily list of speakers, with links to individual pages for each speaker. These pages will be published as soon possible and will present information pertaining to the speaker: an on-demand video, the statement (.pdf) and a summary of the statement, a downloadable photo, and audio files (.mp3).