‘This is not 1945’: General Assembly president gavels open new session aimed at restoring global trust
The UN General Assembly opened its 81st session with a call to restore trust in the institution amid global crises, as its new president emphasized adapting the UN to modern challenges.
The United Nations General Assembly commenced its 81st session at UN Headquarters, marking a transition in leadership as incoming president Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh received the iconic wooden gavel from outgoing president Annalesa Baerbock of Germany. Rahman outlined his agenda, titled 'Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all,' stressing the need to rebuild public confidence amid ongoing wars, humanitarian emergencies, and climate threats.
Rahman underscored the urgency of adapting the UN to contemporary realities, stating, 'This is not 1945. This is the 81st session. The world has moved on. The Organization must move on,' while highlighting the importance of amplifying civil society voices in decision-making processes.
Outgoing Assembly president Baerbock defended the UN’s relevance, asserting that no country or day would be better without the organization despite its imperfections, and challenged critics to consider the alternative of a world without the UN’s existence.
Baerbock cited tangible UN contributions, such as UNICEF’s role in educating millions of children and UN peacekeepers enabling women to move freely without fear of sexual violence, while acknowledging that positive impacts often go unnoticed in a digital landscape dominated by divisive content.