Time to accept ‘hard truths’ so trust can be rebuilt: General Assembly president

The UN’s 80-year existence does not guarantee success, and its credibility is now under scrutiny, the General Assembly President said, noting that global publics question whether the organization is effective rather than whether it still exists. He acknowledged persistent conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and across the Middle East, alongside lesser-known achievements such as the return of nearly five million displaced Iraqis and sustained humanitarian operations in Haiti despite severe security threats.

Mr. Rahman emphasized that trust must be actively earned through transparent ownership of the UN’s work, warning that passive acceptance will not heal institutional credibility. He reiterated calls for Security Council reform to ensure fairer representation, highlighting the absence of a permanent African seat despite the continent’s substantial contributions to peacekeeping operations and a stark funding disparity between development aid and military expenditures.

On artificial intelligence, the President cautioned that the UN risks falling behind as AI becomes embedded in critical global systems, calling for internationally developed safeguards to prevent an uncontrolled arms race and ensure ethical deployment. He stressed the need for scientific input from outside governments to establish prudent and reliable guardrails for AI governance.

Mr. Rahman condemned the rapid spread of hateful narratives targeting women, girls, minorities, migrants, refugees and persons with disabilities, often for political gain, and criticized the selective application of human rights based on cultural or political convenience. He urged the use of technology to foster understanding and dignity rather than deepen division, framing hatred as a universal threat regardless of its guise.