New York, USA – The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, told world leaders yesterday that the UN is at a decisive moment. Speaking during the UN’s 80th anniversary session, the German Foreign Minister called on member states to take action to reform and strengthen the institution or risk weakening its global role.
Baerbock pointed to ongoing crises in Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as examples of challenges the UN must address. She stated that the institution’s difficulties arise not from the UN itself or its Charter, but from member states failing to uphold their commitments. “The Charter is only as strong as Member States’ willingness to uphold it,” she said, urging accountability for violations.
She outlined the UN’s contributions to global welfare, referencing the work of UNICEF, which educates 26 million children, and the World Food Programme, which provides aid to nearly 125 million people. “Imagine how much worse off the world would be without the UN,” Baerbock said, describing it as a compass guiding peace, humanity, and justice since its creation 80 years ago.
The session’s theme, “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights,” frames the UN’s past achievements and ongoing challenges. Baerbock reminded leaders of the unity shown during the UN’s founding in San Francisco in 1945 and called for cooperative leadership in areas such as pandemic response, climate action, aviation safety, and artificial intelligence governance.
She stressed that the UN must adapt to modern challenges, supporting the UN80 initiative and reforms aimed at creating a more agile and cost-effective institution. Baerbock urged governments to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and implement the Pact for the Future to secure lasting peace. “This session is about finding the resolve to be better together,” she said.
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