Special Coverage of the 76th General Debate
21 September – 27 September 2021
The stage is set for the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. While the world still grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the debate will be held in hybrid format, with some leaders participating virtually and others travelling to New York to deliver their statements in the iconic Assembly hall.
 

Here, UN News gives you a front row seat to all the action. From your mobile phone or computer, follow Heads of States and Governments as they define responses to the world's most pressing challenges, and take part in high-level discussions on the fight against racism, transforming food systems, and sustainable energy.

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Special Coverage of the 76th General Debate

Aerial view of damage caused by Hurricane Irma in Antigua and Barbuda (2017).
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

‘Overwhelmed by old challenges’, Caribbean leaders say COVID-19 has forced a new battle for the survival of their nations

25 September 2021
UN Affairs

Caribbean island nations are under assault from the coronavirus pandemic even as they try to protect their communities from rising seas and raging storms, regional leaders said Saturday at the UN, where they called for bold action to tackle climate change and shore up public health systems.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session...
UNTV screen grab

Goodness is the best medicine for the world’s ills, says Holy See official

25 September 2021
UN Affairs

Humanity needs the “reserves of goodness present in human hearts” to confront the many challenges facing the world community, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, declared in his video address to the high-level General Debate of the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga of the Republic of Mali, addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

As crises ‘pile up’ in the Sahel, Malian leader says it's time to consider more robust mandate for UN Mission    

25 September 2021
UN Affairs

The interim Prime Minister of Mali, Choguel Kokalla Maïga, said on Saturday that “rarely, has a country or region been as severely affected by the piling up of crises than Mali and the states of the Sahel.” 

The South Pacific archipelago of Tuvalu is highly susceptible to rises in sea level brought about by climate change.
UNDP Tuvalu/Aurélia Rusek

Pacific nations appeal for solidarity to combat COVID-19 and climate change

25 September 2021
UN Affairs

Pacific Island leaders speaking in the UN General Assembly on Saturday underlined the need for global solidarity, commitment and action to tackle COVID-19 and climate change, two crises which threaten sustainable development. 

Sergey V. Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Russia calls for ‘concerted efforts’ to follow purposes and principles of UN Charter

25 September 2021
UN Affairs

The Russian Foreign Minister addressed the UN General Assembly on Saturday, calling for a new consensus to uphold the “purposes and principles” of the UN’s founding document, the UN Charter, and a rejection of the Western-backed “Rules Based Order” concept.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Prime Minister Modi spotlights India’s role as a ‘reliable, democratic global partner’ 

25 September 2021
UN Affairs

In his address to the high-level debate at the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Narendra Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to democracy, highlighted its great strides in developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines, and warned against “countries with regressive thinking.”

Prime Minister Abdalla Adam Hamdok (on screens) of the Sudan addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Sudan striving for ‘common goal’ of peace, prosperity, freedom and justice

25 September 2021
UN Affairs

Sudan continues the path to democracy, two years after the revolution that “carried the aspirations of our people for freedom, peace and justice”, Prime Minister Abdalla Adam Hamdok told the UN General Assembly on Saturday. 

Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves (on screens) of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

St. Vincent’s Prime Minister urges world to ‘rise collectively’ and combat today’s challenges 

25 September 2021
UN Affairs

In addition to the global challenges surrounding climate, security and the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Saturday drew the attention of the 76th UN General Assembly to devastating volcanic eruptions and the on-rushing Atlantic Hurricane season confronting his small-island developing State (SID).

Prime Minister Ariel Henry of Haïti addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Haitian Prime Minister: As long as there is inequality, migration will continue  

25 September 2021
UN Affairs

The Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry, said on Saturday that “human beings, fathers and mothers who have children, are always going to flee poverty and conflict.”