The 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will run from September 14 to September 30 of this year. High-level General Debate will begin on September 21.
The provisional agenda, released on July 16, indicates that the session will begin with a discussion of sustainable development, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established for 2030. With 2030 being less than a decade away, the discussion and active implementation of the SDGs is growing increasingly important. As per the agenda, the discussion of sustainable development will include questions on macroeconomic policy, resolutions for the advancement of women, and the introduction as “space as a driver of sustainable development.”
In addition to discussing sustainable development, UNGA will also cover the maintenance of international peace, development of Africa, promotion of human rights, coordination of humanitarian assistance, promotion of justice, disarmament, crime prevention, and administrative matters in the 16-day session. Several important elections will take place during the session, such as the election of non-permanent members of the Security Council, members of the Economic and Social Council, and a member of the International Court of Justice.
In acknowledgement of rapid developments in science and technology, a non-negligible amount of time will be spent discussing space. Space appears not only in the section on sustainable development, but also in the sections of international peace and disarmament.
While not included in the initial provisional agenda, proposed supplementary items for the agenda include justice for survivors of sexual violence, granting the International Solar Alliance observer status in the UNGA, and electing members to the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent.
Numerous events have been scheduled alongside the 76th session, all of which will transpire virtually due to COVID-19 precautions. Some major events include the Sustainable Development Impact Summit hosted by the World Economic Forum from September 20-23 and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s Civil Society Forum from September 22-24. Both of these events will focus on how to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Another SDG based event will be held virtually on September 20 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, when the UN Secretary-General convenes the second SDG Moment of the Decade of Action. This event is meant to underscore the necessity and the urgency of the SDGs and will be open to the public.
To read more about what resolutions the UNGA will be discussing this session, click here.
To watch the SDG Moment on UN WebTV, click here.