What is the UN General Assembly? DW 09/08/2025

"The General Assembly is the primary deliberative body of the United Nations and, in effect, of global diplomacy. This year's session will comprise delegations from all 193 UN member states, which all have equal representation on a "one state, one vote" basis. Unlike other UN bodies, such as the Security Council, this means all members have the same power when it comes to voting on resolutions. It is also the only forum where all member states are represented."

"There is a broad agenda that is discussed at every General Assembly that typically includes issues revolving around economic, social, security and environmental policy. Among the wider discussions are also several standalone events. These include summits on climate and the global economy and updates on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals,which were adopted by the UN in 2015 as a call to action to end poverty and protect the planet. This year will also see the launch of a new dialogue on AI governance."

"This year, this includes major ongoing conflicts such as the war between Russia and Ukraine andIsrael's offensive in Gaza. Recent editions have also occured against democratic backsliding across some regions of the world. "There is a general backlash of democracy in several states," Diana Panke, a professor of International Relations at the Free University of Berlin, told DW. "This is one aspect that makes the [General Assembly] dynamic kind of difficult or challenging.""

The 80th United Nations General Assembly convenes from September 9 with delegations from all 193 member states, each holding equal representation on a 'one state, one vote' basis. The Assembly addresses economic, social, security and environmental policy and includes standalone events such as climate and global economy summits and updates on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015. The session will launch a new dialogue on AI governance. The Assembly's work occurs amid major ongoing conflicts, notably between Russia and Ukraine and Israel's offensive in Gaza, and amid democratic backsliding that complicates multilateral dynamics.

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