UN General Assembly's 81st session kicks off with focus on restoring trust in multilateralism
Khalilur Rahman, president of 81st General Assembly, says 'for more than 8 decades, our organization has helped the world avoid plunging into a third world war, arguably the very reason for its existence'
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday with President Khalilur Rahman calling for renewed efforts to restore trust in multilateralism, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that rebuilding confidence in the global system is "the defining challenge of our time."
Rahman said the UN's endurance over eight decades speaks to its core purpose, noting "for more than eight decades, our organization has helped the world avoid plunging into a third world war, arguably the very reason for its existence."
Highlighting the often unseen work of the UN, he said, "every day, often far from the spotlight, the United Nations and its dedicated corps of professionals work to feed millions of people, including refugees and other displaced populations around the world, support peace and security, combat chronic diseases, and help countries address complex transboundary challenges."
Rahman also acknowledged the institution has repeatedly failed to meet expectations, noting the conflicts, fragile development gains and worsening climate impacts.
"Conflicts continue to inflict immense human suffering, development gains remain feeble and fragile, climate impacts are intensifying," he said.
Warning that these compounding crises have eroded faith in collective action, he said, "a widening trust deficit is testing confidence in international institutions and collective action, a deficit that we must close by working together through dialogue, renewed cooperation, and delivery."
"Today, our responsibility is not merely to defend this institution—there are good reasons to do that—but to strengthen it, not simply to invoke trust on which multilateralism rests, but to earn it every day," he said, adding: "My pledge for the 81st session, dear colleagues and friends, is to work tirelessly to revive trust in this institution, upon which success of our collective action ultimately depends."
The session's theme, "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All," reflects that pledge.
Guterres, addressing the Assembly, backed Rahman's leadership, pledged his "full support to you, Mr. President, as you take on this important role."
Welcoming the session's theme, Guterres said rebuilding faith in the multilateral system is "the defining challenge of our time," citing conflicts, nuclear escalation risks, deepening poverty, climate disruption and ungoverned artificial intelligence as pressures straining global institutions, from the Security Council to the international financial system.
He closed with a call for cooperation, saying "through diplomacy, dialogue, and collaboration, this Assembly can rebuild the trust and good faith that is missing from our geopolitics today, and ensure the people of the world inherit a better, healthier and more peaceful future."
