General Debate of the 70th Session opens

28.9.2015 - The general debate of the seventieth session of the United Nations General Assembly has begun at the headquarters in New York. Following the adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) over the weekend, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed in the presentation of his annual report that, “Our aim is clear. Our mission is possible. And our destination is in our sights: an end to extreme poverty by 2030; a life of peace and dignity for all.”

Mr. Ban’s speech set the stage for a today’s debate by calling on world leaders to “translate promises on paper to action on the ground,” and went on to note that he was impressed by how the leaders gathered were able to “unite behind vital causes -- like the 2030 Development Agenda.” He added that, “That means we must do everything we can to close the gap between the world as it is, and the world as it should be. That is the mission of the United Nations.”

The agenda for the day’s speeches is available on the General Assembly’s website and the proceedings can be viewed live on UN Web TV, in each six official UN languages.

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Related Links:

•   General Debate of the 70th Session: Official Website
•   UN Web TV: Broadcasting the debate live
•   UN News: UN adopts new Global Goals, charting sustainable development for people and planet by 2030
•   UN Sustainable Development: Official Website

Photo Credits:

•   Cover: UN 70th UN Photo 643591
•   Second: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivering annual report: UN Photo/Cia Pak