General Assembly opens 72nd session with focus on the world鈥檚 people
Photo: UN Photo/Kim Haughton
Miroslav Laj膷谩k (centre), President of the 72nd session of the General Assembly, gavels open the session鈥檚 first meeting. He is flanked by Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres (left) and Catherine Pollard, Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management. Photo: UN Photo/Kim Haughton
12 September 2017 鈥� The United Nations General Assembly today opened its 72nd session, with an emphasis on striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet.
鈥淭he UN was created for people,鈥� Miroslav Laj膷谩k said in his first address as President of the General Assembly. 鈥淭he people who need the UN the most are not sitting in this hall today. They are not involved in the negotiation of resolutions. They do not take the floor at high-level events. It is one of the tasks of the General Assembly to make sure that their voices can still be heard.鈥�
Ahead of today鈥檚 opening, the career diplomat from Slovakia spoke to听UN News听about his hopes for his one-year tenure, and said that conflict prevention and migration would top his agenda.听
In today鈥檚 address, he noted that while it was 鈥渋mpossible鈥� to select one priority for the UN to focus on this year, his aim will be to strive for balance, so that all points of view are represented.
He also stressed quality and transparency in his future work.
Mr. Laj膷谩k takes the reins one week before the start of the high-level General Assembly debate, and said he hoped the 193 UN Member States participating would treat each other with diplomacy and mutual respect.
Speaking to reporters later in the day, Mr. Laj膷谩k reiterated the importance of using the world body to assist people around the world.
Addressing the opening of the General Assembly,听Secretary-General听Ant贸nio Guterres also emphasized the importance of focusing on people in the UN鈥檚 work and underscored his proposed reforms to streamline the Organization.
鈥淧eople around the world are rightly demanding change and looking for governments and institutions to deliver,鈥� he听said. 鈥淲e all agree that the United Nations must do even more to adapt and deliver. That is the aim of the reform proposals that this Assembly will consider.鈥�
He added that one key change within and beyond the UN must be the empowerment of women and girls around the world, and highlighted his own roadmap for achieving gender parity.
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