General Assembly: 45th plenary meeting, 80th session

(Resumed) General Assembly: 45th plenary meeting, 80th session.

True Security Council Reform Crucial to Regaining Public Trust, Improving United Nations Global Image, Speakers Tell General Assembly

• Categories: Meetings & Events / General Assembly
• Video Length: 02:50:16
• Production Date: 18 November 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Corporate Name: GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• Subject Topical: GENERAL ASSEMBLY; MEMBERS; SECURITY COUNCIL; UNITED NATIONS REFORM; MEMBERSHIP; ORGANIZATIONAL REFORM; PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION; GENERAL DEBATE
• MAMS Id: 3503801
• Parent Id: 3501871
• Alternate Title: MTG GA 80 SESSION 45 PLENARY 18 NOV 2025 PM

Description

(Resumed) General Assembly: 45th plenary meeting, 80th session Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council - Item 122 - Continuation of the debate on the item

 

The United Nations has a slim window of opportunity to earn back public trust and burnish its global image — which is too often tarnished by the paralysis of its 15-member Security Council — the General Assembly heard today, as delegates warned that the Organization is widely judged by that most-headlined organ’s failure to end wars, prevent atrocity crimes and keep up with today’s emerging challenges.

“[This] is a moment of reflection, action and leadership to make this Organization, our United Nations, fit for the twenty-first century,” said Annalena Baerbock (Germany), President of the eightieth session of the General Assembly.  Today’s debate comes at a time when the UN is undertaking a process of renewal, namely through the proposed “UN80” reform initiative, aimed at making the Organization more efficient, effective and responsive.  A year after calls to reform the Security Council were enshrined in the landmark Pact for the Future, the Assembly’s 2025 high-level week saw widespread calls for urgent efforts to make that organ more inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

Noting that she recently appointed two Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations process on reform — the permanent representatives of the Netherlands and Kuwait — to advance progress as a priority issue, she urged Member States to submit new reform proposals or to refine existing models, with a view to a “conciliated model that builds upon convergences”. Broad agreement already exists on the need for reform and on the principles that should guide it, she said. While change cannot happen in a matter of days, “we must show that progress is possible”.

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