United Nations leaders lamented the state of global affairs as the General Assembly marked its 80th anniversary on Saturday. The anniversary was commemorated at Methodist Central Hall in London, the site of the inaugural UN General Assembly. Secretary-General António Guterres addressed attendees, reflecting on the organization's founding principles and the challenges facing the world today.
The first UN General Assembly convened just after World War II, bringing together representatives from 51 countries to foster international cooperation. The initial hope was that the UNGA would serve as a primary platform for world leaders to address global issues and prevent future conflicts.
"We won the war by fighting together. We must now preserve the peace by working together," U.S. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes said in his address at the first assembly. Eleanor Roosevelt also spoke, emphasizing the importance of gender equality.
However, current leaders expressed concern that the organization's original goals are increasingly difficult to achieve amidst ongoing conflicts, humanitarian crises, and rising global inequality. The anniversary served as a moment of reflection on the UN's successes and failures, as well as a call to action for renewed commitment to multilateralism.
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