Day 6 Conclusion: The General Debate ended with a call to turn words into action

Closing the annual general debate on Monday, President of the General Assembly Khalilur Rahman said leaders had faced a world full of conflict, hampering development, deepening inequality and accelerating technological change. But amidst the sharp differences in perspective, he heard a common belief: The UN is still needed.

Six days, in six takeaways

• Peace comes first. The leaders expressed this not as mere ambition, said President Rahman, but as an urgent defense of the UN Charter, international law and the protection of civilians.
• Development is running out of time. With only a fraction of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in its path, it provides a firm decision on whether further action should be taken: “The answer is definitely yes.”
• Inequality is a cause of debate. Countries that face the greatest debt burdens, climate vulnerabilities and fiscal constraints also have the least influence on the institutions that shape the global economy, he said.
• Human rights are tested when it is difficult to defend them. He particularly pointed to the treatment of civilians, minority groups, migrants and refugees, as well as the exclusion of women and girls from education, work and public life.
• AI has taken center stage. Four years ago, only five delegates raised artificial intelligence at the Assembly Hall, he said. This year, 128 didwith questions of control, accountability and equitable access growing ever larger.
• Trust is perhaps the most difficult deficit to repair. “Trust cannot be commanded,” said President Rahman. “That must be achieved through consistency between words and deeds.”

AI’s incredible ascent

Notable shifts: The figures presented by President Rahman illustrate how dramatically the diplomatic conversation has changed.

AI was discussed by more delegates this year than climate change or human rights, he said. Leaders see great potential in this technology, but it also raises deep questions: Who designed it? Who benefits? Who bears the risk?

He highlighted one intervention in particular: “No machine has democratic legitimacy. No algorithm inherits constitutional responsibility.”

The statement is clear: governance must remain people-centred, inclusive and responsive to developing countries, while avoiding a new divide where a handful of countries and companies control the technologies that determine everyone’s future.

Reform means more than just the budget

Bigger question: Can institutions built in the previous era be able to make this happen?

President Rahman said the speakers strongly defended multilateralism, while demanding reform of the institutions through which multilateralism operates.

Administrative changes alone would not be enough, he argued, highlighting the need for deeper political reform and describing Africa’s continued exclusion from Africa’s permanent membership. Security Council as an injustice.

Ultimately, he said, multilateralism should be judged by results, not process: not by the number of resolutions adopted or meetings held, but by whether collective action can be implemented. “changing the reality on the ground.”

The numbers:

According to the Speaker of the Assembly, 194 speakers attended the 2026 General Debate, including 113 Heads of State and Government, one crown prince, 11 Vice Presidents, seven Deputy Prime Ministers, and 48 Ministers.

And next: The speech is finished, the work is not yet

Monday closed General Debate, not a General Assembly session.

From October 1 to December, the 193-member Assembly moved further into its substantive work, debating global issues, electing key officials and considering the UN budget.

Most of the details of the negotiations and their preparation turn to that six Main Committeewhere every Member State is represented and issues range from disarmament and international security to economic, financial, humanitarian and social affairs.

And there is one very important decision to take: following the recommendations of the Security Council, the General Assembly will point The next UN Secretary General, who will replace António Guterres on 1 January 2027.

As President Rahman said in closing the debate: “This is just the beginning of the session.”

Throughout the remainder of the 81st session of the General Assembly, follow suit Meeting Coverage Here,