This event is part of the Geneva Peace Week
Taking place after the opening of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly and ahead of the UN’s 80th anniversary on 24 October 2025, this session aims to explore to what extent and how the UN remains indispensable and provides most effective pathway to address today’s complex global challenges.
As the international system faces unprecedented complexity – ranging from geopolitical power shifts and fragmentation to transnational threats such as climate change, pandemics, and digital disruption – the imperative for effective multilateralism is greater than ever. Echoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ assertion “the United Nations has never been more needed”, this session will examine the UN’s evolving role and effectiveness in sustaining and advancing multilateral cooperation and International Geneva’s capacity to drive it forward.
Discussion Themes
The UN’s Transformative Legacy:
- Tracing the evolution of the UN’s multilateral framework from its post-World War II origins to its current role in addressing 21st-century challenges.
Reform and Innovation:
- Analyzing the essence and impact of ongoing UN reforms aimed at enhancing inclusivity, effectiveness and legitimacy.
- Exploring the integration of new actors – civil society, the private sector, and regional organizations – into the multilateral system and the role of International Geneva in this process.
- Analyzing systemic barriers and emerging risks like new conflicts and threats to multilateral governance.
Actionable Strategies for the Future:
- Leveraging insights from the Pact for the Future, the UN80 initiative and the New Agenda for Peace to identify concrete pathways for strengthening global cooperation.
- Focusing on adaptive governance, digital transformation and inclusive peacebuilding – areas where International Geneva’s extensive network can catalyze sustainable development.
