United Nations General Assembly 2024
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the UN, comprising all Member States, responsible for appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council; electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council, and approving the UN budget. Every year, Heads of States convene at this General Assembly meeting taking place in New York. Many of the issues discussed at that meeting shape decisions impacting millions of people. Various UN UNGA Committees work on these discussions until December when final resolutions are adopted.
Oxfam leaders, experts, and partners are joining the UN 79th General Assembly, Summit of the Future, and Climate Action week in New York, hosting and attending events focused on UN Security Council Reform, gender, digital rights, inequality, climate action, and humanitarian issues. They will be urging global leaders to take bold decisions and action as they deliberate on the pressing issues of our time.
Press conference on Oxfam's Vetoing Humanity report, 19 September 2024.
Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations
UNGA 2024 Theme
“Our global systems have failed to address the unprecedented challenges we face today, leaving millions behind. Conflict is rampant, the climate crisis is at a breaking point, and inequality is soaring. As we gather at this year’s Assembly, leaders cannot squander the opportunity to restore people’s faith in the UN’s role as the flagbearer for global peace, security, and cooperation. They must move beyond mere rhetoric and make bold choices to create a system that serves all of humanity, not just the powerful few."
Who is attending?
Oxfam's Key Priorities at UNGA 79
This year, Oxfam leaders, experts, and partners are joining the UN 79th General Assembly, Summit of the Future, and Climate Action week in New York, hosting and attending events focused on UN Security Council Reform, gender, digital rights, inequality, climate action, and humanitarian issues. They will be urging global leaders to take bold decisions and action as they deliberate on the pressing issues of our time.
Peace and Security
Vetoing Humanity: How a few powerful nations hijacked global peace and why reform is needed at the UN Security Council
What does it say about a Security Council that was meant to protect global peace, but millions are still trapped in conflict?
This report highlights how the five UN Security Council Permanent Member States’ (P5) have abused the veto and negotiating powers in their own geopolitical interests; and how they have paralyzed the Council’s ability to maintain international peace and security or mitigate prolonged conflicts and human suffering.
Click the button below and learn more on how the system is failing and why urgent reform is needed.
Inequality
Multilateralism in an Era of Global Oligarchy: How Extreme Inequality Undermines International Cooperation
Multilateral efforts are failing to adequately respond to critical global challenges, including the climate crisis and persistent poverty and inequality. While some have blamed the deadlock solely on rising geopolitical tensions between powerful countries, such a focus is incomplete. Rather, a key reason for failures of international cooperation is extreme economic inequality. Today, the world’s richest 1% own more wealth than 95% of humanity.
See our latest report highlighting how ultrawealthy individuals — often enabled by the richest countries — exert disproportionate influence over policy decision. The paper proposes the solutions needed for progress and provides new global data prepared for UNGA.
Climate Action
Youth Climate Strike: Tear Down the Pillars of Fossil Fuels
Oxfam staff and partners join the climate march last 20 September 2024 at Foley Square, New York, US. Climate activist Hilda Nakabuye from Uganda spoke at the rally.
