27 July 2018: María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President-elect of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), announced that the theme of the upcoming general debate will be, ‘Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies.’ The 73rd General Debate will begin on 25 September 2018 and run for approximately nine days.

Espinosa Garcés suggests that Heads of State and Government speaking during the debate “comment on the continuing relevance” of the UN system and international conventions and agreements that inform public policies. She adds that bringing the UN “closer to the people of the world” enhances support for multilateralism. In addition, the President-elect invites speakers to discuss the need for “a shared vision and determined leadership” to address peace, equity and sustainability challenges.

Upon her election as UNGA president on 5 June 2018, Espinosa Garcés, who currently serves as Ecuador’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, addressed Member States to outline her priorities. She highlighted the need to strengthen multilateralism, gender equality, and fulfilling the SDGs. She also remarked that, as the UN needs to respond to the main challenges of the world, it should be connected to its main beneficiaries, the citizens of the world. [Letter from President-elect] [SDG Knowledge Hub story on election]