In focus

In focus: 79th session of the UN General Assembly 

UN Women Executive Director speaks from the podium in the United Nations General Assembly Hall on 11 March 2024.
UN Women Executive Director speaks from the podium in the United Nations General Assembly Hall on 11 March 2024. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (#UNGA79) opens on Tuesday, 10 September 2024, with the high-level debate beginning on 24 September, themed “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations.”

The Summit of the Future, from 22 to 23 September, will bring together world leaders to discuss and address some of the most pressing challenges of our times. 

UNGA 79 also marks a critical milestone, with only six years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While there has been progress, no country in the world has achieved gender equality, which is essential to the success of all other goals and targets. 

With the right policies, investments, and bold actions, an equal generation is within reach and would benefit all. 

in the run-up to the 30th anniversary of the visionary Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—the most comprehensive global agenda for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls—UN Women will convene all partners at UNGA 79 to renew and deliver on the commitments made to advance equal rights for women and girls, and to invest in a set of priority actions that will catalyze the greatest impact.

With young people at the centre of these efforts, and a well-resourced women’s movement, the world has an unmissable opportunity to reach gender equality. 

Watch this space for news and updates on gender equality at UNGA 79 and watch livestreams of the events organized by UN Women.

Key events

16 September 19 September 21 September 24 September
  • Platform of women leaders

    Media Launch of Gender Snapshot 2024

    12.30 pm at UN headquarters’ press room, New York, and UN Web TV

    UN Women and UNDESA will launch the 2024 edition of Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot to the media. This year’s report points out the latest trends and challenges on the achievement of gender equality across all the Sustainable Development Goals. It also points out the urgency of accelerating progress on gender equality to achieve the SDGs. UN accredited media are welcome to attend the briefing in person, or online, and the video will also be available post-launch on UN Web TV. The official launch event for Members States and other stakeholders will take place on September 21 at 6 pm, by invitation only.

  • Generation Equality during the Summit of the Future

    Three years into implementation and following the 2023 Midpoint, Generation Equality’s engagement will centre on the launch of the 2024 Accountability Report on 19 September and substantive dialogues—held in-person and online between 22 September and 3 October 2024—leveraging the latest evidence and data to chart a way forward for Generation Equality by connecting and amplifying voices from across the Generation Equality stakeholders across the globe. Please see the report findings here.

  • Beijing+30: Towards a Gender Equal World

    2.30 pm to 3.45 pm at UN Headquarters Conference Room 2, New York

    As we come closer to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, UN Women is taking stock on the implementation so far of this blueprint on women’s rights. The event will bring together governments, civil society organisations and youth groups, the UN system, the private sector, philanthropy and all other multi-stakeholder actors, to share, inspire commit, and act. It will be co-hosted by Mexico, Kenya, and Denmark and others. 

    Registration for in-person attendance: For those who do not have a valid UN ground pass to enter the UN premises, registration for a special event pass is open until 6 September 2024 through this link.

  • Annual meeting of the UNGA platform of women leaders 

    1.15 pm to 2.30 pm

    The Platform of Women Leaders event will explore the importance of women’s equal participation in decision-making in ensuring peace, socio-economic opportunities, sustainable development and human dignity. The meeting will also offer an opportunity for women leaders to amplify their messages on issues of global concern.

     

    10th Anniversary of the HeForShe Initiative 

    7 pm to 9 pm

    The HeForShe Summit will aim to contribute to this context through positive role modeling for masculinities supporting gender equality across all SDGs as a key accelerator for the achievement of a shared vision by 2030. The Summit will also serve as a pivotal moment leading up to the global review of gender equality progress, culminating in the Beijing+30 review in 2025. The event will be a private, in-person Gala Dinner, featuring speakers like Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway, President of Spain H.E. Mr. Pedro Sanches, CEO and Founder of Global Citizen Hugh Evans, as well as prominent private sector leaders. A public event video will be released afterward. Find out more about the HeForShe Initiative here. 

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