The incoming UN General Assembly president, Khalilur Rahman, has pledged to restore public trust in the institution amid war, humanitarian crises and intensifying climate change.

Mr Rahman made the pledge at the opening of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday at UN Headquarters in New York.

After officially receiving the iconic Icelandic wooden gavel from outgoing Assembly president Annalena Baerbock, Mr Rahman of Bangladesh outlined a key theme for the year, ‘Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all’.

“We must make the United Nations fit for the future,” he said, underlining the importance of hearing voices from civil society. “We have a situation where trust is in deficit. This is not 1945. This is the 81st session. The world has moved on. The Organisation must move on, and I’ll help that process.”

UN secretary general Anthonio Guterres saluted the accomplishments of Ms Baerbock and welcomed Mr Rahman’s new tenure. He noted that the new tenures began amid conflicts, geopolitical divisions, a risk of nuclear escalation, persistent poverty, inequality and worsening climate chaos.

“Another immediate priority is selecting the next UN chief, to begin their term in January 2027. Rebuilding trust in the multilateral system is the defining challenge of our time. In these tumultuous times, the global problem-solving system is more crucial than ever.

“However, from the UN Security Council to world finance, the institutions of the multilateral system are straining to meet the moment,” Mr Guterres said.

According to him, international law and human rights—the core of our organisation—are too often flouted with impunity, and geopolitical mistrust and suspicion continue to block the effective solutions we need and erode people’s faith in the possibilities of global cooperation.

(NAN)