At the opening of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 22, UNGA
President Khalil Rahman urged urgent UN reform to regain international trust
amid ongoing regional conflicts, development shortfalls and disruptive
technologies such as AI. Rahman said mere preservation of the institution is
insufficient and that rebuilding trust is a central task for this session. He
pressed for Security Council reform to increase representation and transparency,
flagged Africa’s underrepresentation, and warned the UN’s effectiveness is
questioned when the Council cannot act on major issues. He called for a UN
capable of proactively shaping change through reform and broader participation.
