Source: United Nations (video statements)
From its founding in 1945 to today, the General Assembly has been at the centre of the UN’s story: navigating Cold War tensions, decolonization, apartheid, global crises and the push for reform. UN expert Richard Gowan looks back at how the Assembly evolved and why, eight decades on, it remains the world’s main forum for nations to make their voices heard.
00:00 — The UN is born – In 1945, 50 nations gathered in San Francisco to create the United Nations — with hopes for international law, human rights and a new era of cooperation.
01:20 — The General Assembly takes centre stage – The Security Council was quickly divided by Cold War tensions, while the General Assembly became a key forum for debates on Palestine, Korea and other global crises.
01:39 — Suez and the first peacekeeping mission – The 1956 Suez Crisis put the General Assembly to a major test — and led to the creation of the UN’s first peacekeeping operation.
02:44 — Decolonization changes the UN – As countries gained independence in the 1960s, the General Assembly grew rapidly and became a powerful forum for newly independent nations to challenge the established powers.
03:25 — The fight against apartheid – The Assembly made apartheid in South Africa a major issue, passing resolutions against the system and eventually suspending South Africa’s participation.
04:03 — A new era after the Cold War – The end of the Cold War opened a less confrontational period, giving Member States new opportunities to work together and debate the future of the UN.
04:52 — The push for UN reform – At the turn of the millennium, the General Assembly became an important forum for discussions on reform — including changing the composition of the Security Council and strengthening multilateral cooperation.
06:52 — Why the General Assembly still matters – From Khrushchev and Arafat to Gaddafi, the Assembly has always been part diplomatic forum, part global stage. Today, leaders still come to make their voices heard on the major issues of the day.