In the 75 year history, the hectic activity surrounding the UN General Assembly – the exchange for ideas between world leaders, ministers, diplomats, civil society members, and journalists will be missed virtually. Even the heads of the states and governments are asked to record the video statements beforehand and this will be played in the UNGA sessions amidst COVID-19 caused pandemic.

Beginning on 15 September, UNGA meeting will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN which will take place on 21 September declaring the end of it formally.

The general debate during normal conditions have witnessed leaders and ministers from 193 UN member states address – a global audience from behind the iconic lectern in the General Assembly Hall is to start on 22 September.

Every participating country is allotted 15 minutes for a session including the recorded messages from leaders and Assembly Hall by the country representatives preceding the video (as per news reports).

On September 30, a bio-diversity summit is scheduled and a meeting of the GA on the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women is to be conducted on 1 October. Another discussion for promoting International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is going to be held on 2nd October. A request to World Leaders has been sent for submitting their recorded messages for the mentioned events. These proceedings are limited to video messages, while some stated this year’s session will witness multilateralism reduced to the minimum.

The UN Security Council could not put out a statement on the pandemic as the differences of opinion between its permanent, veto-wielding members like the US and China.

UNGA is also hosting events like the Honorable Indian PM Narendra Modi had a half-a-dozen “plurilateral” meetings with the leaders of the Caribbean and Pacific Island states besides bilateral talks with the heads of the state and the government, which will be missed as expressed by a person who is familiar with the working of the United Nations.