5 October 2026 - As the eighty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly gets underway, Member States will engage in the work of the Second and Third Committees to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while advancing social inclusion and sustainable development for all.
Through its substantive expertise and analytical support, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ DESA will help inform discussions spanning sustainable finance, population ageing, poverty eradication, youth participation and disability-inclusive development.
Second Committee ¨C Economic and financial issues
A major focus of the General Assembly¡¯s Second Committee will be the role of financing in advancing sustainable development. The first plenary meeting of the Committee will be held on 1 October and chaired by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Albania, Suela Janina.
On 5 October, the Committee will feature a keynote address by Professor Parfait Eloundou-Enyegue, Professor of Global Development and Public Policy at Cornell University and Incoming Director of Cornell University's Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies.
Under the theme ¡°Financing sustainable development in a changing global economy to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals,¡± Member States will explore ways to mobilize the resources needed to accelerate SDG implementation amid growing global uncertainty and competing development priorities.
On 19 October, the Second Committee and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will convene a joint thematic meeting to promote policy coherence, encourage integrated approaches to development and advance dialogue on financing solutions that can accelerate progress toward the SDGs.
On 20 October, a dialogue with the Regional Commissions will bring regional perspectives to the discussion, highlighting development priorities, challenges and opportunities across different parts of the world.
Third Committee - Social, humanitarian and cultural issues
Social development issues will feature prominently throughout the 81st session of the Third Committee which opens with its first plenary meeting on 1 October, chaired by the Permanent Representative of Australia, James Martin Larsen.
At the same time as the Committee kicks off the plenary meetings, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ DESA will convene an Introductory Briefing and Welcome for Youth Delegates at the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations, helping delegates navigate the work of the Third Committee and engage effectively in youth-related discussions.
On 8 October, the United Nations will commemorate the International Day of Older Persons under the theme ¡°The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,¡± challenging persistent myths about ageing, emphasizing the contributions of older persons as well as the opportunities presented by longer lives.
Poverty eradication remains another key priority as the Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018¨C2027) approaches its conclusion. On 14 October, Member States will review progress on implementation of the Decade and examine strategies for eradicating rural poverty. These efforts will be reinforced on 17 October, when the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty will be commemorated under the theme ¡°Safe Homes for All,¡± drawing attention to the links between poverty, human rights and access to safe and adequate housing.
Disability inclusion will also remain high on the agenda of the Third Committee. The Secretary-General¡¯s report on Inclusive Development for and with Persons with Disabilities will assess progress in implementing major international commitments and identify ways to address persistent barriers, strengthen synergies and accelerate disability-inclusive development.
The work in these two Committees reflects a shared commitment to advancing sustainable development through both effective financing and inclusive social policies, placing people at the centre of development and committing to leaving no one behind.
Follow the work of the Committees via and learn more about the upcoming sessions here.