81st UN General Assembly Session Opens Amid Global Conflicts and Stalled Progress on Gender Equality

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has opened on September 8, 2026, against a backdrop of numerous global conflicts and a slowdown in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs are set to launch the 2026 Gender Snapshot report on September 17, which is expected to highlight a global reversal in women's leadership across various levels of power. The session will address the urgent need for action to ensure women's equal access to power to effectively tackle peace, development, and human rights challenges.