The Month Ahead at the United Nations

September 2019

The UN General Assembly begins its 74^th session on 17 September, with general debate beginning on 24 September. The President of the United States is expected to address the gathering that morning.

Five summits/high-level meetings follow next week:

• Climate Action (23 September)
• Universal Health Coverage (23 September)
• Sustainable Development Goals (24-25 September)
• Financing for Development (26 September)
• Sustainable Development in Small-Island States (27 September)

The Russian Federation assumes the presidency of the Security Council in September.

Among other events: 

• Conference of Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification (2-13 September)
• 20^th anniversary of the Culture of Peace Plan of Action (13 September)
• SDG Media Zone (21-27 September)
• Youth Climate Summit (21 September) and Youth Forum on SDGs (23 September)
• 30^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (25 September)

Reports and resources: 

• Global Sustainable Development Report (10 or 11 September)
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (20-23 September)

• The SDG Book Club offers reading lists to help children and their teachers discover new voices and concepts from around the world. In August, it included books about gender equality (SDG 5). In September it will offer selections about clean water and sanitation (SDG 6). The books are available in all six UN languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

International days:

International Day of Charity (5 September)

International Literacy Day (8 September)

International Day against Nuclear Tests (observed 9 September)

World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September)

UN Day for South-South Cooperation (12 September)

International Day of Democracy (15 September)

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (16 September)

International Day of Peace (observed 20 September)

International Day of Sign Languages (23 September)

World Maritime Day (26 September)

International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (26 September)

World Tourism Day (27 September)

International Day for Universal Access to Information (28 September)

World Rabies Day (28 September)

International Translation Day (30 September)

For more information: 

• To find out which UN events will be webcast see: http://unwebtv.live/schedule
• UN News Centre: https://news.un.org/en/
• UN Secretary-General: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/secretary-generals-speeches
• UN Security Council: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/
• UN Spokesperson: http://www.un.org/sg/en/spokesperson