“This is a year to adapt, to evolve and to build the United Nations we need for the next 80 years, for the lifetimes of our children. It is a moment to show eight billion people around the world why this organisation still matters.”

How does the UN General Assembly work?

From there, the list of nations to give speeches is based on hierarchy and generally on a first-come, first-served basis.

“And recently it’s been playing an increasingly important role in directing advisory opinion requests to the International Court of Justice.”

Countries move to recognise Palestinian statehood

“With that (two-state) solution now under threat, this is the moment to act,” he said.

The UNGA’s ‘significant moral weight’

“Although they’re not binding in and of themselves, if you have enough General Assembly resolutions that build up over a period of time, they can actually contribute to the development of binding norms of international law,” she said.

Although the UNGA 80th session’s first plenary meeting took place on 9 September, high-level meetings and summits don’t begin until 22 September. Source: Getty / Selcuk Acar / Anadolu

The UNGA also has significant influence through a range of agencies that carry out the UN’s mandates.