From 22 to 28 September 2026 the 81st United Nations General Assembly High Level Week will be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, U.S.
The High-Level Meeting on PPPR on 25th September will be an important moment to sustain political momentum for the WHO Pandemic Agreement and to advance its ratification and implementation as a cornerstone of global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The ongoing work of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex will be central to this process, as Member States consider the negotiated text and prepare it for adoption by the 80th World Health Assembly in May 2027.
UNITE calls on all its members to Join Your Delegation and attend the UNGA week.
Political Declaration and outcomes of the PPPR High Level Meeting:
Building on the commitments made in the 2023 United Nations Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, the political declaration emerging from the 81st UNGA will offer a significant occasion to reaffirm collective political commitment on PPPR. The declaration will reflect shared priorities agreed by Member States and help guide future cooperation, policy alignment, and implementation efforts across national and international levels.
Background Information
The General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.
The UNGA also makes key decisions for the UN, including appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council, electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council and approving the UN budget.
The Assembly meets in regular sessions from September to December each year, and thereafter as required. It discusses specific issues through dedicated agenda items or sub-items, which lead to the adoption of resolutions. During the High-level week each September, the United Nations hosts world leaders, policymakers, experts and advocates for key Summits and high-level events, as mandated by UNGA resolutions, and the United Nations Secretary-General.
The Assembly meets in regular sessions from September to December each year, and thereafter as required. It discusses specific issues through dedicated agenda items or sub-items, which lead to the adoption of resolutions. During the High-level week each September, the United Nations hosts world leaders, policymakers, experts and advocates for key Summits and high-level events, as mandated by UNGA resolutions, and the United Nations Secretary-General.
UNITE would like to bring to your attention these key dates:
- Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026: Opening of the General Assembly of the UN
- Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026: High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Pandemic Preparedness and Response
- Thursday, September 28th, 2026: Closing of the General Debate (Official agenda to be released)
A United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting (HLM) is convened by the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the primary decision-making body representing all 193 UN Member States. In this forum, Member States collaborate on a broad range of international issues outlined in the UN Charter, including development, peace and security, and international law. The decision to convene a HLM on a specific topic is made under exceptional circumstances through a UN resolution, aiming to facilitate agreement on cooperation measures and solutions to significant global challenges among Heads of State and governments.
Since the inaugural Special Session on HIV/AIDS in 2001, the UN has convened various HLMs focused on health issues, including HIV/AIDS (2006, 2011, 2016, 2021), Non-Communicable Diseases (2011, 2014, 2018), Antimicrobial Resistance (2016), Tuberculosis (2018, 2023), Universal Health Coverage (2019, 2023), and Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (2023).
