“Eighty years ago, from the ashes of war, the world planted a seed of hope. One Charter, one vision, one promise: that peace is possible when humanity stands together.” António Guterres

As world leaders prepare to convene in New York, USA, for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week, the atmosphere is marked by both reflection and urgency. The theme, “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights, ” is a meaningful acknowledgement of a fundamental truth: development and human rights are two sides of the same coin. One cannot be sustainably realised without the other. As officials and Heads of State gather to reflect on eight decades of multilateralism and to chart the way forward, this interdependent relationship must be the foundation of a renewed global commitment.

The charter that established the United Nations (UN) in 1945 inextricably connected these ideas. It tasked the organisation with “promoting international cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, educational and health fields, and assisting in the realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.” This was a forward-looking understanding that peace is the presence of justice, opportunity, and dignity for every individual. Genuine development is impossible when human rights are violated, and it cannot thrive in an environment of deep poverty and inequality.

Eighty years on, this vision faces unprecedented testing. The ambitious promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hangs in the balance. With the 2030 deadline approaching, progress is falling behind on most goals. This stagnation is not a technical failure but a violation of human rights. When a child is denied education (a development target), their right to learn is infringed. When communities lack clean water and sanitation, their right to health is at risk. When inequality worsens, the right to a life free from discrimination is compromised. The SDGs are fundamentally a comprehensive agenda for the realisation of economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights. Achieving them remains the most urgent human rights challenge of our era.

The upcoming UNGA session, scheduled for 22-30 September 2025, comes at a critical juncture. It offers a chance to move beyond isolated discussions and recognise the interconnected nature of these challenges. The agenda itself illustrates this interconnection. The Climate Summit, to be convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 24 September, serves as a clear example. The climate crisis is the ultimate intersection of development and human rights. It is a development disaster, undoing progress in nutrition, displacing communities, and worsening poverty. At the same time, it is a human rights crisis, endangering fundamental rights to life, food, water, and shelter, often affecting communities least responsible for causing it.

The summit’s emphasis on new national climate action plans is therefore not just an environmental debate; it is a discussion on the right to a healthy environment and the right to development itself. Ambitious climate action is essential for achieving both the SDGs and upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Leaders presenting their plans will be judged not only on their technical targets for emissions reduction but also on the equity and justice embedded within them. Do they protect the most vulnerable? Do they ensure a fair transition for workers? The answers to these questions will determine the legitimacy of the global response.

Furthermore, the call to consider the future path for a more inclusive and responsive multilateral system requires a critical examination of governance. A system that promotes development without safeguarding civic space, freedom of expression, and the right to participate in public life is unstable. Authoritarian development models may achieve short-term economic gains, but they are fundamentally fragile. Sustainable, resilient development depends on the active engagement of an empowered citizenry, capable of holding leaders accountable and shaping their own future. For the multilateral system to be genuinely responsive, it must listen to and safeguard the voices of human rights defenders, indigenous communities, and marginalised groups who are on the frontlines of both development deficits and environmental degradation.

As the world turns to New York this September, the message must be clear: we cannot choose between development and human rights. We cannot prioritise economic growth at the expense of civic freedoms, nor can we advocate for rights without tackling the crushing poverty that denies them. The theme “Better Together” is a rallying call for integrated solutions. It calls for climate finance that boosts community resilience and land rights. It advocates for digital transformation that bridges divides rather than deepening discrimination. It promotes economic models that value success not only in terms of GDP but also in terms of well-being, equity, and justice.