Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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January 10, 2026 UN
Exactly 80 years ago, on January 10, 1946, the very first session of the United Nations General Assembly, the main deliberative body of the new international structure created after World War II to prevent future conflicts, opened in London.
The first meeting did more than formally launch the work of the UN. It became a symbol of hope, an attempt by humanity to rethink its own mistakes and create mechanisms for collective security.
The choice of London for the session was deeply symbolic: the British capital suffered severely from air raids during the war. In contrast to the optimistic atmosphere of San Francisco, where the UN Charter was signed, London served as a stark reminder of the need to maintain peace.
Delegations from 51 states that signed the UN Charter gathered in a hall in the Palace of Westminster. It was an international diplomatic forum of unprecedented scale. Belgian Paul-Henri Spaak, a distinguished diplomat and later one of the architects of European integration, was elected President of the historic session of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly had important matters to deal with: forming the main organs of the UN, deciding on the budget of the Organization and the location of its headquarters, and electing the UN Secretary-General.
Just two days after the opening of the session, the UN's principal body, the Security Council, was established, and on February 1, the Secretary-General was elected. He was Norwegian Foreign Minister Trygve Lie.
Photo by UN
On October 24, 1949, the cornerstone of the UN Headquarters building was laid at a special public meeting of the General Assembly in New York.
Initially, the Soviet Union supported the Norwegian diplomat's candidacy. But as disagreements between the West and the socialist bloc intensified, trust among UN member states began to decline. Eventually, the USSR accused the Secretary-General of aiding the United States during the Korean War. Unable to withstand the pressure, Trygve Lie resigned in 1952.
The first session consisted of two parts: on October 23, the General Assembly moved from London to Flushing Meadows, New York. This began the tradition of holding meetings in the United States, where the iconic UN headquarters building was later built.
The General Assembly is the sole universal body responsible for maintaining global peace and security, human development, eradicating poverty and infectious diseases, disarmament, ensuring human rights, and protecting the environment. Currently, 193 states participate in the General Assembly.
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