Former Foreign Minister and President of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, participated in the meeting of the Council of Presidents of the UN General Assembly held in Doha.
The high-level gathering brought together 13 former UNGA Presidents, concluding with the adoption of the Doha Declaration, which outlines key reforms needed to strengthen the UN’s ability to address 21st-century global challenges.
In the declaration, the Council urged the United Nations to refocus on its core mandate of maintaining global peace, resolving conflicts, and upholding international law. The group also called for renewed efforts to ensure countries fully implement the Paris Agreement amid growing climate concerns.
Qatar’s Nasser Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, who presided over the 66th UNGA session, was unanimously elected President of the Council, while Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session, was elected Vice President.
Shahid, who led the 76th Session from September 2021 to September 2022, said on X that it was an honour to join fellow former presidents. He noted that the Council voiced “grave concern about the crisis of multilateralism” and reaffirmed the need for comprehensive UN reform, including a transparent and inclusive process for selecting the next UN Secretary-General.
Established in 1997, the Council advises the sitting Presidency of the UN General Assembly and works to advance multilateralism and the effectiveness of the UN system.
The high-level gathering brought together 13 former UNGA Presidents, concluding with the adoption of the Doha Declaration, which outlines key reforms needed to strengthen the UN’s ability to address 21st-century global challenges.
In the declaration, the Council urged the United Nations to refocus on its core mandate of maintaining global peace, resolving conflicts, and upholding international law. The group also called for renewed efforts to ensure countries fully implement the Paris Agreement amid growing climate concerns.
Qatar’s Nasser Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, who presided over the 66th UNGA session, was unanimously elected President of the Council, while Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session, was elected Vice President.
Shahid, who led the 76th Session from September 2021 to September 2022, said on X that it was an honour to join fellow former presidents. He noted that the Council voiced “grave concern about the crisis of multilateralism” and reaffirmed the need for comprehensive UN reform, including a transparent and inclusive process for selecting the next UN Secretary-General.
It was a privilege to join fellow Presidents of the UN General Assembly at the UNCPGA meeting in Doha, where we adopted the Doha Declaration. We expressed grave concern about the crisis of multilateralism and its impact on the UN's role, reiterating our call for comprehensive UN… pic.twitter.com/d2sbBdrIGR
— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) December 8, 2025
Established in 1997, the Council advises the sitting Presidency of the UN General Assembly and works to advance multilateralism and the effectiveness of the UN system.
