According to the President, each and every day the world is facing new challenges – modern forms of terrorism, the refugee crisis, information and hybrid warfare. However, the United Nations, which has existed for 70 years now, is still unable to find effective ways to deal with them. The President underlined that the time for being a passive observer was already over, and the moment has come for the United Nations to renew itself and actively contribute to implementing peace processes and tackling global problems.
At the General Assembly, world leaders will discuss terrorism and its threats, economic growth, and women's rights. They will seek ways to manage the refugee crisis that continues to shake the world. Pope Francis will attend the General Assembly, the first time that a pope speaks before such a large gathering of world leaders in the UN's history.
In her address to the international community, the President will focus on vetoing justice and the necessity to change the work rules of the UN Security Council by putting an end to the use of veto in situations of genocide, atrocities, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
A clear example of the UN Security Council's inability to act is the investigation of the downing of MH17 in eastern Ukraine when Russia vetoed the proposal to set up an international criminal tribunal. In this context, the Lithuanian President together with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is organizing a high-level event to ensure justice in resolving international conflicts.
During her visit to New York, the President will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama and attend a high-level meeting hosted by him. As terrorism is taking on new forms, world leaders will explore more effective tools to fight terrorism and ISIS.
The President will also attend a UN summit where, after a period of 15 years, countries will adopt a new development agenda and identify 17 goals to help build a better and safer world. According to the President, it is essential that the new goals do not remain on paper but are actually implemented.
The President will place very strong emphasis on the situation of women in Eastern Europe. As Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders, Dalia Grybauskaitė is organizing a high-level discussion on women's rights and their role in today's society. During the discussion, Vira Savchenko, sister of Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko held in prison in Russia, will read out a special letter written by her sister. The conference will be attended by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Croatian and Georgian presidents, Moldavian vice prime minister and Ukrainian members of parliament.
