Vanuatu’s delegation to the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, Hon. Marc Ati, and including the Minister of Climate Change, Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, participated in a series of High-Level Meetings from September 22-26, 2025, voicing the nation’s firm stance on global peace, health, and youth empowerment.
Throughout the week, Foreign Minister Marc Ati and delegation engage in four High-Level Meetings:
· Attended the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations The delegation commenced its engagements by attending the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations on September 22, emphasizing on Vanuatu's commitment to the principles and multilateral framework of the UN.
· The Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health (September 25): Minister Marc Ati reaffirmed Vanuatu’s commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and healthy communities. He emphasized national leadership in taking action to achieve the targets of the Political Declaration on NCDs and the Mental Health Action Plan, establishing a path toward healthier and more resilient communities for future generations.
· Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth (September 25): The Foreign Minister highlighted Vanuatu's dedication to investing in its youth through education, health, economic empowerment, and civic participation. He detailed national efforts to strengthen the mechanisms of the Youth Authority Act of 2018, ensuring that youth voices shape policies and utilize their creativity to create a sustainable future where every young person can thrive.
· Commemorating the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (September 26): Representing Vanuatu, Minister Ati expressed the nation's steadfast commitment to global disarmament. He declared Vanuatu's ratification of key treaties, including the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), the Rarotonga Treaty, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In his statement, he called on nuclear-armed states to fulfill their disarmament commitments and emphasized the need for collective action to eliminate nuclear weapons, standing with the international community to build a safer, more just, and nuclear-free world.
Through these engagements, Vanuatu consistently demonstrated its proactive and principled role on the world stage, advocating for a future that is healthy, peaceful, and empowering for all.
