Why Brazil speaks first at UN General Assembly: 5 things to know

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PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida

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By Safiu Victoria

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Every year, world leaders gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss major global issues.

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This year, the high-level debate begins on Tuesday, September 22. But one question often comes up: Why does Brazil speak first?

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Here are five things to know about the tradition.

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1. Why Brazil speaks first

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Brazil has spoken first since 1947, and this has now become a tradition. According to the United Nations, during the organisation’s early years, no one ever wanted to be the first to speak, and Brazil always ended up volunteering to go first.

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The host country, which is United States, always speaks second.

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• A tradition, not a written rule
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There is no UN rule stating that Brazil must always speak first. Instead, the position became an established practice over time.

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3. How other countries speak

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After the United States speaks, the order is set by a complex system that involves multiple factors. The heads of state usually speak first, followed by heads of government and then other government representatives, such as foreign ministers.

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The United Nations says other considerations include geographical balance, the order in which the request to speak was made, and other factors.

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4. How long a leader speaks

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Speakers are asked to keep their statements to 15 minutes, but in practice a government official can speak as long as he or she likes.

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5. Brazil’s opening speech attracts global attention

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The General Debate gives countries an opportunity to address the international community about issues important to their governments.

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With representatives from all 193 UN member states participating, Brazil’s opening position places its speech at the start of one of the world’s biggest annual diplomatic gatherings.

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