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Club de Madrid at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly

Sep 9, 2025

Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights | 21–26 September 2025

Club de Madrid

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 80 in New York represents one of the most significant gatherings of world leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors, providing a platform to address the complex and interconnected challenges of our time. From 21–26 September 2025, Club de Madrid will be fully engaged in this pivotal week for multilateralism, offering exclusive interviews, high-quality content, and unique insights from its Members, Advisors and partners.

Building on its role as the largest global forum of democratic former Presidents and Prime Ministers, the Club will bring experience, vision, and thought leadership to key discussions on issues that transcend borders. This year, the delegation will focus on governing global public goods, tackling pressing challenges such as climate stability, peace and security, inclusive digital governance, global health, and economic resilience. Through its participation, Club de Madrid aims not only to highlight innovative policy solutions but also to strengthen global cooperation, amplify the voices of democratic leaders, and lay the groundwork for the 2026 Annual Policy Dialogue (APD26) in Madrid, which will explore governance frameworks, financing models, and strategies to safeguard democracy in a multipolar world.

Club de Madrid-led Activities

25 September – Annual UNGA Dinner (By Invitation Only)

Time & Venue: 19:00–22:00
Theme: “Powering Progress: AI, Competitiveness, and Democratic Resilience”
Overview: High-level dinner in collaboration with Club de Madrid US Foundation and Amazon Web Services.

  • Discussion on AI’s impact on global competitiveness

  • Governance frameworks to ensure inclusive and sustainable progress

  • Participation of Members and global leaders in technology, investment, and public policy

  • Speakers: Alain Berset, Carme Artigas, Vilas Dhar, Frederic Werner, Teresa Carlson, Dave Levin, Kingsley Ndoh, Michelle Eatherton, CdM Members (TBC)
    Participants: President Türk, President Bachelet, PM Kiviniemi, President Fernández, PM Bondevik, President Alain Berset, President Halonen, President Alvarado, President Chinchilla, PM Clark, Dino Patti Djalal, María Fernanda Espinosa, Susana Malcorra, Ted Piccone, Jerry Jones, Tim Phillips

26 September – Democracy and Multilateralism: What the World Cannot Afford to Lose (By Invitation Only)

Time & Venue: 11:00–12:30, Bahá’í International Community UN Office, 866 United Nations Plaza
Overview: Launch of the Global Commission on Democracy and Multilateralism.

  • Focus on democratic erosion and legitimacy in international cooperation

  • High-level roundtable discussion with Members, Advisors, and experts

  • Participating Members: President Türk, PM Kiviniemi, PM Bondevik, President Chinchilla, President Bachelet, President Fernández, PM Papandreou, PM Cellou Dalein Diallo, PM Clark (TBC), President Berset (TBC)
    Participating Advisors: Dino Patti Djalal, Jerry Jones, José Antonio Ocampo, Timothy Phillips, Ted Piccone, Alain Baron

26 September – Towards APD26: Governing Global Public Goods in a Multipolar World (By Invitation Only)

Time & Venue: 13:30–16:00, Bahá’í International Community UN Office, 866 United Nations Plaza
Overview: Preparatory session for APD26 (Madrid, June 2026)

  • Focus on governance frameworks, democratic principles, and financing models (including Global Public Investment)

  • Participating Members: President Türk, PM Kiviniemi, PM Bondevik, President Chinchilla, President Bachelet, President Fernández, PM Papandreou, PM Cellou Dalein Diallo, PM Clark (TBC), President Berset (TBC), President Halonen (TBC)
    Participating Advisors: Dino Patti Djalal, Jerry Jones, José Antonio Ocampo, Timothy Phillips, Ted Piccone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Participation Highlights

  • 22 September – Foreign Policy “Her Power” (14:00–16:00)
    PM Mari Kiviniemi participates in a session on women’s leadership

Register here – Link

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • 23 September – AI, Democracy and Multilateralism (15:00–16:30) (By Invitation Only)

    Club de Madrid will co-host a workshop on AI regulation at DLA Piper Offices focusing on the intersection of AI, democracy, and multilateralism
    Key speakers include President Türk, PM Kiviniemi, President Fernández, and PM Löfven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • 23 September – Solidarity in Crisis: The Fight to Reclaim Accountability and Justice (18:00–19:30)
    Roundtable co-hosted with Human Rights Watch at HRW Headquarters.

    Speakers: Danilo Türk, President of Slovenia (2007–2012) and President of Club de Madrid; Stefan Löfven, Prime Minister of Sweden (2014–2021) and Member of Club de Madrid; Mari Kiviniemi, Prime Minister of Finland (2010–2011) and Member of Club de Madrid; Marta Schaaf, Director of the Programme on Climate, Economic & Social Justice and Corporate Accountability, Amnesty International; Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, OHCHR; Otto Saki, Program Officer, Global Governance, Ford Foundation; David Stasavage, Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor, Wilf Family Department of Politics, NYC – Facilitator: Federico Borello, Executive Director, Human Rights Watch

        Register here – Link

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • 24 September – Club de Madrid-GPIN SPA Roundtable: Global Public Investment (breakfast will be served) (8:30-10:30)

Club de Madrid is actively engaged in advancing the potential of Global Public Investment (GPI) as a new, cooperative model for financing global challenges. We are co-leading the Seville Platform for Action, a multistakeholder coalition that was launched at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville in 2025. The SPA works to pilot and scale the GPI model, shifting from the traditional donor, recipient paradigm towards one in which all contribute, all benefit, and all decide.

Speakers: President Türk, President Chinchilla, PM Kiviniemi, SG Agüero

  • 24 September – PVBLIC’s Family Offices for Sustainable Development (FOSD) Forum: Global Public Investment Panel (12:00–13:00)
    CdM panel at UNHQ presenting the concept of GPI and its role in governing global public goods in a multipolar world, highlighting CdM and GPIN’s work following the Seville Platform for Action on GPI.

Speakers: President Türk, PM Kiviniemi, President Bachelet, Simon Henry-Reid
Moderator: Ketan Patel

  • 24 September – Taxation for Fair Climate Financing (14:00–16:00)
    Club de Madrid and Oxfam America’s New York Climate Week event at Oasis by Workville.

    Speakers: Carlos Alvarado, President of Costa Rica (2018–2022), and Club de Madrid Member; Ambassador Ali Mohammed, Special Climate Envoy, Kenya, and Co-Chair, Global Solidarity Levies Taskforce; Laurence Tubiana, CEO, European Climate Foundation; Ashfaq Khalfan, Climate Justice Director, Oxfam America; Marinel Ubaldo, Climate activist from the Philippines; Diego Casaes, Program Director in CECG (Climate Emergency Collaboration Group)

    Register Here – Link

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • 24 September – Agents of Change: How Environmental Human Rights Defenders Advance Global Climate Action (16:00–19:00)
    LEAD event co-organised by World Resources Institute at Ford Foundation, New York.

Speakers: President Alvarado, MF Espinosa (TBC), Ambassador Ali Mohammed, Laurence Tubiana, Ashfaq Khalfan, Marinel Ubaldo, Jeffrey Dinowitz.

  • 25 September | 09:00–10:00 – CGI Leaders Stage: Invest in Women, Invest in Democracy
    High-level discussion on women’s leadership and political engagement
    Featuring perspectives from global leaders, policymakers, and activists, highlighting strategies to advance democratic participation and inclusive governance
    Speakers: President Bachelet, Errin Haines (moderator), Vjosa Osmani, Monica McWilliams, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Amanda Litman, Stacey Abrams

Delegation in New York

Members attending UNGA 80:

Advisors attending:

  • María Fernanda Espinosa – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador; 73rd President of UNGA

  • Jerry Jones – Executive Vice-President, Ethics and Legal Officer, LiveRamp

  • Susana Malcorra – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Argentina; Former UN Chef de Cabinet

  • Dino Patti Djalal – Founder and Chairman, Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI)

  • Ted Piccone – Chief Engagement Officer, World Justice Project; Senior Non-resident Fellow, Brookings Institution

  • Timothy Phillips – Co-Chair and Co-Founder, Project for Justice in Times of Transition

Media & Interview Opportunities

All Club de Madrid activities offer interview and content opportunities with participating Members, Advisors, and WYDE Network leaders. Media teams can request access to invitation-only events and explore collaborations for:

  • Feature pieces

  • Interviews

  • Coverage of Club de Madrid projects beyond UNGA 80

The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) provides a pivotal platform to renew global commitment to multilateralism, solidarity, and collective action. Against a backdrop of global challenges—including climate change, migration, democratic backsliding, and inequality—world leaders, policymakers, and civil society convene to exchange solutions and strengthen international cooperation.

Club de Madrid plays a central role during the week, leading high-level discussions, participating in strategic roundtables, and advancing its agenda on democracy, multilateralism, and global governance.

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