A renewed commitment to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter is critical as the foundation of international cooperation faces unprecedented challenges, according to remarks delivered by the Deputy Secretary-General. The UN’s founding document, she stated, “is our moral compass,” and must guide efforts toward solidarity, international law, and human dignity.
A Fragile Framework
While acknowledging the Security Council and General Assembly’s affirmations of international law through resolutions concerning Ukraine and the two-State solution for Israelis and Palestinians, the Deputy Secretary-General warned that “the very foundation those resolutions rest on is being attacked.” She described a “dangerous nostalgia” that threatens cooperation, allowing the rule of law to be subject to the “whims and caprices of a strong arm.”
Secretary-General António Guterres recently emphasized that the UN Charter is not optional, and all nations have an obligation to uphold it. The Deputy Secretary-General noted that smaller countries are currently “holding the line on the Charter,” recognizing that its protections extend to all, especially the vulnerable. She cautioned that ignoring a rules-based order carries a cost, stating, “Yesterday, the price was Venezuela, tomorrow it may be Greenland.”
Development and Inequality
The Deputy Secretary-General also stressed the importance of accelerating sustainable development, warning that geopolitical tensions are jeopardizing progress in areas like poverty reduction, child and maternal mortality, and girls’ education. She highlighted that “trade wars are closing off markets that have lifted millions out of poverty,” and that hard-won rights for women and girls are being rolled back.
She pointed to the growing disparity in wealth, noting that the wealth of billionaires increased by $2 trillion last year, while the poorest half of humanity collectively owns only two percent of global wealth. The UN conference on financing for development, held last year in Spain, offered potential solutions for creating fiscal space and reforming the international financial architecture.
The Need for Reform
The Deputy Secretary-General underscored the need to “reset the UN to preserve multilateralism.” The UN80 Initiative aims to build a more effective global body capable of delivering greater impact with fewer resources. She called on all nations, including Denmark, to commit to a reformed UN that fulfills the promise of the Charter in the face of today’s realities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN80 Initiative?
The UN80 Initiative is a system-wide reform effort aimed at building a global body that delivers more effectively, with greater impact, amid fewer resources and greater needs on the ground in countries.
What was the Deputy Secretary-General’s warning regarding Venezuela and Greenland?
The Deputy Secretary-General warned that if countries do not stand up for a rules-based order, they will “pay the price of ignoring it,” suggesting that, like Venezuela, other nations – potentially including Greenland – could face consequences.
What did the Deputy Secretary-General say about the UN Charter?
She stated that the UN Charter “is our moral compass” and that all countries have an obligation to uphold it, as recently reminded by Secretary-General António Guterres. She also noted that it is not an à la carte menu.
As global challenges mount and the principles of international cooperation come under strain, what role do you believe individual nations must play in safeguarding a rules-based international order?
