The UN founded on 24th October, 1945 is making its 75th anniversary in the backdrop of unprecedented global crisis. This occasion has necessitated to take fresh stock of the organisation’s development, functioning and principles determining its governance. The global realities embracing the organisation also needs to be ascertained and accepted while evaluating the relevance of the UN.
In the last 75 years sweeping changes have taken place in the International order. Bipolar, Cold war, Detente, Unipolar, Multipolar have become redundant terminologies. Power configurations and equations have changed drastically. We are witnessing shifts and emergence in power centres. The changed scenario has been further compounded by the Pandemic and related socio-economic impacts.
The aims and objectives of the UN laid down in the Charter during its foundation appears to be inadequate at this juncture. With the advent of the New Millennium new goals were set . UN at 50 realised it needs to set new goals in the wake of anew millennium. With just 10 years to go to deliver the promises made in 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), will we be able to sufficiently realise the objectives? The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has announced the plan ‘Decade of Action’ in September 2019 to facilitate and promote global, local and people action for speedy progress to meet the deadline of 2030.
On the 75th anniversary of the UN, it will be too simplistic to suggest reforms on the lines of financial, technical, or structural instruments to make UN relevant to suit the changing times. Back in 1966, we had made the First Revision of the UN charter and did not find meaningful solutions for UN to tackle the ongoing or upcoming challenges. That was the first and last time UN was revised. Identifying and designing new goals will not yield much unless executed. Execution largely depends on willingness of member states and their leadership (particularly those of big powers) to do so and how they interact with fellow states and with the family of nations at large. Right now relying on collective action to offset any challenge and attain goals is a distant reality. Strained relations among many member states, will impede UN to act judiciously.
Hence to my mind what is is needed at this hour is the realisation “We, the people of the United Nations, are determined to save the succeeding generations from the scourge…” and to create "UN public opinion", a kind of moral pressure which states cannot ignore. It is we the people who are affected most by health crisis, climate crisis, pandemics, social inequalities, new forms of violence and many more adversaries. People's action at the local level can facilitate attainment of many goals as outlined in Agenda 2030. Actualise for 2030 and visualise beyond. The Global vision of 2045 is not too far away. Global action can run parallel to People’s action.
Meeting of Commission to draft the Preamble, Purposes and Principles in 1945. Courtesy: UN Photo.
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