Why World Needs The United Nations

After the devastation of the World War II, fifty countries came together in San Francisco, put aside their differences and signed the Charter of the United Nations which came into force on 24 October 1945. The Charter opens with the powerful declaration, “We the people of the United Nations determined to save the succeeding generations from the scourge of war…”  The UN family has grown from 50 member states to 193.  The UN General Assembly (UNGA), its principal deliberative body, comprises all members.  

The purposes and principles of the UN enshrined in the Charter include among others “to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations,… based on the principle of  sovereign equality of all its members, and inadmissibility of interference in their internal affairs,  achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, affirm faith in the fundamental human rights and freedoms for all without distinctions as to race, sex, language or religion.” The UN is “a centre for harmonising the actions of nations…”  

Global issues

How far these objectives have been transformed into reality is dependent on two factors: ability and willingness of its members particularly the permanent five of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to rise above their strategic and political concerns, and how far the   capacity of the remaining member states been able to stand to great powers and win their trust.  Deliberations at the UN are found more focused on building consensus than transformative action. Transformation requires change of heart and attitudes.  Despite all good intentions, the UN is rarely seen addressing the root causes of global issues.  

Over these years, numerous reports with diverse perspectives have offered a wide range of recommendations. These reports acknowledge shortcomings of the United Nations. Various recommendations contained in these reports have expanded the volume of activities that have considerably strained the organisation due to lack of capacity and resources.  The issue of member states failing to pay their assessed contributions exacerbates these challenges. Member states have frequently expressed disappointment in the organisation’s performance “with little regard for the fact that it can only be as effective as the Governments allow it to be.” Also, many of these reports maintain that “the UN remains profoundly relevant for maintaining international peace and security, for ensuring a just world order in social and economic terms.”  

However, the picture remains far from ideal.  While majority of members are for a stronger and effective UN, major powers have always prioritised their strategic and political interests. Addressing these issues is essential to enhance the UN’s effectiveness and performance. The 79th session of the UNGA which is held with the theme of  “leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”  should not be just a commemoration, but an occasion for collective and critical introspection by member states, especially by more powerful among them, to determine whether they really wish the UN to be an effective instrument for ensuring the well-being of the people of the world, or whether it should just remain a political convenience at their disposal.  The UN must be allowed to act different from its defunct predecessor - the League of Nations.  

At a time when the UN’s effectiveness is under question, world leaders gather at the UN headquarters for the “Summit of the Future,” which is a blueprint for global institutional reform. They will adopt an action oriented outcome document known as the Pact for the Future, which includes a range of issues: sustainable development, international peace and security, youth and future generations, science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation, and transforming global governance. The Pact has two key documents: Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generation. It is expected that the Pact would provide a practical and implementable roadmap to show that multilateralism is far from dead. 

The pressing priority of day is the expansion and restructuring of the UN Security Council and other key organs of the UN, to make them more democratic, representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient and accountable. History shows that the five permanent members have often used these institutions to serve their own interests. To address this, the UN Security Council must undergo significant reforms to overcome operational shortcomings, and address long-standing deficiencies.  The veto power has often paralysed the UN’s ability to function effectively. In today’s chaotic, complex, and turbulent world, UN looks increasingly marginalised as exemplified in its handling of Ukraine and Gaza wars. 

The 1945 context has completely changed. The Cold War is long gone and new order is struggling to be born.  The 21st century has ushered in an era of unprecedented interdependence and interconnectedness. A new generation of challenges stare at the humanity. No single nation, regardless of its power, can tackle transnational challenges like climate change, pandemic and terrorism. These “Problems without Passports,” are threatening the humanity and demand multinational cooperation to confront them. The past five years have been more critical because of COVID-19 pandemic, and two hot wars.  Inaction at the UN on crucial matters has been both tragic and terrifying. The proliferation of nuclear weapons has assumed alarming levels.   The world appears on the brink of a World War III.

Nepal's commitment   

At this point of time, the world needs to reflect seriously on what the late Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold, said, the UN was created “not to take the humanity to heaven but to prevent it from going to hell.”  The world needs the UN as a custodian of the multilateralism. Prime Minister of Nepal BP Koirala told the 15th UNGA in 1960 that “the real solution of the world's problems, including the problem of world peace and prosperity, lies in the direction of strengthening and extending the authority of the United Nations. This authority will be strengthened and fortified if the decisions of the United Nations are respected faithfully and loyally by all powers, big and small.” 

Nepal remains committed to supporting policies that promote the principles and purposes of the UN.  Despite the negligible strength and scarce economic and military resources at its disposal, Nepal stands as the first troop contributing country and has been making constructive contributions for the maintenance of international peace and security and other noble objectives of the UN. 

(Bhattarai, Ph. D., is a faculty member of the Institute of Crisis Management Studies (ICMS), Tribhuvan University. dineshbhattarai@tuicms.edu.np)