Exploring the crisis that the UN faces: There is an urgent need to resolve it
There are 3 main pillars on which the United Nations works. It includes sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights. Back in 2015, when world leaders together created the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They state that with peace and security, development can not happen.
During this discussion, different leaders from various countries were worried about peace across the globe. They are concerned it could create such conditions that would be unfair to several nations.
Countries in the Global North also presented their opinion. According to them, they were not making efforts to impose conditions but desired to point out that conflict restricts development. If the world wants peace, then peace is a necessary element for it.
As a compromise, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 was created. It finds that both development and peace have their importance. SDG 16 has a clear purpose. It aims to build institutions where fair decisions are made, protect human rights and every single person has access to justice. All of this makes sure that development and peace go hand in hand.
Everyone has a clear concept of the connection between peace and development. One of the great hindrances in the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals is armed conflicts in various regions.
For example, the war between Russia and Ukraine affects many nations through food shortages and access to energy. Furthermore, the Gaza war is the reason for instability in the Middle East. More broadly, these crises are creating divisions that undermine the global agreement that initially supported the SDGs. The consequences of these conflicts are that countries are not willing to work on a single platform and solve global issues. This achieves a goal hard and impossible.
Is the UN able to promote peace?
Nowadays, peace and security are at the edge, and the world is facing many threats. This was a great challenge for the UN, which was created to promote peace. But the question is, is the United Nations still able to keep peace? Since 1974, the United Nations has been performing well and avoiding many conflicts that maintain peace in all regions of the world. But now the UN is less effective due to power struggles between countries, outdated rules, and less support from the world.
All of these complexities will be discussed at the Summit of the Future in New York. It is more important to strengthen the UN than in the past to promote peace and solve conflicts. For this purpose, the United Nations should change its structure. More funds are needed to deal with complex global problems. Furthermore, the United Nations veto power of permanent members is not updated. Most of its work involves African issues; there are no permanent African members, showing the need for reforms.
Different nations such as India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil claim that their case for UNSC permanent members is stronger as compared to current members.
The world is no longer dominated by one or two superpowers; people now live in a multipolar world. No single country, regardless of its size or power, can handle global challenges alone. Countries need cooperation, whether it’s dealing with security threats, addressing climate change, or promoting sustainable development and human rights. At the UN General Assembly, the connections between these issues are understood. However, the UNSC remains stuck in the past, with its structure reflecting the power dynamics of 1945, not today.
To take any action, the 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council must agree. Recent conflicts such as the conflict in Syria, Ukraine, and Gaza have worsened the situation more. Tensions between the United States and China over power raise the problem more and more.
One of the key issues is the veto power of the 5 nations. Russia blocks resolutions because it harms its interest in Syria and Ukraine. Furthermore, the US uses its veto power and supports the illegal actions of Israel.
This constant use of vetoes stops the council from making important decisions, weakening its ability to act effectively.
France proposed the idea that may resolve the issue. The strategy is for about 5 permanent members of the UNSC to limit their veto power in the case of a humanitarian crisis. However, this plan did not work because members did not agree with it. The UN Security Council needs to better reflect today’s world, including the rise of regional powers. It is important to limit veto power. The United Nations also has to work together to create peace and end conflicts in different countries. The Future Summit is a great chance to bring these changes efficiently.