UN Reform Tops Agenda as Global Leaders Warn of Growing Global Instability
New York, 24 September 2024: The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on world leaders to support comprehensive reforms of the UN system, warning that the current structure is ill-equipped to address the global challenges of the 21st century. Speaking at the opening of the UN General Assembly, Guterres emphasized the need to overhaul the UN Security Council and other global institutions to reflect today’s geopolitical realities.
Without these reforms, global institutions risk losing credibility and legitimacy. “Those with political and economic power are always reluctant to change,” he said, “but without reform, fragmentation is inevitable.”
Guterres pointed to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and the Middle East as evidence that the current system needs to reflect today’s geopolitical realities, including a permanent seat for Africa on the Security Council, urging member states to reaffirm their commitment to international law and the UN Charter. “It is time to consider revising the Charter comprehensively,” he said.
These sentiments were shared by many leaders at the General Assembly, with Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva calling for urgent and comprehensive reforms emphasizing the need for a more inclusive, representative, and effective United Nations, particularly focusing on the reform of the UN Security Council and the overall governance structure to reflect 21st-century realities.
Lula also addressed gender inequality within the UN leadership and strongly called for a woman to be the next UN Secretary-General. “We are approaching the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, and a woman has never held the position of Secretary-General. This must change,” he urged, highlighting the need for greater gender equity at the highest levels of the organization.
In his inaugural address to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Philemon Yang also issued a clarion call for immediate reforms and collective action to address the world’s most pressing challenges. He emphasized the critical importance of international cooperation in solving the interlinked crises of conflict, climate change, economic inequality, and human rights violations.
“Within this hall are the leaders and representatives of the world’s nations—the very people with the authority and responsibility to shape our shared future,” Yang stated. “We are not mere spectators to these crises, nor are we powerless to act.”
Several leaders also emphasized the importance of addressing global inequality, pointing to the widening gap between rich and poor nations, the growing digital divide, and the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable countries as critical issues that the UN and the international community must address more effectively. The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) was also top of the issues raised, which they described as another unpredictable and existential risk. Without proper regulation, AI could deepen global inequalities and create new sources of conflict. They called for a global framework for the governance of AI, emphasizing that the United Nations is the universal platform for dialogue on the issue.
The speeches came after the Summit of the Future, where world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, a framework intended to reinvigorate multilateralism and strengthen the UN’s role in addressing global challenges. The Summit was followed by the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, which is set to tackle several critical global issues through a series of high-level events, including discussions on antimicrobial resistance, sea-level rise, and the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Summit of the Future – Day 1
United Nations Adopts Ground-Breaking “Pact for the Future” to Transform Global Governance
New York, 22 September 2024 – World leaders have adopted the Pact for the Future during the Summit of the Future, marking a major step toward reforming global governance and strengthening international cooperation. The Pact, which includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, is the culmination of years of inclusive and rigorous discussions aimed at addressing both current and future challenges.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed the Pact for the Future as a landmark achievement. “This pact should not become another futile exercise, but must garner political will and commitment across all levels of global leadership to pragmatically address current issues and lay a foundation for solutions for our future global progress and challenges,” he said.
We cannot shape a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents,” he said, highlighting the need for modernized international institutions to effectively address today’s realities. The Pact represents the most comprehensive global agreement in decades, tackling both longstanding issues and entirely new challenges to ensure a more just, sustainable, and peaceful future.
The President of the UN General Assembly echoed these sentiments, noting that the Pact “lays the foundation for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order for all nations and peoples.” Central to the Pact are commitments to reform the global system to better reflect the realities of today’s world, drawing on the strength of partnerships between governments, civil society, and other key actors.
The adoption of the Pact for the Future did not proceed without obstacles. Russia sought to introduce an amendment just before the Pact’s adoption. The amendment emphasized the “principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states,” a principle Russia claimed was not sufficiently upheld in the Pact.
Russia’s proposal to amend the Pact minutes before the scheduled beginning of the Summit were overwhelmingly dismissed in a motion to take no action introduced by Congo on behalf of the African Group by a vote of 143 in favor, 7 against, and 15 abstentions opting to proceed with the original text of the Pact.
Although the Pact for the Future represents a monumental step forward, its non-binding nature has raised concerns about the effectiveness of its implementation. Several leaders and civil society representatives have pointed out that without clear enforcement mechanisms, some key commitments—such as the protection of civilians in conflict and the prevention of arms races in outer space—may not be fully realized. This challenge underscores the need for sustained political will and follow-up action to ensure that the goals set out in the Pact are achieved.
Throughout the Summit, the challenges of growing geopolitical divisions, particularly between the Global North and Global South, were repeatedly highlighted. Leaders from developing countries emphasized the need for tangible commitments to reform international financial institutions, addressing disparities in access to financing, and ensuring that developing nations have a greater voice in global decision-making. As Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley noted, the existing governance approach has “reinforced the notion of first-class and second-class citizens,” a sentiment echoed by other leaders from the Global South.
Several civil society organizations and experts have voiced concerns over the ability of Member States to follow through on the commitments made in the Pact. Given that the Pact is not legally binding, there is a risk that its ambitious goals may not translate into concrete actions. The lack of binding mechanisms for critical issues such as climate finance, digital governance, and peace and security reform remains a significant hurdle that will require ongoing efforts to ensure accountability.
The Pact for the Future also highlights the urgency of addressing the $4 trillion financing gap to achieve the SDGs and meet global climate targets. Leaders stressed that without significant reforms to the global financial system, developing countries will continue to struggle with debt and insufficient access to capital for sustainable development. There were also calls for increased climate finance, particularly for adaptation and mitigation efforts in the most vulnerable countries, which remains a contentious issue in global negotiations.
As the UN approaches its 80th anniversary in 2025, the Pact for the Future serves as a blueprint for a more inclusive, resilient, and effective international system. The agreement’s non-binding nature has raised concerns about implementation, but its ambitious goals offer a renewed sense of hope and direction for global cooperation.
Day 2 of the Action Days
Summit of the Future Action Days Conclude with Focus on Implementation and Multilateral Partnerships
New York, [Saturday, 21 September 2024] — The Summit of the Future Action Days wrapped up Saturday at the United Nations Headquarters, highlighting the power of inclusive, networked multilateralism and partnerships in shaping a better global future. The sessions, which have brought together world leaders, civil society, youth representatives, and stakeholders from across the globe, have laid the groundwork for the next phase of global action and collaboration.
The Action Days focused on addressing critical global issues such as sustainable development financing, climate change, taxation, debt management, and leveraging technology while mitigating its risks. Participants discussed innovative solutions, including global tax cooperation, climate finance expansion, and improving developing countries’ representation in global financial systems. There was also significant attention on the role of youth in these processes, with youth-led conversations highlighting the importance of intergenerational responsibility and action for future generations.
On the second day of the Action Days, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the urgent need for a more inclusive, effective, and interconnected multilateral system. He stated, “Our objective is to ensure that global institutions are truly fit for purpose—more inclusive, more effective, and more attuned to the needs of the people they serve.” In the closing remarks, UN Deputy Secretary-General highlighted the importance of moving from dialogue to implementation. “Now it’s time for action,” the DSG said. “Your contributions over these past two days have demonstrated the incredible potential we unlock when we unite across sectors, generations, and continents.”
Key topics also included dismantling patriarchal power structures, addressing peace and security, and the use of cutting-edge technologies like satellite internet, blockchain, and artificial intelligence to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speakers emphasized the ongoing need to bridge the digital divide, particularly for women and girls in regions like Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
The discussions also underscored the importance of meaningful youth engagement in decision-making processes. The youth-led conversations challenged leaders to face present-day responsibilities and secure a brighter future for generations to come.
“These Action Days have forced us to confront our responsibilities and take concrete actions that are long overdue,” said the DSG. “Young people have demonstrated their indispensable role in informing and shaping concrete solutions for our global challenges.”
The insights and ideas shared over these two days will be carried forward into the Summit of the Future, beginning Sunday, 22 September 2024 and will play a central role in shaping the outcome of the Summit, especially around key documents such as the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations.
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For further information: Contact Mwendwa Kiogora, Communications Coordinator, Coalition for the UN We Need WhatsApp: + 254 722 725237 Email: [email protected]g
Day 2 Events Highlights
Reforming the UN Security Council: Civil Society Organizations have called on member states to seize the momentum from the Pact for the Future to reform the UN Security Council emphasizing the need for inclusivity and equity to address the challenges of modern-day conflicts.
Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America and a member of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism, noted that the UNSC’s current structure is increasingly viewed as ineffective in addressing contemporary global conflicts, from Ukraine to Sudan. According to Slaughter, the political deadlock in the Council due to geopolitical divides has sparked frustration and demand for change, especially among younger generations.
“We have a rare opportunity to make meaningful reforms now, driven by the momentum of the Pact for the Future,” said Slaughter. “This moment, unlike previous efforts, offers a substantial chance for genuine progress.”
Slaughter highlighted the principles laid out by the Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism, which include transparency, equity, and meaningful representation. These principles provide the framework for UNSC reform, ensuring that Africa and other underrepresented regions gain an equitable voice in global security matters.
Ambassador Lazarus Kapambwe, former Permanent Representative of Zambia to the UN, reflected on Africa’s longstanding position on UNSC reform, emphasized Africa’s demand for permanent membership in the Security Council and the abolition of the veto—or, at a minimum, ensuring African nations holding permanent seats would have veto powers.
“Africa remains the only continent without representation in the UNSC’s permanent category, despite accounting for more than 70% of the Council’s agenda,” Kapambwe said. “This historical injustice cannot continue. Africa must have a voice in decisions that deeply affect the continent.”
Speakers at the meeting stressed that without significant reform, the UN risks becoming obsolete by 2045, the organization’s 100th anniversary. Yet, they also expressed optimism, noting that a shift in global governance takes time but remains achievable.
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What next after the Summit of the Future: Road Through the Summit of the Future
Key partners of the Coalition for the UN We Need, and the Global Governance Innovation Network gathered today to discuss the path forward and the crucial next steps over the next 12 months. Key speaker Ms. Michelle Griffin
They suggested concrete steps to be taken over the next year to ensure the Pact delivers on its promise to include modalities for implementing the Pact’s commitments, ensuring coherence and accountability across all sectors, Accelerate reforms in key areas such as the UN Security Council and General Assembly revitalization with clear timelines, ensuring the next UN Secretary-General is a woman, with an open and transparent selection process that involves civil society, leveraging on major global gatherings to advance the goals of the Pact, particularly in financing for development, social inclusion, and peacebuilding
See full meeting on UN WebTV
Financing for Development
The meeting called for swift action to reform the international financial architecture, address debt, and implement robust taxation mechanisms to ensure sustainable development financing. They called for
increased multi-stakeholder partnerships, financial commitments, and a recommitment to multilateralism through the United Nations. “We are the last generations who can address these challenges and the first to seize new opportunities for impactful change.”
Translating Gender Equality Commitments into Action: The Pact for the Future
While exploring how the commitments made at the UN Summit of the Future can bring about real, lasting reforms that improve the lives of women and girls, particularly in vulnerable communities, global leaders reflected on the most recent Gender Snapshot Report, highlighting both progress and the alarming pace of change. According to the report, despite some advancements, the world remains far behind on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5).
Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium, says “Systemic barriers persist across economic opportunities, representation, and healthcare, with only two out of 18 indicators close to being achieved. More than 340 million women and girls are projected to live in extreme poverty by 2030. This is simply unacceptable.”
Florence Syevuo, the Co-Chair of the Coalition for the UN We Need, called on global leaders to ensure that commitments are backed by action, financing, and accountability. “We cannot afford for the Summit of the Future to be just another gathering. The lives of women and girls depend on our ability to implement and finance the commitments we’ve made,” said Syevuo “When we meet again, I hope we will no longer need to discuss these alarming statistics because we will have made real progress.”
Day 1 UN Summit of the Future Action Days
Global Leaders Gather for Historic Summit of The Future to Address Pressing Global Challenges
New York, 20 September 2024 –The Summit of the Future Action Days kicked off today at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, bringing together global stakeholders, including representatives from over 1,000 individuals representing nearly 80 countries, including Member States, civil society, the private sector, academia, local and regional authorities, and youth, marking a significant milestone in driving forward the implementation of the Pact for the Future. Here are highlights of some of the events that the Coalition of the UN We Need was following:
Young Leaders Call for Meaningful Youth Engagement and Systemic Reform at Global Summit
In candid discussion with young people during the opening session of the Summit of the Future Action Days, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres took responsibility for the failures of previous generations to address global crises effectively. He acknowledged the missed opportunities following the end of the Cold War and the rise of globalization, which led to increased inequality, environmental destruction, and ongoing conflicts.
“”Globalization once seemed like the solution to all problems, fostering a sense that the world was on the right path. While it indeed generated immense wealth, it also deepened inequality. Over time, we realized that the economic model driving globalization had overlooked the finite limits of our natural resources and, in doing so, set us on a course of environmental degradation. This model not only ignored the planet’s fragility but actively contributed to its destruction, with consequences we are now struggling to reverse.”
He, however, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to reform, outlining two key objectives: ensuring systematic youth participation in UN decision-making processes and increasing the number of young people working within the organization.
On their part, the youth revealed that tokenism remains the dominant form of youth engagement in global decision-making. An interactive poll during the session the young leaders voiced their frustrations, stating that while their voices may be heard, they often do not translate into meaningful action or influence.
“It’s not a question of whether there are obstacles to meaningful youth engagement – it’s about identifying those barriers and removing them” said Daphne, a disability and climate justice activist.
What Next After the Summit of the Future
The Summit will not be defined by what happens on September 22nd-23rd, but by the progress we make in the months and years that follow – Daniel Perell – UN Representative, Bahai International Community.
As the world anticipates the outcomes of the Summit of the Future, global attention is turning toward the pivotal decisions that will shape the next chapter in international cooperation and governance. The summit, a once-in-a-generation event, brings world leaders, diplomats, and civil society representatives together to finalize the Pact for the Future, a document that will serve as a roadmap for global reforms in the coming years.
“The Summit of the Future is not just about making commitments on paper—it’s about translating those commitments into action” says Guy Ryder, the UN Under Secretary General of Policy at the Office of the Secretary General. Speaking at a joint side event by the Coalition for the UN we Need, the Bahai International and other organizations on what happens next after the Summit, Guy Ryder and other leaders are optimistic that the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations will ensure that emerging challenges, such as technology and outer space governance, are handled equitably and inclusively. He says the Summit is the result of years of planning, consultations, and commitments, where Civil society organizations, governments, and the United Nations have worked together to ensure that this moment would reflect the realities of our changing world.
“The Summit marks the beginning of a much longer journey—a journey that will push the United Nations and the world toward long-term multilateral reform. From reforms of the UN Security Council to the governance of emerging technologies, the Summit has raised the stakes for what’s at play” said Maria Fernande Espinosa, the Executive Director of GWL Voices and the 75th President of the UNGA.
A critical issue raised throughout the discussions has been the need to rebuild trust in the United Nations. Global trust in institutions like the UN has eroded in recent years. Whether it’s due to geopolitical tensions or perceived inefficiencies, there’s a growing gap between the expectations placed on the UN and its actual ability to deliver.
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UNMute Manual Unveiled: How the UN Should Engage with Civil Society Organizations
Civil Society organizations have launched the UNmute Manual, a tool designed to enhance civil society engagement and participation within the United Nations system. The manual is the culmination of four years of collaborative efforts by civil society actors—including Action for Sustainable Development, Amnesty International, Global Focus, Forest International, and the International Service for Human Rights—who came together to address the shrinking space for civil society participation at the UN, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The five key recommendations are
- Greater emphasis on using digital platforms to enable wider participation of civil society in UN processes.
- Ensuring that civil society has a seat at the table during key UN meetings and events, particularly in New York.
- The establishment of a dedicated representative to advocate for civil society’s role within the UN.
- A dedicated annual day to recognize and elevate the role of civil society within the United Nations.
- Advocating for greater acknowledgment of civil society’s critical contributions to global governance.
The UNmute Manual is now available for public consultation as part of ongoing efforts to gather additional feedback and ensure the guide reflects the diverse needs of global civil society.
See the recorded meeting on UN WebTv
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1 for 8 Billion: Campaign for Madam Secretary General
The 1 for 8 Billion campaign has launched a new policy platform titled “A Fair and Inclusive Process to Appoint the Next UN Secretary-General,” which sets out concrete recommendations to ensure that the selection process is open, fair, and inclusive. The platform advocates for policies that will guarantee a level playing field for candidates from all regions and backgrounds. They say that after 80 years of men-only leadership it is time for a woman to serve as UN Secretary-General. The UN sets standards and expectations for the world; it cannot lead us into a future of gender equality until its own house is in order. This platform advocates for policies that will guarantee a level playing field for including Member States nominating women candidates only, that both States and civil society should have ample time to scrutinize candidates and hold them accountable. The Security Council should present the General Assembly with a shortlist of at least two candidates to allow for a democratic decision, as provided by the UN Charter. A comprehensive study should also be commissioned by the incoming Secretary-General to identify and address structural barriers to leadership within international institutions.
See more details here
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Resources
Report: Vetoing Humanity How a few powerful nations hijacked global peace and why reform is needed at the UN Security Councilby Amnesty International
Day 2 of the Action days will focus on three critical themes: digital and technology, peace and security, and sustainable development and financing. Throughout the day, there will also be a dedicated emphasis on future generations, ensuring that all discussions consider the long-term impact of today’s actions.