Article:
The United Nations (UN) Charter, which marks its 75th anniversary recently, was confronted with a delay in the issue of its commemorative declaration. The delay occurred due to disputes over phrasing among member states, primarily involving the Five Eyes (FVEY)— Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States—along with India and China.
The Dispute Over Phraseology
The contentious phrase “shared vision of a common future” has triggered a discussion among UN nations primarily because it is associated with China. The Five Eyes alliance, an intelligence sharing platform between five countries, along with India, did not support the inclusion of this phrase.
As a procedural rule, the silence mechanism was invoked. This process auto-approves a resolution if no objections are raised within a set period. The UK’s Ambassador to the UN broke this silence on behalf of the six opposing countries, proposing alternative wording to the President of the 74th General Assembly.
Resistance from Other Parties
In response to the broken silence, China, representing itself, Russia, Syria, and Pakistan, voiced objections, leading to the current impasse. Backdrop of this disagreement is marked by strained relations between China and several other nations, including India, Australia, and the USA.
The President of the UN General Assembly suggested a differently worded declaration placed under the same silence procedure as a way out of this deadlock situation.
75th United Nations Day
The UN will celebrate its 75th anniversary on 24 October 2020. As part of the celebration, it has initiated a public debate called UN75, aimed at combining collective opinions to shape enhanced international cooperation for a better world by 2045.
Founded in 1945, the UN observes its anniversary every year on 24th October. The term “United Nations” was conceived by the then United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The organization comprises several organs including the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat.
Reforms at United Nations Security Council
The current permanent member countries or P5 of the UN Security Council (UNSC) include China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US. Critics argue that this P5 model has rendered the UN ineffective in maintaining global peace and order, thereby demanding reforms.
The demand for democratization of the UN from developing countries like India seeks reforms in UNSC, UN peacekeeping, and argues for a more representative composition of the UNSC reflecting the contemporary world order.
Global Power Dynamics and Multilateralism
Modern international relations are shaped by the power dynamics between the United States, China, Russia, India, and Europe, emphasizing the need for a novel UN model that recognizes the transition from bipolar to multipolar world order.
The Urgency of Financial Reforms
Financial security holds the key to the future of the UN. Insufficient resources have the potential to limit the activities and role of the UN, thus making these reforms crucial.
