Former South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, delivered a powerful call for UN reform in Leicester on Friday, highlighting the need for a restructured Security Council to be more inclusive.
Speaking at a dinner organised by Friends of Al-Aqsa, she underscored that the Security Council’s veto system is undemocratic, serving primarily the five permanent members, which excludes the Global South from effective representation.
Dr. Pandor also advocated for a global campaign in support of Palestinian rights, calling for the re-establishment of a special UN committee against apartheid, aimed at apartheid practices in Israel. She urged international academics to boycott those institutions supporting apartheid policies, noting parallels with South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle.
Touching on Gaza’s sovereignty, Pandor asserted that Palestinians alone should decide their governance without external influence.
Her speech concluded with a rallying call for freedom of speech in the advocacy of global justice, including for Palestinians, saying, “If we fail to act, then we’re saying that freedom and justice are just for some and not for all.”
