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United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday declared that the UN is under unprecedented assault on the very principles upon which it was founded, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter’s creation.
Speaking to the General Assembly, Guterres highlighted ongoing breaches of international humanitarian law, the deliberate targeting of civilians, and the use of essential resources like food and water as weapons in conflicts, though he refrained from naming specific actors responsible for these violations.
He criticised the selective adherence to the UN Charter, stating, “The Charter of the United Nations is not optional. It is not an à la carte menu. It is the bedrock of international relations. We cannot and must not normalise violations of its most basic principles.”
Signed on October 24, 1945, in the aftermath of World War II, the UN Charter established the framework for international cooperation based on peaceful dispute resolution, state sovereignty and equality, humanitarian aid, and respect for human rights.
Despite these ideals, Guterres acknowledged the Charter’s principles have been repeatedly violated over the past eight decades, leading critics to question its effectiveness in preventing conflict.
Nonetheless, Guterres insisted that the Charter remains vital, asserting a direct connection between the UN’s founding and the prevention of a third world war.
“Upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter is a never-ending mission,” he said. “Over the decades, we have celebrated the end of wars while witnessing the start of others.”
The UN’s 80th anniversary arrives amid financial pressures, as major donors, particularly the United States under President Donald Trump, have reduced contributions.
In response, Guterres has launched the UN80 initiative aimed at reforming and streamlining the organisation, potentially including significant staff cuts to adapt to funding challenges.
