As the dust of the World War II started settling, 50 nations came together to sign a document that they hoped would change the course of global governance. It was the Charter of the United Nations. But after eight decades, as the world is trampled by a series of crises that includes wars, climate emergencies, refugee crisis, genocide, ethnic cleansing, the question presents itself: Has the UN lived up to its promise of peace or is it just a mere piece of paper?
As 26 June marked the 80th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Charter, its time take a good hard look.
The Charter’s Promise
The very Charter that was drafted in the haunting aftermath of World War II was an attempt at upholding peace in the world. Did it work? Was it able to keep its promise of peace and justice?
It worked for some time as the Cold War never turned hot. The decolonization wave in Africa and Asia gained a diplomatic front. The World has a table in the United Nations General Assembly where every nation sits and has the right to speak.
The Charter provided us with Article 1(1) that states “To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace.”
Article 2(4): “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”
Article 51: “the right to self defense if armed attack occurs against the member of the UN.”
Power Politics at Peace Platforms
Truth be told, the United Nations Security Council, the so-called guardian of maintaining world peace, has often looked more like a stage of diplomatic fallout. The veto power given to 5 members has paralyzed the Security Council.
The UN Charter is violated but the Security Council does nothing because it is in the hands of the countries that hold veto power. UNSC passed hundreds of resolutions for the issue of Palestine but the genocide, displacement and aid blockade continues.
Israel has violated International Humanitarian Law, UN Charter Article 2(4), and almost every other rule set out by the rules-based order, but it has not been held accountable for its actions because the Security Council is handcuffed by the United States of America’s vetoes.
The question here is, what good and beneficial these principles are if only applied when powerful nations agree?
There are dozens of such examples when the UN Charter failed the nations either during the invasion of Iraq when Baghdad burned, the Russian invasion of Ukraine or the ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas in Myanmar. Principles of the UN Charter were violated brutally but no accountability.
Human Rights: A Broken Promise?
The Charter that speaks of “human rights” and “dignity and peace” but what happens to the UN when those rights are violated? Why does the UN stand still? Why does it freeze to function? Where has been UN when genocide is being conducted in Palestine? What mechanisms protect Rohingyas?
The harsh reality is the grand words of Charter echo hollow in refugee camps and bomb shelters. The UN Charter is under threat currently as its practicality has been compromised.
Secretary General of the Security Council, António Guterres echoed this call, warning that the Charter’s principles are increasingly under threat and must be defended as the bedrock of international relations.
“The Charter of the United Nations is not optional. It is not an à la carte menu. It is the bedrock of international relations,” he said, stressing the need to recommit to its promises “for peace, for justice, for progress, for we the peoples.”
The President of Security Council for the month of July, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar stated “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter, a Charter that enshrines principles of justice, peace & equality. Yet, in Gaza & across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the most fundamental tenets of the Charter continue to be trampled upon with impunity.”
Our Charter, Our Responsibility
Remember the UN Charter begins with “We the people” not “We the powerful” or “We the states” and that was the actual promise that the citizens and not just diplomats will decide the fate of the world. On the 80th anniversary, let’s not fail the UN.
It’s time to push the governments to stand for peace and not for war or profit, let’s demand accountability from the powerful for its actions.
The world doesn’t need a new Charter but it needs to honor the old one by making it practical again.
The brutal reality is that the UN Charter is not failing us, we are failing it, the Charter doesn’t veto resolutions, states do. Charter doesn’t remain silent on genocide, governments do.
Lets not forget that it is the people’s responsibility to uphold the principles of Charter again and bring peace.
An IR student whose interest lies in diplomacy and current affairs and a part time debater
