India gives a call for 'rejuvenating, revitalizing UNGA'
The United Nations (UN) member states have become "guardians of the status quo" due to their inaction and inertia in the face of stark global challenges like terrorism and climate change, said India at UN yesterday. India called the international community to catalyze its efforts to rejuvenate and revitalize the world body as it inches closer to completing 75 years of existence. Here's more.
Despite facing challenges, member-states have tended to muddle along: Akbaruddin
Participating in the UN General Assembly debate on 'Revitalisation of the Work of the General Assembly', India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador, Syed Akbaruddin said that despite being faced with such challenges, UN member states have tended to "muddle along, holding meetings, taking some minor stabs at enhancing international cooperation at the margins." He stated they are becoming guardians of the status quo.
There's growth in transnational threats, need immediate actions: Akbaruddin
"Today, there is a proliferation of new transnational threats such as terrorism requiring comprehensive cooperation, accelerating technological change requiring broad norm-setting, and worsening environmental degradation requiring immediate climate action. Our challenges have become stark," said Akbaruddin, representative at the United Nations since January 2016.
We're struggling to overcome our legacy issue: Indian envoy
"Our inertia is considerable, even when it is clear that collective action is required. We steer clear from the action, pleading consensus is required for change," Akbaruddin said. He called for nations to acknowledge that their collective record as the General Assembly is mixed. "Just as generals too often refight their last war, we diplomats are struggling to overcome our legacy issues," he said.
Agenda for revitalization needs to be broad, inclusive: Akbaruddin
Given that the world is awash with new challenges, Akbaruddin said the 75th anniversary of the UN, to be marked in less than two years, is an appropriate opportunity for all nations to catalyze their efforts to rejuvenate and revitalize. The agenda for such revitalization needs to be broad and inclusive, as well as transformative and imbued with the objective of breathing new life.
'Decision-making in the General Assembly not a threat to sovereignty'
Noting that the principal purpose of the General Assembly is not to usurp the role of sovereign states, Akbaruddin said other global institution can match its representative character and the credibility that it derives from such representativeness. "Decision-making in the General Assembly is not a threat to sovereignty. It's an expression of sovereign equality and opportunity for all to influence global problem-solving," he said.
'If General Assembly not delivering, solution isn't to give up'
Emphasizing that proliferating global problems demand new narratives, the Indian envoy said if the General Assembly is not delivering all that is wanted, the solution is not to give up on it. "Rather, we must make it deliver results for today," he said.
Revitalization agenda is a challenge for diplomacy, Akbaruddin says
Quoting Swami Vivekananda, Akbaruddin said people reap what they sow. He said, "The revitalization agenda is a challenge for diplomacy but it's worth taking up if we want to maximize the prospects for a peaceful & prosperous 21st century." During the debate, delegates said that a streamlined General Assembly will protect multilateralism and increase the capacity of the United Nations to address emerging challenges.
Assembly President supports Akbaruddin, recognizes that revitalization crucial
"The need of revitalizing the Assembly, the most representative United Nations organ, is indispensable to responding to global challenges and achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," said Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, as she opened the debate.
World leaders must consider Assembly to discuss global challenges: Maria
Maria said efforts are taking place at a time when doubts are emerging about the multilateral system's ability to address the international challenges. World leaders must look at the Assembly as the main body to discuss the most pressing global challenges, she stressed, asserting that States attach great importance to the role of the United Nations within the multilateral system.
