The United Nations at 80

Syllabus: GS2/ International Organisations

Context

• June 26, 2025 marks 80 years of the signing of the UN Charter in 1945, considered the founding treaty of the United Nations.
  • The Charter came into force on October 24, 1945, now observed as United Nations Day.

Background

• The UN Charter was signed on June 26, 1945,  at the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, by 50 nations in the aftermath of World War II.
• It was based on proposals developed by China, the USSR, the UK, and the USA during the Dumbarton Oaks Conference (1944).
• It comprises a Preamble and 111 Articles, organized into chapters.
• Key Functions of the UN Charter:
  • Maintaining international peace and security
  • Promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms
  • Encouraging social progress and better standards of life
  • Fostering international cooperation
• Principal Organs of the United Nations: The General Assembly (GA), The Security Council (SC), The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), The Trusteeship Council, The International Court of Justice (ICJ), and The UN Secretariat.

What is the UN80 Initiative?

• Launched in March 2025 by UN Secretary‑General António Guterres, the UN80 Initiative is a system‑wide reform effort marking the UN’s 80th anniversary, aimed at modernizing the Organization to better serve today’s global challenges.
• Three Core Pillars of Reform:
  • Efficiency & Effectiveness: Remove duplication, red tape; optimize operations (e.g., reallocating functions to lower-cost duty stations).
  • Mandate Review: Out of ~40,000 accumulated mandates, the UN will employ AI tools to streamline, prioritize, and eliminate obsolete directives.
  • Structural Realignment: Reassess UN system architecture, realign programmes, and potentially reshape institutions.

Need for Reform in UN Governance

• Financial Strains & Budget Cuts: UN faces a multi-year liquidity crisis due to late or missing dues—only 75 of 193 Members paid full 2025 assessments on time. 
• Mandate Overload: Thousands of overlapping or outdated mandates hinder UN agility and efficacy.
• Evolving Global Threats: The UN needs to  adapt to new challenges: tech governance (AI), pandemics, climate crises, and multifaceted conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, etc.
• Multilateral Trust Deficit: Growing geopolitical polarization and declining public faith in global institutions heighten the urgency for multilateral reforms.

India’s Position & Advocacy

• India strongly supports UN reform, especially Security Council expansion, stating the existing structure is obsolete and unrepresentative.
• Member of G4 nations (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan), advocating inclusion of emerging powers and greater regional representation — Africa, Latin America, Asia-Pacific.
• India has served eight times as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

What are the challenges?

• Political Pushback by the P5: Permanent members (US, UK, France, Russia, China) hold veto power and have little incentive to dilute their influence.
• Complex Negotiation Framework: Inter‑Governmental Negotiations (IGN) have been ongoing since 2008, but lack of draft text or agreement stalls progress.
• Funding Imperatives & Oversight: UN80 lacks clear financial architecture to support long-term reform initiatives.
  • No independent monitoring or accountability mechanism exists, making progress tracking weak and heavily dependent on political will.
•  Consensus Fatigue & Multipolar Distractions: There’s “consensus fatigue” among smaller nations who feel sidelined in elite-driven negotiations. In a multipolar world, focus is shifting to regional alliances (BRICS, Quad, SCO), making UN-centric reforms less urgent for many states.

Way Ahead

• The UN80 Initiative offers a timely, comprehensive roadmap to modernize the UN.
• India is a consistent proponent of multilateral reform, with particular emphasis on Security Council expansion to reflect today’s global realities. 
• However, success hinges on overcoming entrenched P5 resistance, regional geopolitical dynamics, and implementing transparent oversight mechanisms to ensure promised reforms translate into action.

Source: UN