Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning to the General Assembly on Thursday, declaring the United Nations faces "assaults on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter like never before." Speaking at the 80th-anniversary commemoration of the charter's signing, Guterres highlighted systematic violations including breaches of international humanitarian law, civilian targeting, and weaponization of essential resources like food and water. He condemned the "all too familiar pattern" of nations selectively applying the charter's principles when convenient while ignoring them otherwise, stressing this document "is not an à la carte menu" but the bedrock of global order.
The Secretary-General emphasized that foundational tenets—including sovereignty equality, peaceful dispute resolution, and human rights protections—are under sustained attack. Without naming specific nations, he referenced conflicts where civilian infrastructure is deliberately destroyed and starvation is deployed as a tactic of war. Guterres' remarks implicitly addressed crises in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, where UN agencies report over 55,000 schools and hospitals damaged since 2022. His warning comes amid documented use of "humanitarian sieges" in multiple conflict zones, restricting aid to weaponize survival.
Signed in 1945 amid WWII’s ashes, the charter established the UN to prevent catastrophic global conflicts. Guterres pushed back against critics who call it outdated, asserting: "We can draw a direct line from the UN’s creation to the prevention of a third world war." He acknowledged the charter’s enforcement gaps but framed it as a "never-ending mission," noting that while some wars ended during the UN’s tenure, new ones emerged. Independent analyses confirm the UN has facilitated 172 peaceful conflict resolutions since 1990, though major-power divisions often paralyze the Security Council.
The anniversary coincides with the UN’s worst financial shortfall in decades, with the U.S. under President Trump withholding $1.3 billion in assessed contributions. This has forced cuts to peacekeeping and refugee programs, leaving 75 million people without guaranteed aid. Guterres’ UN80 initiative aims to streamline operations through consolidation of 35 agencies and elimination of 9,000 positions by 2027. Critics warn this risks weakening field operations while supporters argue it prioritizes efficiency amid geopolitical fractures.