PACT OF THE FUTURE

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Context:

India praised the 'Pact of the Future' adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as an essential step toward reforming the United Nations Security Council. 

Background

The United Nations Security Council was established in 1945. Initially, the United Nations had only 51 member states, but now it has 193 members, and the political situation in the world has changed dramatically. This raises the question: Is the United Nations Security Council still serve the purpose?

India and other countries argued that the UNSC's current structure no longer reflects contemporary geopolitical realities. The Council has 15 members: 5 permanent members (United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China) and 10 non-permanent members elected to two-year terms. However, this composition has been criticized for being undemocratic and ineffective in dealing with modern security concerns.

The growing complexity of global conflicts requires more inclusive, representative, and responsive organisations that can work successfully to keep peace and stability.

India's role in Promoting UNSC reforms

India has long defended its standing as a permanent member of the Security Council. It is the world's most populous country with one of the fastest-growing economies, and its record of participation in UN peacekeeping missions and the status of nuclear weapons states add credibility to such claims.

India's two-year period as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2021-22 highlights the necessity for a permanent seat. During this time, India has proved its commitment to global peace, security, and development.

Highlights of the Pact of the Future

Despite having 54 UN member nations, Africa is still poorly represented on the UNSC. The agreement acknowledges the need to strengthen representation in underrepresented regions such as Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

It proposes extending the UN Security Council to better represent current worldwide trends. This might involve including more permanent and non-permanent members to establish a balance between representation and performance.

World leaders have decided to increase UNSC reform efforts. The document urges member states to propose organised debates to create an inclusive reform framework.  For many years, UNSC reform discussions have been stalled due to a lack of a structured negotiation mechanism. With this pact, India and other like-minded countries hope to begin a discussion over the UNSC Reform framework. 

Challenges

The United Nations Security Council is criticised for failing to act effectively in major international conflicts. This is due to the veto power granted to the five permanent members. This is seen in conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine issue, where Russia's veto paralyses the United Nations Security Council. Similarly, during Israel's fight with Hamas, the council remains divided without an appropriate response.

The UNSC's credibility has been questioned due to its unstable structures and processes. It has been slow to adjust to current circumstances. The UNSC was designed for a past period, without reform, UNSC’s power and legitimacy will continue to erode.

Way Forward

As world crises become increasingly interconnected, a reformed, representative and functional UNSC is urgently needed. The Pact of the Future is a significant step toward reforming the UN Security Council, but the process has just started, and the success will depend on the commitment of the world leaders in creating a democratic UNSC to serve the contemporary global challenges efficiently. . 

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Source: 

THE HINDU

Wikipedia

United Nations