United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, strongly criticized the Security Council’s lack of effective leadership in ending conflicts in various regions around the world like Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. He expressed disappointment in the council’s failure to act decisively to promote peace and resolve conflicts, citing deepening geopolitical divisions and mistrust among member states.
Guterres highlighted the importance of adhering to the U.N. Charter and international law, emphasizing the alarming increase in conflicts and the resulting toll on innocent civilians. He pointed out the Council’s inability to take significant action on conflicts like Ukraine due to Russia’s veto power as a Council member involved in the conflict.
Similarly, the Security Council faced challenges in addressing the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza because of the United States’ veto power as Israel’s close ally. In Sudan, divisions among council members supporting rival factions further obstructed peace efforts. The Secretary-General stressed that unity among Council members, in line with international law, is crucial for achieving peace in these conflict zones.
Slovenia, currently presiding over the Security Council, selected “Leadership for Peace” as the theme for a key event during the U.N. General Assembly gathering, inviting leaders from the 15 Council nations to participate. The event aimed to encourage collaboration and decisive leadership to address global peace and security challenges.
During the meeting, several world leaders, including presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers, delivered speeches on the importance of collective action and adherence to humanitarian laws. The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, urged a renewed commitment to international humanitarian law, emphasizing the need for warring parties to respect humanitarian principles even during conflicts.
Spoljaric Egger emphasized that adherence to international law and humanitarian norms is essential for mitigating the impact of conflicts on vulnerable populations and enabling humanitarian organizations to deliver assistance effectively. The Security Council’s role in upholding these principles and fostering cooperation among member states is crucial in promoting peace and stability in conflict-affected regions globally.