UN under pressure, but indispensable: reform is needed
In the media image: Salya T on Unsplash
The UN is often criticised and dismissed as ineffective, yet it remains a vital platform for international diplomacy. Emeritus professor of international law Nico Schrijver says the General Assembly demonstrates that reform is needed if the organisation is to maintain that role.
According to Schrijver, the United Nation’s principal value lies in the fact that all 193 member states come together there to engage in dialogue. ‘It is the only forum where the entire world comes together to talk. That is something we should cherish.’ He describes the gathering as ‘the diplomatic high mass of the year’, where countries engage with one another, both formally and informally, on a wide range of issues, including wars, the climate crisis, and artificial intelligence.
Schrijver adds that recent developments also show that the United Nations remains a place where diplomatic agreements can be reached. One example is the recent Greenland agreement between the United States and Denmark. ‘For UN staff, it is encouraging that the agreement was signed here. It shows that the UN also serves as a venue for positive developments.’ Even Donald Trump, the US president, who has previously voiced strong criticism of the way the United Nations operates, uses the General Assembly each year as a platform for his message. According to Schrijver, this underscores the gathering’s global reach and significance.
Having previously worked for the United Nations, Schrijver believes the time for reform is long overdue. ‘The UN has weathered difficult periods before, but the current situation is exceptionally challenging.’ He argues that abolishing the veto power is not a realistic option. A less far-reaching alternative, he suggests, would be to make the veto valid only when exercised jointly by at least two countries. Another possibility would be to grant major countries such as India, Japan, Brazil, and Germany semi-permanent seats on the UN Security Council without veto rights.
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