Statement by Ambassador , UK Permanent
Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on
practising multilateralism, reforming and improving global
governance.
The United Kingdom remains deeply committed to the United
Nations.
But 80 years since its creation, with more countries engaged in
conflict than ever before, we are falling short of its founding
mission to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.
And despite progress on health and education, significant global
challenges remain.
The climate crisis is accelerating and the Sustainable
Development Goals are off-track.
Why so? There is more to this than the often-mentioned liquidity
crisis.
In 80 years, UN membership has increased from 51 to 193 Member
States, but the UN and its institutions are not fully
representative of all its members.
We now live in a multipolar world, not a bipolar or unipolar one,
whose challenges, climate, pandemics and cyber security are more
transnational than national.
As the Secretary-General reminded us and so many speakers today
have reiterated, the Pact of the Future demonstrated a clear
desire and a clear commitment to reinvigorate the multilateral
system, including through reforming the UN and the international
financial system.
Together, we need to redouble our efforts and find new ways to
address emerging challenges.
2025, the UN's 80th anniversary and a year of key summits, is the
first step on this path.
Next month we have the Commission on the Status of Women and the
Beijing +30 meeting; in June we have the UN Oceans Conference; in
July FFD4. And later in the year the UN Social Summit and
COP30, back in Brazil.
Together, these summits seek to address our shared
concerns.
Their success is critical for progress and the UN's reputation as
our multilateral home.
Second, we need to use the UN more effectively to deliver
international peace and security.
Such progress must go hand in hand with upholding human rights.
This starts first and foremost with the defence of the UN Charter
as colleagues have references.
Nowhere is that more true today than in Ukraine, whose
sovereignty and territorial integrity is under threat from
Russian aggression.
We must work to ensure that all UN tools, including its good
offices, are used to deliver and advance peace.
For example, Personal Envoy Lamamra has a crucial platform to
bring together the warring parties in Sudan.
We encourage reinvigorated momentum for mediation efforts, as
well as a renewed focus on prevention to reduce crises before
they happen.
This year's Peacebuilding Architecture Review is an important
opportunity in this regard.
We also need to refresh our peacekeeping approach to ensure
missions are fit for purpose and defend UN peacekeepers wherever
they serve.
Attacks against them are unacceptable.
We honour, in particular today, MONUSCO peacekeepers who have
fallen in defence of civilians in the DRC.
Finally, in the face of growing global crises, from Sudan to
Myanmar, we need to support the UN's development and humanitarian
programmes, across its agencies.
In Gaza, UNRWA, alongside the WFP and UNICEF, provides over 50%
of all food aid.
We commend OCHA's tireless efforts to reach those in need.
Humanitarian access and the protection of aid workers are
integral to their successful delivery.
In conclusion, President, colleagues, the Council is often
characterised as an ineffective geopolitical theatre.
While reform of its membership is needed and the UK supports
that, this body has the tools to implement its peace and security
mandate.
We now need to strengthen our collective will to use them more
effectively and, as the Secretary-General has said, in our 80th
year, work to build the more peaceful, just and prosperous world
that we know is within reach.
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