UN at 75 faces a deeply polarised world

Virtual commemoration raises questions about how organisation going to navigate an era of Us-china tension

Born out of World War II’S devastation to save succeeding generations from the scourge of conflict, the United Nations officially marks its 75th anniversary today at an inflection point in history, navigating a polarised world as it faces a pandemic, regional conflicts, a shrinking economy and growing inequality.

Criticised for spewing out billions of words and achieving scant results on its primary mission of ensuring global peace, the UN nonetheless remains the one place that its 193 member nations can meet to talk.

And as frustrating as its lack of progress often is, especially when it comes to preventing and ending crises, there is also strong support for its power to bring not only nations, but people of all ages from all walks of life, ethnicities and religions together to discuss critical issues like climate change.

Secretary-general Antonio Guterres, looking back on the UN’S history in an AP interview in June, said its biggest accomplishment so far is the long period during which the most powerful nations didn’t go to war and nuclear conflict was avoided. Its biggest failing, he said: its inability to prevent medium and small conflicts.

The United Nations marked its actual 75th anniversary — the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco on June 26, 1945 by delegates from about 50 countries — on that date this year at an event scaleddownbecause of the coronavirus pandemic.

Then, Guterres said people are continuing to lose trust in government and political establishments. He had warned about the rise of populism triggering increasing threats to multilateralism and called for multilateralism to be given “teeth”. He has often denounced what he calls a “groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance”.

He also urged the inclusion of civil society, cities, the private sector and young people at top tables, saying they are “essential voices in shaping the world we want”.

Today’s mainly virtual official commemoration will not be a celebration. It will include a declaration on the UN’S 75th anniversary, approved by diplomats from all UN

member states after sometimes heated negotiations. Then, representatives from more than 180 countries are expected to deliver prerecorded speeches lasting three minutes.

The declaration recalls the UN’S successes and failures over more

than seven decades and vows to build a post-pandemic world that is more equal, works together, and protects the planet.

Even at times of great tension, it says, the UN promoted decolonisation, freedom, development, human rights and equality for women and

men, “and worked to eradicate disease”. And it “helped mitigate dozens of conflicts, saved hundreds of thousands of lives through humanitarian action and provided millions of children with the education that every child deserves”.

As for disappointments, the declaration says the world “is plagued by growing inequality, poverty, hunger, armed conflicts, terrorism, insecurity, climate change and pandemics”. It says the poorest and least developed countries are falling behind, decolonisation is not complete, and people are forced to make dangerous journeys in search of refuge.

“It’s very unfortunate that it’s going to be a pretty gloomy celebration for the UN,” said Richard Gowan, UN director for the Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank.

He said the declaration was weakened by US opposition to strong language on climate change and negotiations were delayed because the United Kingdom and others objected to China trying to insert language into the document, a reference to Beijing’s now hallmark phrase “win-win”, which was not included.

“Although it was pretty minor, that captures the real question that has emerged over the UN in 2020, exacerbated by Covid, which is how is this organisation going to navigate an era of Us-china tension,” Gowan said.

“There is a real sense that China has taken advantage of the Trump administration’s relative disengagement from the UN to increase its influence here.”

Ayear ago, Guterres warned global leaders attending the General Assembly’s high-level meeting of the looming risk of the world splitting in two, with the United States and China creating rival internets, currency, trade, financial rules “and their own zero-sum geopolitical and military strategies”.

To mark its 75th anniversary, the United Nations in January launched “a global conversation” using surveys, polls, online and in-person gatherings to find out what all kinds of people were thinking about the future. The results, which secretary-general called “striking”, are slated for release today.

“People are thinking big — about transforming the global economy, accelerating the transition to zero carbon, ensuring universal health coverage, ending racial injustice and ensure that decision-making is more open and inclusive,” theunchief said.

“And people are also expressing an intense yearning for international cooperation and global solidarity — and rejecting go-it-alone nationalist approaches and divisive populist appeals.”

Guterres said the 75th anniversary is an ideal time to realise such aims.

“We face our own 1945 moment,” he said. “We must meet that moment. Wemustshow unity like never before to overcome today’s emergency, get the world moving and working and prospering again.” — AP

We face our own 1945 moment. We must meet that

moment. Antonio Guterres, United Nations

Secretary-general