New york: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for Security Council reform, urging world leaders to make the body “fit for purpose” in an era of multiplying global crises. Addressing the council virtually to mark its 80th anniversary, Guterres blended historical reflection with a stark warning about the fragility of the international system.
According to Philippines News Agency, Guterres praised the council’s decades of contributions, from helping Cambodia recover from genocide and South Africa transition from apartheid, to peacekeeping successes in Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, and Liberia. Above all, he said, the UN system has “given us 80 years without the chaos of a great power war.” However, he warned that recent divisions and unilateral actions by member states-acting outside the principles of the UN Charter-have undermined the council’s moral authority.
Guterres emphasized that reform of the Security Council is imperative and long overdue for the maintenance of global order and safety, advocating for an expansion of its membership to better reflect 21st-century realities. The UN Charter established six main organs, including the Security Council, which holds primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Unlike other UN bodies that make recommendations, the council can issue binding decisions that all member states must follow.
His remarks came amid growing frustration over the Security Council’s paralysis in conflicts from Ukraine and Gaza to Sudan and Myanmar. Critics argue that its veto-wielding structure no longer reflects today’s global balance of power or interests. Guterres stated that expanding the membership is not only about justice but also about achieving results, potentially undoing deadlocks and offering stability in an increasingly multipolar world.
Guterres also acknowledged recent initiatives by France and the UK to limit the use of veto power, encouraging the chamber to examine these proposals. In closing, he turned from geopolitics to a moral appeal, invoking the human cost of conflict and the duty of those seated at the council’s iconic horseshoe table. He stressed that the Security Council is about addressing the needs of parents who have lost their children, refugees forced from their homes, and soldiers who have sacrificed their limbs.
Guterres warned that without a council capable of meeting today’s challenges, the world faces “grave danger.” He concluded by asserting the duty to forge a body that can meet the challenges of the next 80 years, delivering justice and safety for all.
