India has stressed that enhancing the effectiveness of the General Assembly is inherently linked to broader United Nations reform, including changes to the Security Council.
Pratik Mathur, a minister at India’s UN mission, emphasized this connection during a session of the ad hoc working group focused on revitalizing the Assembly. He articulated a strong stance on the need for urgent, holistic reform of the UN to better reflect present geopolitical conditions and to tackle the complex challenges facing the world today.
“We must endeavor to update the global governance framework so it is suited for the 21st century through the ongoing negotiations in the Pact of the Future,” he stated.
Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General, has scheduled a ‘Summit of the Future’ in September, where global leaders are expected to endorse the ‘Pact of the Future’ aimed at enhancing the UN’s efficacy in addressing global issues.
Mathur pointed out the importance of acknowledging the General Assembly’s role as the nearest equivalent to a “global parliament” in revitalization efforts.
India consistently advocates that revitalization of the General Assembly is contingent upon its recognition as the primary deliberative, policymaking, and representative body of the UN, Mathur added.
“The essence of the General Assembly lies in its intergovernmental character, serving as what could be considered a global parliament,” he noted. Furthermore, any adjustments to its procedures should reinforce its central role in the UN system.
The effectiveness of the UN heavily depends on the General Assembly functioning as the principal deliberative and policymaking entity, as envisioned in the UN Charter, he remarked.
Mathur also highlighted the importance of the annual general debate where the heads of state and government of most of the 193 member nations convene every September. He expressed concern over this event being overshadowed by simultaneous high-level meetings.
“For the true revitalization of the General Assembly, it is critical that the integrity of the annual general debate and its related activities be maintained,” Mathur asserted.
He emphasized that this meeting holds a unique status in the UN's yearly calendar and should not be diminished by other significant events that do not see universal participation from all member states.
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