UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sharply denounced the selective application of the United Nations Charter, reminding member nations that it has to be applied in its entirety, not selectively to accommodate political agendas.
Addressing a UN General Assembly ceremony on Thursday marking 80 years since the signing of the Charter, Guterres referred to widespread disregard for its basic principles.
"Today we witness attacks against the aims and ideals of the UN Charter such as never before: the use or threat of force against independent states; the violation of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law; attacks against civilians and civilian objects; the weaponization of water and food; the undermining of human rights," he stated.
Pointing to an unsettling world trend, he continued: "On and on, we find an all-too-familiar pattern: adhere when the charter is convenient, disregard when inconvenient. The Charter of the United Nations isn't optional. It isn't an a-la-carte menu. It is the foundation of international relations. We cannot and must not make abnormalities of its most fundamental principles."
Guterres characterized the Charter as not just a piece of law — but a representation of unity and strength.
"The UN Charter is a declaration of hope -- and the cornerstone of international cooperation towards a better world," he said.
Looking at the importance of the adoption of the Charter, Guterres pointed out that it has helped in the development of a more secure world. "The charter has equipped us with the means to alter futures, save lives, and bring hope to the most hopeless places on earth. And we can trace a straight line from the establishment of the United Nations and the avoidance of a third world war," he added.
Reaffirming the relevance of the Charter in today’s turbulent times, the Secretary-General stressed that honoring its principles is a continuous responsibility.
"Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is a never-ending mission," he said, calling for renewed global commitment to international law in both rhetoric and action.
"On this anniversary, I call on all member states to live up to the letter and spirit of the charter, to the duties it imposes, and to the future it calls upon us to create -- for peace, for justice, for progress, for we the peoples," Guterres added.
The UN Charter, which forms the basis of the United Nations, came into being on June 25, 1945, during the San Francisco Conference and was formally signed the following day by attending delegates.
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