 "‘All is not well with the UN’: Jaishankar’s stark reminder on United Nations’ 80th foundation day")
While speaking on the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said on Thursday that “all is not well” within the international body. While speaking at an event to launch a postage stamp marking the UN’s 80th anniversary, Jaishankar noted that the organisation’s decisions no longer reflect the priorities of the world.
“In an era of conflict, there is a need for peace, and this is what the postage stamp represents. The world is going through difficult times. All is not well with the UN," Jaishankar said at the Thursday event. The Indian diplomat emphasised that the debates within the global body have become increasingly polarised and disconnected from ground realities.
His remarks on the matter came weeks after Switzerland, which currently chairs the UN Human Rights Commission, urged India to take “effective measures" to uphold the freedom of expression within the country and media rights within the country.
India delivered a sharp rebuttal to the accusation, advising that Switzerland should first address its own internal challenges, including “racism, systematic discrimination and xenophobia". Jaishankar’s remarks on the matter also came against the backdrop of Pakistan’s repeated attempts to drag the international body into the Kashmir issue.
Jaishankar calls for ‘meaningful reform’
While giving his take on the evolution of the body, Jaishankar reiterated his calls for “meaningful reform" within the UN. The EAM said that while reform is urgently needed, “the reform process itself is being used to block change".
India and several major economies, like Brazil, the African Union, have been calling for reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In the past, India’s bid to designate some terrorist organisations in the global terror list has often faced veto from permanent members like China.
“India has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and will continue to be so, (but) the UN’s decisions neither reflect its membership nor global priorities," Jaishankar said. “Meaningful reform in the UN is being blocked by using the reform process itself," he added.
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