The Indian Panorama

Tag: UN

  • Trump sets a perilous precedent

    Trump sets a perilous precedent

    The use of force by the US in Venezuela raises doubts about the legitimacy of its actions

    “The fact that the US action flouts international law related to state sovereignty and humanitarian rights protocols has been highlighted worldwide and even within the US — but to little avail. The Trump doctrine (Donroe is specific to Latin America) boils down to bludgeoning any interlocutor who does not toe the “Donald line”, and the use of tariffs as a weapon is all too familiar.”

    By C Uday Bhaskar

    The outcome of the UN Security Council’s emergency meeting on the US military operation, which resulted in the outrageous abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, was predictable. Strategic timidity in the face of the intimidation unleashed by US President Donald Trump is the dominant orientation of the global community. The famed horseshoe table did not issue any statement. Given that the spotlight was on the US, with its veto power as a permanent member of the UNSC, Washington would not have allowed any censure of its Operation Absolute Resolve.

    Panama was subjected to a similar action in 1989. There are notable parallels between the US capture of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega on January 3, 1990, and the kidnapping of the Venezuelan President on the same day in 2026. The latter is the most direct US military intervention in Latin America since the Panama operation.

    In both cases, heads of state — sitting (Maduro) and de facto (Noriega) — have been indicted on federal drug trafficking charges; Noriega for racketeering and cocaine smuggling, and Maduro for narco-terrorism and related conspiracies that were deemed inimical to US national security. This action is being interpreted as the first step to implement the new doctrine unveiled by President Trump that builds on the 1823 Monroe doctrine and has been dubbed the Donroe doctrine.

    However, notwithstanding Trump’s assertion that Latin American affairs are now a top US security priority and that he would authorize military action and intervention at will, rumblings of dissent were evident at the UNSC’s January 5 meeting.

    The deliberations reflected the widespread international condemnation of the US action as a violation of international law, sovereignty and the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force against a state’s territorial integrity or political independence. Despite the distinctive backdrop, UN Secretary-General António Guterres was not present at the meeting; his statement, which was read out by an official, emphasized that “the power of the law must prevail” and called for inclusive democratic dialogue respecting human rights and Venezuela’s sovereignty. To his credit, Guterres was the first to condemn the US action and voiced the overwhelming global shock and anguish.

    At the UNSC meeting, two of the permanent members, Russia and China, along with Brazil, Colombia (which made a request for the meeting), Cuba and Mexico denounced the operation as an act of aggression, armed attack or “imperialist” intervention. Some demanded Maduro’s immediate release and rejected unilateral actions.

    Even US allies such as France and Denmark criticized the move for undermining the principles of international order, though some acknowledged Maduro’s repressive rule and the need to address drug trafficking and human rights issues through lawful means.

    In response, Mike Waltz, US Ambassador to the UN, defended the action as a “surgical law enforcement operation” against indicted “narco-terrorists”, not an act of war or occupation, and stated that the US had no plans to occupy Venezuela. This was not accepted by the global community. It is instructive that no nation, except Argentina and Ecuador, has unambiguously endorsed the belligerent US action against Maduro.

    The fact that the US action flouts international law related to state sovereignty and humanitarian rights protocols has been highlighted worldwide and even within the US — but to little avail. The Trump doctrine (Donroe is specific to Latin America) boils down to bludgeoning any interlocutor who does not toe the “Donald line”, and the use of tariffs as a weapon is all too familiar.

    Hence, most nations have chosen prudence in response to the US military operation. India, Japan and many other countries have issued anodyne statements that do not directly condemn the US action or uphold any normative principle of international law.

    The operation has raised disturbing questions. If the US arrogates unto itself the right to abduct/kidnap the head of another state for perceived transgression of American laws, is any global leader safe from such predatory action? Will leaders attending the UN General Assembly meeting in New York be sanguine about their own safety?

    The use of force by the US in Venezuela raises doubts about the legitimacy of its actions. At least 115 deaths were reported from US military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats (including go-fast boats and semi-submersibles) in the months leading to Operation Absolute Resolve.

    These strikes were part of a campaign that began in early September 2025 and targeted vessels primarily in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. A total of 36 vessels were struck on the suspicion of carrying drugs. Should the US military have been part of such an operation against unarmed small vessels? The January 3 operation itself reportedly caused 70-80 fatalities, mostly Venezuelan and Cuban personnel tasked to protect Maduro.

    There is little doubt that the US has an impressive array of trans-border military capability that includes delivery of lethal precision-guided ordnance, pinpoint surveillance accuracy, strategic airlift and overwhelming cyber capabilities. All this was demonstrated both in Abbottabad (the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011) and in the audacious capture of President Maduro. But Trump’s resolve to discipline Venezuela will remain tainted for blurring the Weberian dictum about the legitimacy of the use of military force.

    More such resolute actions have been mooted — Colombia, Cuba, Iran and even Mexico have been threatened by Trump. Fall in line or else face US ire. Greenland may provide the ultimate Alice in Wonderland scenario. If the next Trump move is to ‘acquire’ Greenland, and Denmark invokes Article VI of the NATO provisions, it is possible that troops of the US military will defend a NATO ally against the occupying US forces!

    Welcome to Trumpland, and all hail Emperor Donroe!

    (C Uday Bhaskar is Director, Society for Policy Studies)

  • The US Has Yet to Notify the UN About Washington’s Withdrawal From Entities

    The US Has Yet to Notify the UN About Washington’s Withdrawal From Entities

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The United Nations says that beyond the social media announcement from the United States government on Jan. 7 about its withdrawal from 66 international and UN entities, the information has not been officially communicated to the world body. Washington has also not followed the legal process required for a country to dissociate from binding international treaties it has signed and ratified, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

    “I checked with our legal counsel earlier today, we had not received any official letter,” Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, told journalists on Jan. 8. “We have not received any further official communication beyond what was posted on the White House website.”

    Washington announced in the evening of Jan. 7 on social media that it is withdrawing from a broad slate of international organizations and UN bodies, substantiating the threat by President Trump to separate with UN bodies that do not serve his country’s interests or that the US considers a waste of Americans’ taxpayer money.

    The decision by the US to cut ties to 66 international organizations, treaties and UN entities was apparently a result of a review conducted under Executive Order 14199, one of the wide-ranging executive orders signed by Trump in February 2025. The review could be a prelude to the US Congress releasing more funding to the UN general operating budget now that the review is done.

    UN reacts

    On Jan. 8, when the UN released its first official response to the news, Guterres expressed “regrets” over the US announcement but added that “all United Nations entities will go on with the implementation of their mandates as given by Member States.”

    “The United Nations has a responsibility to deliver for those who depend on us,” the statement, conveyed from Dujarric by email to the media, continued. “We will continue to carry out our mandates with determination.”

    Of the 66 organizations, 31 are linked to the UN. They include the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, an organ led by a Chinese national; various regional economic and social commissions; the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict; the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; and peace-building agencies as well as others that promote international law, sustainable environmental practices and gender rights, such as UN Women. The UN Population Fund, also listed, was severed by the US in early 2025. (A list of the UN bodies and their roles is explained at the end of this story.)

    Since the Trump administration has taken the reins in 2025, the US has turned its back on matters at the UN related to gender equality, climate change, diversity/equity/inclusion as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Vanessa Frazier, who leads the office on children and armed conflict, which aims to protect children’s rights amid war, said in a post on X that “ it is quite unfortunate that the US now seems to be of the opinion that children being collateral of war is OK”

    According to the US, “withdrawal” from UN entities is defined as ceasing participation and/or funding to the extent permitted by law.

    “Poorly run”

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Jan. 7, as the White House released the list of 66 entities it was cutting off, the organizations were “redundant, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, or poorly run,” and in some cases “captured by the interests of actors advancing agendas contrary to US national interests.” He added that continued participation in such bodies was incompatible with American sovereignty and prosperity.

    The move marks a major escalation in Washington’s shift from multilateral engagement, prompting concern and bewilderment across diplomatic, legal and academic communities. Trump pulled out of some high-profile UN agencies during his first term and again in the beginning of his second term, such as the Human Rights Council and the World Health Organization, but the Jan. 7 actions are more far reaching in scale. And the moves will worsen the dire financial crisis the organization is struggling to manage.

    The US released $2 billion at the end of 2025 to fund UN-coordinated humanitarian aid for a select list of countries as the US is still withholding at least two years of mandated dues to the organization’s regular budget, totaling approximately $1.3 billion.

    It is unclear whether the withdrawals from UN bodies will impact the US paying its assessed contribution — if it does so — but Dujarric said Washington is obligated to pay regardless of unilateral withdrawal from a UN agency or program.

    Many of those the US said it would withdraw from are funded by UN assessed contributions paid by member states. Dujarric said some of the agencies rely on funding from “the regular budget, with the vast majority of their work then being funded voluntarily.”

    “Member states who signed on, joined this club have to pay the dues,” he said. “We can, we can, the Charter is not à la carte, as we said, and . . . we know we’re not going to renegotiate the Charter. The UN is an organization of 193 member states, two observer states [the Holy See and Palestine]. It is in the interest of all these member states and the two observers to defend the principles that they themselves have created.”

    According to Article 19 of the UN Charter, a member state risks losing its vote in the 193-member General Assembly if its arrears equal or exceed the amount due for the previous two years, but it is unclear what happens in the Security Council when a permanent member runs afoul of Article 19. A European diplomat told PassBlue, however, that even small US contributions to certain entities over the last few years could mean it is meeting some level of its legal financial obligations.

    Picking and choosing

    Ronny Patz, an independent analyst on the UN, said that while US engagement with the UN peace-building architecture has historically been limited, the departure of a permanent member of the Security Council from peace-building work represents a symbolic, practical setback for collective conflict-prevention efforts.

    Patz warned that the move risks normalizing what he described as “à la carte multilateralism,” whereby states choose which international organizations to support. “Once selective disengagement is tolerated,” Patz said in a post on LinkedIn, “all member states could refuse to fund or participate in the parts they dislike, weakening the UN’s role as a multipurpose organization built on cross-domain compromise.”

    Theodoros Rousopoulos, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, expressed concern over the withdrawal from the Council’s Venice Commission, an advisory body on constitutional matters, as the rule of law is pressured globally.

    In the US, Democratic members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized the Trump decision, saying that participation in international organizations allows Washington to shape global norms, strengthen alliances and counter adversaries. “America first = America alone,” the committee posted on its X page.

    Ben Saul, the UN specialist on human rights and counterterrorism, said that the withdrawal from the International Law Commission “weakens efforts to forge cooperative global solutions to common human challenges.”

    He added: “The US will weaken global counterterrorism efforts by withdrawing from the Global Counterterrorism Forum and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law.”

    Dujarric summed up Guterres’s attitude despite the latest US setbacks, saying on Jan. 8: “I spent quite a time with him this morning, and he is determined as ever to continue his work and continuing to defend the Charter and continuing to defend this international institution.”

    What the UN organizations do

    Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA): Acts as the UN’s policy engine on global development, producing data and analysis on population trends, inequality, sustainable development goals and public administration. Governments rely on its statistics and guidance to shape domestic policy.

    Economic Commission for Africa (ECA): Supports African governments with research and policy advice on economic growth, industrialization, trade integration and climate resilience, often shaping regional development strategies.

    Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC): Known for its economic research, ECLAC analyzes inequality, growth and fiscal policy in Latin America and the Caribbean and advises governments on development planning.

    Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP): Works on inclusive growth, infrastructure, disaster risk reduction and digital connectivity across the Asia-Pacific, the world’s most populous region.

    Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA): Focuses on development challenges in the Arab world, including economic reform, social protection, water scarcity and post-conflict recovery.

    International Law Commission: A body of legal experts tasked with developing and clarifying international law, including treaties governing diplomacy, state responsibility and the laws of war.

    International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals: Handles remaining legal responsibilities from the Rwanda and former Yugoslavia war crimes tribunals, including appeals, witness protection and sentence enforcement.

    International Trade Centre (ITC): Helps small businesses and exporters in developing countries access global markets, providing technical assistance on trade rules, quality standards and supply chains.

    Office of the Special Adviser on Africa: Advises the UN Secretary-General on political, security and development trends in Africa and helps coordinate international support for the continent.

    Office of the Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict: Documents and advocates against the recruitment, abuse and killing of children in war zones, pressing governments and armed groups to comply with international law.

    Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict: Works to prevent sexual violence used as a weapon of war, supporting survivors and pushing for accountability in conflict and post-conflict settings.

    Office of the Special Representative on Violence Against Children: Addresses violence against children beyond conflict zones, including abuse, exploitation and harmful practices, often working with national governments on child-protection laws.

    Peacebuilding Commission: Brings together donors, governments and regional actors to support countries emerging from conflict, aiming to prevent relapse into violence.

    Peacebuilding Fund: Provides rapid, flexible funding for peacebuilding efforts in fragile states, often filling gaps where traditional aid is too slow.

    Permanent Forum on People of African Descent: An advisory body focused on addressing racism, discrimination and development challenges faced by people of African descent worldwide.

    UN Alliance of Civilizations: Promotes dialogue across cultures and religions, aiming to counter extremism and reduce polarization through education, media and youth programs.

    UN Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+): Helps developing countries protect forests by linking conservation to climate finance and sustainable land use.

    UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): Provides research and policy advice on trade, debt, investment and technology, often advocating for fairer global economic rules for developing nations.

    UN Democracy Fund: Finances grassroots projects that support democratic participation, civil society and human rights, particularly in fragile democracies.

    UN Energy: Coordinates the UN’s work on access to affordable, reliable and clean energy, aligning agencies around global energy goals.

    UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women): Leads UN efforts on women’s rights, gender equality and violence prevention, advising governments and supporting programs on the ground.

    UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The treaty body that oversees global climate negotiations, including the Paris Agreement, and tracks countries’ emissions commitments.

    UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat): Focuses on sustainable urban development, housing policy and slum upgrading as cities grow rapidly worldwide.

    UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR): Trains diplomats, civil servants and emergency responders, particularly from developing countries, on governance, diplomacy and crisis management.

    UN Oceans: Coordinates UN action on ocean conservation, fisheries management and marine pollution across multiple agencies.

    UN Population Fund (UNFPA): Works on reproductive health, maternal care and population data, often operating in fragile or humanitarian settings.

    UN Register of Conventional Arms: Encourages transparency in international arms transfers to build confidence and reduce the risk of conflict escalation.

    UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination: Brings together the heads of UN agencies to align strategy, budgets and policy priorities across the system.

    UN System Staff College: Provides professional training for UN staff and partners, focusing on leadership, coordination and complex crises.

    UN Water: Coordinates global efforts on freshwater access, sanitation and water management across UN agencies.

    UN University: A network of research institutes producing academic work on peace, sustainability, technology and development, often advising governments and the UN itself.
    (Source: Pass Blue)

  • UN chief calls on Israel to reverse NGOs ban in Gaza

    UN chief calls on Israel to reverse NGOs ban in Gaza

    Israel says the new regulation aims to prevent bodies it accuses of supporting terrorism from operating in the Palestinian territories

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP): UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on Friday, January 2, 2026, for Israel to end a ban on humanitarian agencies that provided aid in Gaza, saying he was “deeply concerned” at the development, a Reuters report says.

    Mr. Guterres “calls for this measure to be reversed, stressing that international non-governmental organizations are indispensable to life-saving humanitarian work and that the suspension risks undermining the fragile progress made during the ceasefire,” his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

    “This recent action will further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians,” he added.

    Israel on Thursday suspended 37 foreign humanitarian organizations from accessing the Gaza Strip after they had refused to share lists of their Palestinian employees with government officials.

    The ban includes Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which has 1,200 staff members in the Palestinian territories — the majority of whom are in Gaza.

    NGOs included in the ban have been ordered to cease their operations by March 1.

    Several NGOS have said the requirements contravene international humanitarian law or endanger their independence.

    Israel says the new regulation aims to prevent bodies it accuses of supporting terrorism from operating in the Palestinian territories.

    On Thursday, January 1, 18 Israel-based left-wing NGOs denounced the decision to ban their international peers, saying “the new registration framework violates core humanitarian principles of independence and neutrality.”

    A fragile ceasefire has been in place since October, following a deadly war waged by Israel in response to Hamas’s unprecedented October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

    In November, authorities in Gaza said more than 70,000 people had been killed there since the war broke out. Nearly 80 percent of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged by the war, according to UN data, leaving infrastructure decimated.

    About 1.5 million of Gaza’s more than two million residents have lost their homes, said Amjad Al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza.

  • The 80th UN General Assembly: Time for Courage, Not Calculated Fear

    The 80th UN General Assembly: Time for Courage, Not Calculated Fear

    The 80th UNGA is in progress, and the eyes of the world are turned to the world body to see what the world leaders have in mind to work for peace, development and human rights.

    By Prof. Indrajit S Saluja
    By Prof. Indrajit S Saluja

    When the United Nations was founded in 1945, it was given a simple but profound mandate: to prevent war, to protect human rights, and to give a voice to the peoples of the world when the din of national ambition threatened them. Eighty years on, the UN’s promises remain enshrined in lofty charters and innumerable resolutions — yet the organization’s moral authority is fraying at precisely the moments when it is needed most. The 80th UN General Assembly must stop treating great-power sensitivities and political convenience as superior to human life. It must remember that the UN’s gravest failure would not be impotence on paper, but silence in the face of mass atrocity.

    This year’s High-Level Week opens under the theme “Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” The theme is noble; the test is whether member states will honor it by speaking truth to power. A fearful UN — one that sanitizes or muffles its judgments to avoid offending influential states — betrays the very purpose of its existence. When the organization bows to geopolitical calculation rather than the protection of civilians, it hands the world back to the rule of the few: the strong, the strategic, and the unscrupulous.

    Look at the crises that demand the General Assembly’s moral clarity. Human-rights experts have warned repeatedly that the situation in Gaza has crossed thresholds of calamity that many describe in the language of genocide and famine — a charge that calls for urgent international action and accountability. Medical and humanitarian lifelines are collapsing; civilian death tolls and displacement have been catastrophic. The UN system cannot shrink from naming what it sees or from demanding an immediate, sustained cessation of actions that produce mass civilian suffering. To hesitate over terminology while people starve and die is to prioritize diplomatic comfort over human rescue.

    If the UN is to reclaim its conscience, it must also break the dangerous pattern that has allowed atrocity to metastasize elsewhere: in Ethiopia’s Tigray and other regions where civilians remain trapped in cycles of violence and deprivation; in Sudan, where war and siege have produced famine conditions in Darfur and beyond; and in Myanmar, where the Rohingya and other minorities continue to face persecution and displacement. The High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned that the “rules of war are being shredded” in multiple theaters — a stark indictment that should galvanize the Assembly to act, not to prevaricate.
    To be clear: the General Assembly is not being asked to play imperial arbiter. It is being asked to do what only it can do when the Security Council is paralyzed by vetoes and narrow national interest: to voice the conscience of the world, to convene humanitarian responses, to establish investigative mechanisms, and to rally both political and material support for ceasefires, safe corridors, and accountability. When the Security Council cannot or will not act, history has shown that the Assembly can and must step forward. Its authority rests not on coercive force but on moral legitimacy: a collective assertion that the world’s peoples will not be abandoned. The Assembly must wield that legitimacy.

    Member states, too, have duties that cannot be deferred to diplomatic technocrats. Powerful countries must stop treating the UN as optional when its decisions conflict with narrow strategic aims. They must stop weaponizing influence — or shielding allies — to prevent independent investigations or humanitarian access. They must fund the UN adequately and support its impartial experts rather than delegitimizing them for political convenience. When states treat multilateralism as a bargaining chip rather than a sacred public good, they starve the institution of the very legitimacy that enables global cooperation. The result is a slow-motion disintegration of a system designed to protect the weak from the will of the strong.

    The stakes are existential. When the UN’s capacity to act is eroded, the world drifts toward a brutal logic: might makes right. That is not merely rhetorical alarmism. It is a practical description of a world in which small or powerless populations are left vulnerable to predation by stronger neighbors, militia, or states that feel unconstrained by international restraint. The alternative — a rearmament of diplomacy, an insistence on accountability, and a robust humanitarian response — requires political courage. It requires member states to set aside immediate advantage and to serve the longer, higher interest of humanity. The Assembly must demand that courage.

    At the heart of this revival should be concrete measures. The General Assembly should immediately mandate independent fact-finding missions where access is denied and atrocity crimes are alleged. It should empower and resource special rapporteurs and investigative tribunals with clear terms of reference and protection against political harassment. It should make humanitarian corridors and ceasefires a non-negotiable priority, tying development and diplomatic incentives to demonstrable protections for civilians. And crucially, it should adopt a standing mechanism to coordinate international relief when the Security Council is blocked — not to bypass the Council permanently, but to prevent paralysis when lives hang in the balance. These are not quixotic ideas; they are institutional repairs that recognize the Assembly’s unique convening power.

    The UN’s critics are right to demand reform. The Security Council’s veto culture, the underfunding of peacekeeping, and the sometimes opaque functioning of UN agencies all need overhaul. But reform cannot be an excuse for inaction. The General Assembly should treat reform and rescue as simultaneous priorities: fix the system while using what authority the system still retains to stop ongoing crimes and to protect civilians now.

    Finally, a word to citizens and civil society: the UN will be as fearless as the members who demand it be fearless. Public pressure — sustained, vocal, and transnational — matters. Civil society groups, journalists, and ordinary citizens must push their governments to put principled action ahead of convenience. When the people insist, governments often follow.

    The 80th General Assembly could be remembered as another ritual of speeches and photo-ops. Or it can be remembered as the moment when the world chose to revive the UN’s founding promise: to protect succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to affirm human dignity, and to hold those who commit atrocities to account. The choice is simple and terrible: retreat into a jungle of raw power, or recommit to law, rights, and the human interest the UN was created to serve. The Assembly’s answer will shape the century to come. The world will be watching.

  • Need to review UN Charter to reflect change

    Need to review UN Charter to reflect change

    The first step towards strengthening the multilateral system must, therefore, begin with removing the contradictions within the UN Charter on decision-making

    “As the UN prepares to mark its 80th anniversary in September 2025, it is time to prioritize coordinated action to convene a UN General Conference to review and strengthen the Charter, as committed by the UN’s Summit of the Future. Such a “rule of law”-based initiative must be taken by countries that have publicly committed to “reform multilateralism”, including India. Only then can the ongoing crisis in multilateralism be effectively overcome.”

    By Asoke Mukerji

    As we mark UN Charter Day today (October 24), it is important to acknowledge that Agenda 2030 on sustainable development represents the most significant ground-level achievement of the UN since 1945, giving it a “human face”. Anchored in Article 1 and Chapter IX of the UN Charter, which advocate the mutual benefits of international socio-economic cooperation, Agenda 2030’s derailment due to violent conflicts extracts a massive toll on humanity. In 2022, the UN Secretary-General reported that the number of people adversely impacted by conflicts worldwide exceeded 2 billion.

    The UN Summit of the Future held in September 2024 characterized Agenda 2030 with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the “central objective of multilateralism” and called for strengthening the UN Charter to “keep pace with the changing world”.

    However, the summit adopted a “Pact for the Future” predominantly to reiterate the agreed commitments on Agenda 2030, without proposing any time-bound process for reviewing and strengthening the Charter. The consequent ambiguity for the future of multilateralism bodes ill for “we the peoples”, in whose name the UN Charter was adopted in June 1945 “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”.

    An effective response to the crisis facing multilateralism must be formulated within the framework and provisions of the UN Charter by the UN General Assembly (UNGA). As a legal treaty, the Charter balances mutually agreed principles and objectives with specific provisions regulating different aspects of multilateral governance. The UN’s second Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjold, famously remarked in 1956 that the purposes of the UN Charter are “expressions of universally shared ideals which cannot fail us, though we, alas, often fail them”.

    Article 24 of the Charter puts the “primary responsibility” for maintaining international peace and security on the UNSC. The track record of the UNSC’s failure in recent years to fulfil its responsibility is well documented. It failed to provide political leadership to the UN’s fractured response to the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. It has compromised on countering terrorism by adopting double standards based on the political agendas of its permanent members. Its inability to resolve conflicts globally has undermined national efforts of UN member-states to implement Agenda 2030 in an increasingly polarized, confrontational and unpredictable world.

    Aggravating its acts of omission, the UNSC has been unable to enforce its own unanimous decisions, denting the declared objectives of the SDGs. The highly publicized human suffering and destruction in recent years in Afghanistan (despite UNSC Resolution 2513 of March 2020), West Asia (despite UNSC Resolution 242 of November 1967), and Ukraine (despite UNSC Resolution 2202 of February 2015), are only a few examples of the inability of the UNSC to lead the way to sustainable peace.

    Prima facie, the UNSC should not be in such a situation. Article 25 of the Charter makes the UNSC decisions legally binding obligations for all UN member-states. The UNSC is given powers to impose economic sanctions under Article 41 and use armed force under Article 42 of the Charter to enforce its decisions. Any attempt by the UNGA to assert predominance on issues of peace and security are restricted by Article 12 of the Charter, which prevents the UNGA from making any recommendation on any dispute or situation on the UNSC’s agenda unless requested to do so by the UNSC, while Article 10 of the Charter makes the UNGA recommendations voluntary, not mandatory like the UNSC decisions.

    The crisis in multilateralism is due to the biggest anomaly of the UN Charter, which is the coexistence of two contradictory processes of decision-making within one treaty. Article 18 of the Charter upholds the democratic principle of sovereign equality in decision-making in the UNGA on the basis of one-country one-vote, providing for decisions being taken by consensus or by a majority vote if there is no consensus. Article 27.3 of the Charter, on the other hand, gives a dictatorial power of “veto” to China, France, Russia, the UK, and the United States as the five permanent members (P5) of the UNSC, allowing them to override without any explanation decisions proposed by each other, or by any of the 10 democratically elected non-permanent members of the UNSC representing the world’s geographical regions.

    The consequence is that while the vast majority of the UNGA membership may have firm views and proposals on how to respond to the growing political fragmentation of the multilateral system, only the UNSC can take decisions that oblige members of the UNGA under the Charter to uphold international peace and security. The first step towards strengthening the multilateral system must, therefore, begin with removing the contradictions within the Charter on decision-making.

    The Charter contains an agreed framework in Article 109 for reviewing the provisions of the treaty. This was highlighted by Sir A Ramaswamy Mudaliar, who signed the Charter on behalf of India, in his first statement to the UNGA on January 18, 1946. He said that the veto had not been acceptable to “many nations”, including India, and should be reviewed after 10 years, as referred to in Article 109. The UN’s High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism recommended in 2023 to the Summit of the Future a “Charter Review Conference” to focus on the UNSC reform. Yet, so far, there has been no public discussion within the UNGA or the UNSC on implementing the review clause of Article 109 by convening a General Conference of the UN.

    As the UN prepares to mark its 80th anniversary in September 2025, it is time to prioritize coordinated action to convene a UN General Conference to review and strengthen the Charter, as committed by the UN’s Summit of the Future. Such a “rule of law”-based initiative must be taken by countries that have publicly committed to “reform multilateralism”, including India. Only then can the ongoing crisis in multilateralism be effectively overcome.
    (The author is a retired Diplomat and a Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF). He can be reached at 1955pram@gmail.com)

  • UN Security Council backs Guterres after Israel bars him from country

    UN Security Council backs Guterres after Israel bars him from country

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP): The United Nations Security Council on Thursday, October 3, 2024,  expressed its full support for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after Israel’s foreign minister said he was barring him from entering the country. The 15-member council said in a statement that “any decision not to engage with the U.N. Secretary-General or the United Nations is counterproductive, especially in the context of escalating tensions in the Middle East.” ‘Sickening cycle of escalation’ in Mideast must stop, says UN chief Antonio Guterres

    The statement did not name Israel. Such statements by the council are agreed by consensus.

    Israel’s Foreign Minister said on Wednesday, October 2, 2024,  that he was barring U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country because he had not “unequivocally” condemned Iran’s missile attack on Israel.

    Mr. Guterres on Tuesday, October 1, 2024,  issued a brief statement referencing only the “latest attacks in the Middle East” and condemning the conflict “with escalation after escalation”. Earlier on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, Israel had sent troops into south Lebanon.

    Earlier Wednesday, October 2, 2024,  Israel declared Mr. Guterres “persona non grata” as they think he didn’t specifically condemn Iran’s missile attack when he condemned on Tuesday the “broadening conflict in the Middle East.”

     

    UN chief Antonio Guterres called on Wednesday, October 2, 2024,  for an end to the “sickening cycle of escalation” in the Middle East, while specifically condemning Iran over its latest missile attack after facing harsh criticism from Israel.

  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Call for Global Intervention to Prevent World War III

    The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Call for Global Intervention to Prevent World War III

    By Prof. Indrajit S Saluja
    By Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja

    The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, stretching back over a century, has been one of the most enduring and volatile disputes in modern history. In recent years, particularly with the leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this conflict has escalated to dangerous new heights. At its core, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict involves territorial disputes, religious differences, and issues of national identity. However, as tensions rise, it is not just the Middle East that faces a dangerous future—the entire world may be on the precipice of a catastrophic Third World War if hostilities are not brought to a halt.

    The origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be traced back to the late 19th century, when waves of Jewish immigration to Palestine, then under Ottoman rule, began as part of the Zionist movement. The Zionist aim was to establish a Jewish homeland in response to centuries of anti-Semitism and persecution in Europe. This increased tension between Jewish and Arab communities in the region, especially as both groups laid claim to the same land.

    After World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the British took control of Palestine under a League of Nations mandate. The Balfour Declaration of 1917, which promised a Jewish homeland in Palestine, further inflamed Arab resentment. Jewish immigration continued, and by the time of World War II, tensions had escalated into violence between the two communities.

    The United Nations’ 1947 partition plan proposed a division of the land into separate Jewish and Arab states, but this was rejected by Arab leaders, leading to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Israel declared independence, and its victory in that war resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, an event known as the Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic).

    Since then, Israel has fought several wars with its Arab neighbors, while the Palestinian people have remained stateless. Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem following the 1967 Six-Day War has been a flashpoint for the conflict. Despite attempts at peace—such as the Oslo Accords of the 1990s—the conflict remains unresolved, and the situation has only worsened in recent years.

    One of the reasons the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has persisted for so long is the political dynamic within Israel, particularly under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu. As Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Netanyahu has built much of his political career on the premise of Israel’s survival being contingent on strong leadership, especially in the face of external threats. He has continually portrayed Palestinians and their allies as existential enemies of the Israeli state.

    Netanyahu’s political survival has often seemed intertwined with the perpetuation of conflict. During times of relative peace, he has faced increased scrutiny at home over allegations of corruption and mismanagement. However, during periods of heightened conflict, Netanyahu has consistently positioned himself as the indispensable protector of Israeli security. By framing the conflict as one of survival, he rallies public opinion around his leadership, diverting attention from domestic scandals and other pressing issues.

    It is easy to see why the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, under Netanyahu, has become an endless loop. Whenever there is a glimpse of potential peace, or when international pressure for negotiations mounts, Netanyahu’s government has often taken hardline stances, continuing settlements in the West Bank or carrying out military operations in Gaza. As long as the conflict remains unresolved, Netanyahu maintains his narrative of being the only leader capable of defending Israel against its enemies.

    On the other side of the conflict, the Palestinians view themselves as a people who have been systematically denied their right to self-determination. For decades, they have lived under Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, facing restrictions on movement, economic hardship, and frequent military incursions. The situation in Gaza, in particular, has been described by international organizations as a humanitarian crisis, with blockades limiting access to basic necessities.

    The Palestinian leadership, divided between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza, has been unable to present a unified front in negotiations. Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by Israel and many Western countries, sees the conflict as a religious struggle against Israeli occupation. However, both Palestinian factions, along with much of the Arab world, insist that Palestinians must have the right to an independent state.

    For Palestinians, the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank is a symbol of the ongoing denial of their sovereignty. These settlements, which violate international law, have grown under Netanyahu’s watch, further entrenching the occupation. Many Palestinians, especially younger generations, have lost faith in the possibility of a two-state solution and instead demand equality and civil rights in a single, binational state—a prospect Israel vehemently opposes.

    While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a localized struggle, its potential to ignite a broader, global conflict should not be underestimated. As we have seen in recent years, regional wars often have international consequences. The Middle East, already a powder keg of sectarian violence, geopolitical rivalries, and foreign intervention, could easily become the stage for a much larger war involving global powers.

    The United Nations, which was founded to prevent precisely this kind of escalation, has been largely ineffective in addressing the conflict. In fact, Israel recently barred UN Secretary-General António Guterres from entering the country after he failed to condemn Iran for its alleged involvement in attacks on Israel. This incident underscores the extent to which international institutions have been sidelined in the conflict, with neither side trusting the UN to broker a fair resolution.

    Moreover, global powers, including the United States, Russia, China, and the European Union, have been reluctant to take meaningful action. Each has its own geopolitical interests in the region, and these interests often conflict with the goal of achieving peace. The U.S., for instance, has been Israel’s staunchest ally, providing it with military aid and diplomatic cover at the UN. Meanwhile, Russia and Iran have supported Palestinian factions, particularly Hamas, as part of their broader strategy to challenge U.S. influence in the Middle East.

    If these global powers continue to prioritize their own strategic interests over the need for peace, the conflict could spiral out of control. A regional war involving Israel, Palestine, Iran, and their respective allies could easily draw in the U.S., Russia, and other major powers. Given the advanced military capabilities of these nations, including nuclear arsenals, the risk of a Third World War is a very real and terrifying prospect.

    It is clear that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not resolve itself, nor will it be solved through force of arms. Wars in the modern world bring only destruction and misery, and no nation can remain unaffected by the chaos that ensues in another, regardless of geographic distance. In an interconnected world, the instability of one region can easily ripple across borders, disrupting global economies, displacing populations, and increasing the threat of terrorism.

    The world must act collectively and decisively to bring an end to this conflict. Nations should put aside their individual agendas and unite in their efforts to mediate peace. There must be renewed international pressure on both Israel and Palestine to return to the negotiating table and work toward a two-state solution that respects the rights and security of both peoples.

    India, with its ancient philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”—the world is one family—offers a valuable lesson in diplomacy. When there is conflict within a family, the other members must step in and mediate to bring about reconciliation. The international community must adopt this mindset and take the necessary steps to prevent a global catastrophe.

    The time to act is now. If the world continues to ignore the escalating violence in the Middle East, we may find ourselves facing a war the like of which we have not seen since 1945. Let us not wait until it is too late.

  • THE TALIBAN HAVE SUSPENDED POLIO VACCINATION CAMPAIGNS IN AFGHANISTAN, THE UN SAYS

    DUBAI (TIP): The Taliban have suspended polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan, the U.N. said September 17. Afghanistan is one of two countries in which the spread of the potentially fatal, paralyzing disease has never been stopped. The other is Pakistan. News of the suspension was relayed to U.N. agencies right before the September immunization campaign was due to start. No reason was given for the suspension, and no one from the Taliban-controlled government was immediately available for comment. A top official from the World Health Organization said it was aware of discussions to move away from house- to-house vaccinations and instead have immunizations in places like mosques. The WHO has confirmed 18 polio cases in Afghanistan this year, all but two in the south of the country. That’s up from six cases in 2023. “The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is aware of the recent policy discussions on shifting from house-to- house polio vaccination campaigns to site-to-site vaccination in parts of Afghanistan,” said Dr. Hamid Jafari from the WHO. “Partners are in the process of discussing and understanding the scope and impact of any change in current policy.” Anti-polio campaigns in neighboring Pakistan are regularly marred by violence. Militants target vaccination teams and police assigned to protect them, falsely claiming that the campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children. (AP)

  • Indian-origin Major Radhika Sen honored with UN peacekeeping award

    Indian-origin Major Radhika Sen honored with UN peacekeeping award

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP): Major Radhika Sen, a peacekeeper with the United Nations (UN) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been honored for her outstanding efforts in empowering local communities, particularly women.
    “Receiving this prestigious award on behalf of all the peacekeepers working in MONUSCO as well as my country, India, is just amazing. I cannot describe it in words,” said Major Sen, who served with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres presented Sen with the 2023 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award on Thursday, observed as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
    The award recognizes the efforts of a military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of the 2000 Security Council resolution that calls for protecting women and girls from conflict-related sexual violence and sets gender-related responsibilities for the UN.
    Congratulating her, Guterres called her “a true leader and role model. Her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole”.
    Sen served with the Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), where she helped create the Community Alert Networks in North Kivu as a platform that brought in community leaders, young people, and women “to voice their security and humanitarian concerns,” according to the UN.
    With her MONUSCO colleagues, she worked to address those concerns.
    Guterres said that “with humility, compassion, and dedication,” she earned the trust of “conflict-affected communities, including women and girls” as her troops engaged with them “in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu”.
    Earlier, Sen said, “Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everybody’s business – not just us, women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity.”
    “This award is special to me as it recognizes the hard work put in by all the peacekeepers working in the challenging environment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and giving their best to bring a positive change in society,” she added.
    Hailing from Himachal Pradesh, Sen is a biotech engineer who was studying for a master’s degree at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay when she decided to join the Army.
    She was assigned to MONUSCO in 2023 as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion and completed her tenure in April 2024.
    Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive the honor after Major Suman Gawani, who served with the UN Mission in South Sudan and received the award in 2019.
    Of the 6,063 Indian personnel in UN peacekeeping operations, 1,954 serve with MONUSCO, 32 of them women.
    The UN said that Sen, who led mixed-gender engagement patrols and activities, became a role model for both men and women by fostering “a safe space for men and women to operate together under her command”.
    She also made sure that peacekeepers under her command operated with sensitivity to gender and sociocultural norms in the eastern DRC “to help build trust and thereby increase her team’s chance of success”, the UN said.
    Among the activities she launched for women were English language classes for children, and health, gender, and vocational training for adults.
    “Her efforts directly inspired women’s solidarity, providing safe spaces for meetings and open dialogue,” the UN said.
    She encouraged women in the village of Kashlira, near Rwindi town, to organize themselves to advocate for their rights, particularly in local security and peace discussions.

  • “ON THIS MARTYRS’ DAY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FURTHER SACRIFICES ARE NOT NEEDED”

    “ON THIS MARTYRS’ DAY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FURTHER SACRIFICES ARE NOT NEEDED”

    By VK Raju

    Though I was giving a positive message to readers of The Indian Panorama on January 1, 2024, we cannot ignore that over 30 live global conflicts are going on. Millions are displaced; International law is disregarded with impunity as criminal networks profit from division and violence. Terrorists and tyrants are increasing by the day.

    Added to this state of world affairs, there are five significant and huge problems the world is facing.

    1. Climate change and biodiversity loss
    2. Poverty,
    3. Water scarcity
    4. Poor support of health and education,
    5. Eroding international peace and security.

    United Nations (UN) is only truly universal global organization in spite of many critics

    Today, global issues transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting on its own. In addition to its initial goals of safeguarding peace, protecting human rights, establishing the framework for international justice and promoting economic and social progress, in the 8 decades since its creation, the United Nations had added on new challenges, such as AIDS, big data, and climate change.

    While conflict resolution and peace keeping continue to be among its most visible efforts, the UN is also engaged in a wide array of activities with an objective to improve people’s lives around the world.

    Climate Change

    CLIMATE CHANGE: This is one of the major challenges of our times from shifting with weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, The impact of climate change is global in scope and unprecedented in scale.

    Poverty

    POVERTY: At the current rate of progress, the world is unlikely to meet the global goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030, and estimates suggest that nearly 600,000,000 people will still be living in extreme poverty by the end of the decade.

    HEALTH and EDUCATION: A lack of access to education is a large pillar of gender inequality across the world. People with more education are more likely to learn about health and health risks. People with more education live longer, healthier lives than those with fewer years of schooling. Horace Mann (1848)

    succinctly stated” education, then beyond all other divides of human origin, is a great equalizer of conditions of men – the balance wheel of a social machinery.”  This goes double for women who often make up more than half of the work force in many developing countries.

    WATER: Freshwater sustains human life and is vital for human health. It is important to note that there is enough freshwater on the planet for everyone. However, due to bad economics and poor infrastructure, millions of people, (mostly children) die from diseases associated with inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

    Yet 2.1 trillion gallons (30%) of global water is wasted every year, due to leaks or inefficient usage. Israel reuses  85% of its water ranking as the number one country to do so across the globe.

    Conflicts

    INTERNATIONAL PEACE and SECURITY: Saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war was the main motivation for creating the United Nations, whose founders lived through the devastation of two world wars. There were 110 million people forcibly displaced worldwide at the end of June 2023.

    Are we losing?  

    We could say humanity is winning more than losing – BUT WHERE WE ARE LOSING IS VERY SERIOUS.

    Do we have a solution?

    Yes.

    It will require collaborative efforts among governments, international organizations, universities, NGOs, and creative individuals. World affairs sometimes are depressing but collectively we can overcome them.

    What we need is political will, professional will, and people’s will. We need real collaboration with trust.

    I would like to end this brief article on enormous problems of the world, with a quote from Dr. Arnold Toynbee.

    “It is already becoming clear that a chapter which had a western beginning will have to have an Indian ending, if it is not to end in the self-destruction of the human race… at this supremely dangerous moment in human history, the only way of salvation for mankind is the Indian way—emperor Ashoka’s and Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of non-violence, and Sri Ramakrishna’s testimony to the harmony of religions. Here we have an attitude and spirit that can make it possible for the human race to grow together into a single family– and in the atomic age, this is the only alternative to destroying ourselves.” 

    (VK Raju is an eminent Ophthalmologist and author. He is founder and President of the Eye Foundation of America which is working for a world without childhood blindness)

  • Reforming UN for a rules-based order

    Reforming UN for a rules-based order

    Primary reason for the ongoing crises in Ukraine and Gaza is an ineffective Security Council

    The need to urgently reform the rules-based order has to be pursued through informal multiple-stakeholder consultations in the lead-up to the UN’s Summit of the Future, due in September. Using dialogue and diplomacy to convene a General Conference of the UN in 2025, the objective should be to give the ‘primary responsibility’ for peace, security and development to the equitable and representative UNGA.

    “The UNSC’s decisions since 1946 have been consistently taken in the light of geopolitical priorities of its P5 members and not any commitment to world peace. This was the pattern during the ideological confrontation of the Cold War (1946-1991). After the Cold War, the three NATO members of the P5 (France, the UK and US) acted to make the NATO supplant the UNSC, symbolized by their action in Libya in 2011. The UNSC subsequently proved helpless in preventing NATO’s weaponization of globalized economic linkages through unilateral sanctions, which have primarily affected developing countries. The outcome has been the intensification of armed conflicts, impacting not only the integrity of the UNSC but also more than two billion people mainly in the Global South, according to the UN.”

    By Asoke Mukerji

    The breakdown of the ‘rules-based order’ is evident from the spread of violent conflicts that are fracturing international relations. At the heart of this order is the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which is mandated by the UN Charter with the ‘primary responsibility’ of maintaining international peace and security. The Charter stipulates that UNSC decisions are binding on all UN member-states. The widening gap between decision-making by the UNSC and the challenges to peace, security and development on the ground is directly responsible for the ongoing crises. The priority for the international community is to eliminate this gap through a review and reform of the rules-based order. This can only be done through the UN General Assembly (UNGA), in which all states, big and small, are represented on an equal basis.

    Now, 20 million Afghan women live under ‘gender apartheid’. The UNSC was unable to ensure compliance with its decision of 2015, guaranteeing Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

    The UNSC’s decision-making parameters were negotiated between August 1944 and February 1945 among the Council’s five ‘permanent’ members or the P5 (today’s Russia, China, France, the UK and the US). A key feature was the requirement for the ‘concurrence’ (popularly known as the veto) of the P5 to UNSC decisions. Both the composition of the P5 and their veto power were ‘parachuted’ into the UN Charter as non-negotiable pre-conditions in the invitation extended to countries for participating in the San Francisco conference (April-June 1945) to adopt the Charter. During the conference, some countries objected to the non-democratic veto provision. Addressing the first session of the UNGA on January 18, 1946, India said it had agreed to the consensus on the Charter on the basis of a compromise. The compromise, contained in Article 109 of the Charter, was to convene a UN General Conference to review the Charter’s provisions 10 years after it was adopted. So far, such a General Conference has not taken place.

    The UNSC’s decisions since 1946 have been consistently taken in the light of geopolitical priorities of its P5 members and not any commitment to world peace. This was the pattern during the ideological confrontation of the Cold War (1946-1991). After the Cold War, the three NATO members of the P5 (France, the UK and US) acted to make the NATO supplant the UNSC, symbolized by their action in Libya in 2011. The UNSC subsequently proved helpless in preventing NATO’s weaponization of globalized economic linkages through unilateral sanctions, which have primarily affected developing countries. The outcome has been the intensification of armed conflicts, impacting not only the integrity of the UNSC but also more than two billion people mainly in the Global South, according to the UN.

    The recent track record of the UNSC in failing to uphold a rules-based order illustrates the urgent need for reforming its mandated role. On August 15, 2021, the UNSC was unable to enforce compliance with its own unanimous decision of March 10, 2020, linking US/NATO troop withdrawal with a politically inclusive government in Afghanistan. Today, 20 million Afghan women live under ‘gender apartheid’. On February 22, 2022, the UNSC was unable to ensure compliance with its decision of February 17, 2015, guaranteeing Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in return for the devolution of political power to its restive eastern regions under the Minsk Agreements. The resulting violent conflict between Russia and Ukraine (which is supported externally by NATO) has ruined millions of lives physically and socio-economically. On October 7, 2023, the UNSC was unable to make member-states comply with its numerous resolutions, including No. 2334 of December 23, 2016, on the Israel-Palestine issue. The conflict has led to the death of thousands of women and children.

    In an ideal rules-based order, the UNGA should be responsible under the Charter for maintaining international peace and security. Since 2015, all UN member-states, including the P5, have accepted the interlinkage between peace, security and development. However, the Charter was deliberately drafted to make UNGA decisions recommendatory and non-binding on UN member-states. It prevents the UNGA from considering issues that are on the agenda of the UNSC. Even a UNGA decision to amend the Charter (and reform the UNSC) is hostage to a P5 veto under Article 108 of the Charter. The cart is put before the horse.

    The UNGA has tried to overcome these handicaps by prioritizing its work mandating negotiations of treaties to create a rules-based order. Such treaties include the Convention on Genocide (1948); the Convention on outlawing Racial Discrimination (1965); the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966); the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979); the Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982); and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). Participating states are expected to uphold their treaty obligations to achieve the principles and objectives of the Charter.

    A similar approach marks UNGA decisions recommending norms for member-states to use in adopting national legislation. The first such document, adopted unanimously by the UNGA on December 10, 1948, was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On September 25, 2015, the UNGA adopted Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development with its 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), the first universally applicable normative global policy framework interlinking peace, security, development and environmental protection.

    The assertion by world leaders at the UN SDG Summit on September 18-19, 2023, that numerous crises had put the implementation of the SDGs into peril deserves to be taken seriously. The primary reason for these crises is an ineffective UNSC, whose unanimously mandated reform has been assiduously blocked in informal UNGA negotiations by the P5 since 2008.

    The need to urgently reform the rules-based order has to be pursued through informal multiple-stakeholder consultations in the lead-up to the UN’s Summit of the Future, due in September. Using dialogue and diplomacy to convene a General Conference of the UN in 2025, the objective should be to give the ‘primary responsibility’ for peace, security and development to the equitable and representative UNGA.
    (The author is a former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations)

  • Yearning for peace

    Yearning for peace

    When will we learn that there are no victors in war. Ultimately, we are all losers. I pray that peace returns to the embattled war zone

    “Israel has weaponized its memories of the Holocaust so deeply that it has now raised an army of heartless avengers who have no compassion for those who had no role to play in the Nazi pogrom that exterminated their brethren decades ago. How long will they carry this legacy of revenge? Despite the severe criticism of their determination to reduce Palestine to dust, which has now shaped into unacceptable war crimes, Israel has not let up its hunting of Hamas. Not even after appeals from the WHO and the UN. When will we learn that there are no victors in war; ultimately, we are all losers. I pray that peace returns to this embattled war zone and that the true spirit of Christmas inspires them to restore peace and goodwill among men.”

    By Ira Pande

    This is that special year that will end on a Sunday so that the new year will literally start on a fresh slate. Be that as it may, as I sit down to write my last column for 2023, my mind goes over some landmark events that have changed our world forever. Equally, it is a time to remember those dear souls who we will miss as we step into 2024 and those wars and strife that have scarred this year but will hopefully find resolution in the coming one.

    All around me are the familiar scenes of X-mas celebrations: brightly lit streets, shopping arcades and shops. Fake fir trees garlanded with fairy lights and cheery Christmas decorations with a star or angel on its crown. Yet, is it not ironic that Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Palestine in general, where Christianity was literally born, are today drowning in darkness and death? A few years ago, on a visit to Israel, we attended the Midnight Mass in Bethlehem’s Church of Nativity. In this bitterly divided territory, Bethlehem is still zealously controlled by Palestine. However, since Christmas is a season for peace and goodwill, it allows access to Jews and pilgrims from countries across the world to its part of the Holy Land. Long lines of believers wait patiently to enter the birthplace of Christ the Redeemer. Even non-believers are moved by the carols that sing: ‘Away in a manger, no crib for a babe/The little child Jesus lay down his sweet head’ and that famous hymn, ‘Silent night, holy night’, acquires a different timbre when it is sung at that time of the year. The term ‘heavenly peace’ acquires a significant dimension if you hear it in Bethlehem, believe me.

    However, what we have seen in this land lately are flying missiles, drones bombing homes and settlements. Even hospitals have not been spared, nor children, women and the innocent citizens who are not Hamas. As I see news clips beamed from there, my eyes well up when I see terrified children, many who have lost their parents, grandparents and siblings in one day, running away from the rubble that was once a home. I cannot understand how those who carry out instructions to kill can bring themselves to destroy hospitals and kill children. If this is not the opposite of the spirit of peace and goodwill among men, what do you call it? Words fail me for even terms like dystopia cannot convey the horror of such bestial behavior.

    Israel has weaponized its memories of the Holocaust so deeply that it has now raised an army of heartless avengers who have no compassion for those who had no role to play in the Nazi pogrom that exterminated their brethren decades ago. How long will they carry this legacy of revenge? Despite the severe criticism of their determination to reduce Palestine to dust, which has now shaped into unacceptable war crimes, Israel has not let up its hunting of Hamas. Not even after appeals from the WHO and the UN. When will we learn that there are no victors in war; ultimately, we are all losers. I pray that peace returns to this embattled war zone and that the true spirit of Christmas inspires them to restore peace and goodwill among men.

    From there, let me turn to an incident that gave me such joy that I must share it with my readers. Every month or so, I do a story-telling session in our club for little children between the ages of four and 10. For an hour, I am alone with them and instead of reading ‘good’ stories from the classics, such as the Panchtantra, I make up characters and adventures that ignite their imagination. So the children become storytellers (you will be surprised when you hear how hilarious their suggestions are). Logic and reality are happily dispensed with as they join me in adventures that take them to forests where trees speak, owls and monkeys share their knowledge and where doing all the things forbidden to them by parents and teachers are allowed. I have always known that children love other naughty children for in making up stories about them, they are able to sublimate their hidden wishes. So, when they hear of a naughty chap called Agdum Bugdum, they giggle when they learn he wears his chaddis over his pants, eats from a chair while seated on a table and walks backwards when going to school.

    By the end of the session, they were making up scenarios where Chunnu-Munnu smuggle a monkey into their home and teach their pet to steal mangoes from the garden of the crusty uncle next door. Or how the owl they meet one night in the forest outside their house has a friendly ghost who waits to serve them all kinds of goodies when they visit him. I have to confess that by the end of the session, the kids had taken over the storytelling and I was rocking with laughter at the improbable tales they thought up.

    In our ‘normal’ world, there is a shrinking space for innocent fun. Parents are more concerned about their children learning how to sing, dance, play games and what have you. Remember what children love above all else is having fun with other children and being naughty. Keep moral lessons for later.
    (The author is a columnist)

  • Former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, three veteran diplomats honored with 2023 Diwali ‘Power of One’ Awards at UN

    Former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, three veteran diplomats honored with 2023 Diwali ‘Power of One’ Awards at UN

    “The ideals of Diwali are the ideals of UN Charter” : Chair of Diwali Foundation USA Ranju Batra

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP): Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and three veteran diplomats were honored with the annual ‘Diwali Power of One Awards’, hailed as the ‘Oscars of diplomacy’, for their selfless efforts to “help form a more perfect, peaceful, and secure world for all”. The former UN chief was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Diwali Stamp — The Power of One Award ceremony organized by the Diwali Foundation USA. The other awardees for the year 2023 are former permanent representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN Ambassador Mirsada Colakovic, former permanent representative of South Korea to the UN Ambassador Kim Sook and 72nd UN General Assembly president and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak. They were honored at a special ceremony held in the UN Headquarters on Monday, December 11.

    Former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressing the gathering after receiving the award. Seen, among others, are India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj ( extreme left) , Ranju Batra (4th from left), and Ravi Batra (behind Mr. Ban Ki-moon) (Photo : Mohammed Jaffer / SnapsIndia)

    Ban commended the work and “forward-thinking vision” of the Diwali Foundation USA “for advancing vital light in a world of increasing darkness”.

    Ban said the world of today “seems fractured like never before” as he cited the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis and regional conflicts, particularly “regional crisis as we see today in the Middle East and Ukraine”.

    “But it is exactly at times such as these that the work of the United Nations is indispensable. The United Nations and its pursuit of peace, human rights and sustainable development exemplifies the values and principles that we should all espouse to replicate,” he said. Ban was the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, serving two terms as the world’s top diplomat from January 2007 to December 2016.

    He said that as the world moves into 2024 and beyond, “we share a common destiny illuminated by peace, sustainability and prosperity. Let us work together and expand our unified efforts to realize this shared destiny for all. This is your political responsibility and for me, my moral responsibility as a former Secretary General” and as an awardee of the Power of One honor.

    India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, in her address to the event attended by UN diplomats, envoys, civil society members and policy experts, said that Diwali is a celebration that holds a very special place in the hearts of over a billion Indians across the globe.

    Diwali “is more than just a festival. It is a sentiment that embodies the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair”, she said.

    Kamboj said, “as we light the lamps of Diwali, let us remember that every small light, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in dispelling the shadows”.

    Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Mohan Pieris said “Deepawali has become truly a secular festival in the world, since its message is not exclusively restricted to any religious creed.

    “This festival has united the global community with the central message that we need more than ever the humanistic ideals to engage the inglorious wars, which are bleeding the innocence of humanity,” he said.

    Pieris underscored that for the world to have peace, it is important that the whole world must be united to save the higher ideals of humanity, which have evolved since the millennium in various religious traditions.

    Chair of Diwali Foundation USA Ranju Batra, who had spearheaded efforts for over seven years to get a commemorative ‘Forever Diwali’ stamp issued by the US Postal Service in 2016, said: “Diwali is a message of peace.” She said her journey for the Diwali stamp is seen as a “metaphor of peace and harnessing its power to promote excellence in diplomacy. The ideals of Diwali are the ideals of UN Charter”.

    She noted that the 2023 Power of One awardees have clearly demonstrated that “one person can make a difference”. The Diwali stamp celebration is not of a religion or nation but of the spirit of harmonious inclusiveness and cross-cultural understanding that all religions deserve, she said.

    Eminent Indian-American attorney and Chair of National Advisory Council South Asian Affairs and moderator of the award ceremony Ravi Batra said the UN transcends borders and boundaries.

    “The need to acknowledge excellence is critical, generally, but in diplomacy, which is on life support in today’s world, it is essential and that’s how these awards are – the Power of One,” he said, adding that they honor “world class diplomats who have changed the world by what they did”.

    Awardees and organizers of Power of One Awards (Photo : Mohammed Jaffer / SnapsIndia)

    Hailed as the ‘Oscars of Diplomacy’, the awards are presented to former Permanent Representatives or former high-level members of the UN Secretariat or member state, or soon to be “former”, who have “toiled selflessly to help form a more perfect, peaceful and secure world for all”.

    The 2023 Award ceremony was co-organized by the Diwali Foundation USA and Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, and the Permanent Missions of Chile, Eritrea, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Morocco, Oman and Sri Lanka to the United Nations. The co-sponsors included the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Cyprus, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Palestine, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA-NY) among others.

    Diwali Foundation USA was established in 2017 to promote a peaceful and consensus-based process to achieve societal “good, as befits the high hopes and ideals of humanity enshrined in the United Nations Charter”.

    The Foundation established ‘The Power of One’ awards to celebrate and highlight the important work done in a peaceful manner, especially at the United Nations.

    Previous honorees include former UN assistant secretary general and deputy executive director of UN Women, Lakshmi Puri, former UK Ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, former permanent representative of Georgia to the UN, Kaha Imnadze, and former permanent representative of Grenada to the UN Keisha McGuire.
    (Source: PTI)

    The traditional lamp lighting . Mr. & Mrs. Ban Ki-moon with organizers of Power of One Award lighted the lamp. (Photo : Mohammed Jaffer / SnapsIndia)

  • Gaza ceasefire: Security Council must act on UN chief’s appeal

    Two months after Hamas attacked Israel, triggering a fierce retaliation, UN chief Antonio Guterres has invoked the rarely used Article 99 of the United Nations Charter to appeal to the Security Council to facilitate a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The Article states that ‘the Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.’ Guterres has warned that the situation in Gaza is fast deteriorating into a catastrophe with ‘potentially irreversible implications’ for Palestinians as well as for peace and security in the region.

    According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 16,000 people have lost their lives in Israeli military action during the ongoing war. About 1,200 Israelis were killed when Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups carried out lethal strikes on October 7. Around 240 people had been taken hostage, of whom more than half are still in captivity. A Qatar-brokered truce, which saw Hamas release dozens of hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and Israel allowing humanitarian assistance to flow into Gaza, had raised hopes of a de-escalation and an early end to the war. However, the truce lasted just a week and Israel has intensified its attacks since then.

    Even as Qatar has claimed that it is making efforts to bring about a comprehensive ceasefire, the Security Council needs to pay heed to the UN Secretary-General’s fervent plea to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. The UN has been under fire for its failure to prevent the situation from spinning out of control. It remains to be seen whether Guterres’ invocation of Article 99 — which was last mentioned in a report by then UN chief U Thant amid the India-Pakistan war of 1971 — will make any visible difference of the ground.
    (Tribune, India)

  • UN chief uses rare power to warn Security Council of impending ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ in Gaza

    UN chief uses rare power to warn Security Council of impending ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ in Gaza

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has used a rarely exercised power to warn the Security Council of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and urged its members to demand an immediate humanitarian cease-fire.

    His letter to the council’s 15 members on Wednesday, December 6, said Gaza’s humanitarian system was at risk of collapse after two months of war that has created “appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma,” and he demanded civilians be spared greater harm.

    Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, which says the secretary-general may inform the council of matters he believes threaten international peace and security. “The international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and end this crisis,” he said.

    UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said he expects the secretary-general to address the Security Council on Gaza this week and to press for a humanitarian cease-fire. A short draft resolution circulated to council members late on Wednesday by the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the council, would act on Guterres’ letter under Article 99. It demands “an immediate humanitarian cease-fire” and expresses “grave concern over the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.” Earlier on Wednesday, the 22-nation Arab Group at the UN strongly backed a cease-fire.

  • Israel says Gaza ground operation is expanding as UN warns of ‘growing misery’

    Israel says Gaza ground operation is expanding as UN warns of ‘growing misery’

    Gaza (TIP): Israel pounded northern Gaza and said it was “extending” its ground operation late on October 27 amid UN warnings of an “avalanche of human suffering” in the battered Palestinian territory. “Following the series of strikes of the last days, the ground forces are extending the ground operation tonight,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters.
    His announcement followed two straight nights of tank incursions into Gaza.
    Earlier, the military said it had increased its strikes “in a very significant way”, as AFP live footage captured intense bombardment of northern Gaza.
    The armed wing of the Islamist group Hamas said it responded with “salvos” of rockets aimed at Israel. Hamas said all internet connections and communications across the territory had been cut, and accused Israel of taking the measure “to perpetrate massacres with bloody retaliatory strikes from the air, land and sea.” Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza since Hamas gunmen stormed across the border on October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 220 others, according to Israeli officials.
    The Hamas-run health ministry said Friday Israeli strikes on Gaza had now killed 7,326 people, mainly civilians and many of them children. UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that Gaza faces “an unprecedented avalanche of human suffering” because of the lack of food, water and power during Israeli bombing in response to the October 7 attack.
    The UN human rights office also raised the alarm over “war crimes” being committed as the Israel-Hamas conflict raged into its 21st day.
    Concern is growing about regional fallout from the conflict, with the United States warning Iran against escalation while striking facilities in Syria it says were used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and others.
    The war, now in its 21st day, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Thursday that more than 7,000 Palestinians have been killed so far — more than three times the number killed in the six-week-long Gaza war in 2014.
    The Israeli army said it will extend “ground operations” in the Gaza Strip on Friday night after significantly intensifying its air strikes on the Palestinian territory.
    “Following the series of strikes of the last days, the ground forces are extending the ground operation tonight,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters. The announcement followed two straight nights of tank incursions into Gaza. (AP)

  • Russian President Putin talks about India’s growth; says such countries must be represented in UN Security Council

    Russian President Putin talks about India’s growth; says such countries must be represented in UN Security Council

    MOSCOW (TIP): Heaping praise on India, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the Indian leadership is “self-directed” and led by the country’s national interests, according to Reuters.

    Speaking at an event, Putin alleged that the West is trying to cast everyone “who is not ready to blindly follow these Western elites as the enemy”. “At a certain point in time, they tried to do the same with India. Now they are flirting, of course. We all understand this very well. We feel and see the situation in Asia. Everything is clear. I want to say that the Indian leadership is self-directed. It is led by the national interests. I think that those attempts make no sense. But, they continue. They are trying to cast Arabs as the enemy. They are trying to be careful, but overall, that’s what it all boils down to,” Putin said.

    The Russian President said countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa deserve more representation in the UN Security Council and added that the UN should be reformed but gradually, according to Reuters.

    Calling India a “powerful country”, Putin said that it is growing stronger and stronger under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russia-based RT News reported.

    “…India, more than 1.5 billion of population, more than 7 per cent of economic growth…that’s a powerful country, mighty country. And it’s growing stronger and stronger under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi…,” Putin said, according to a video shared by RT News.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Putin had called PM Modi a “very wise man”, adding that India is making great strides in development under his leadership, RT reported. Last month, too, he had praised PM Modi stating he was doing the “right thing” in promoting the Make in India program.

    (Source: ANI)

  • France must address ‘deep’ police racism: UN

    France must address ‘deep’ police racism: UN

    GENEVA (TIP): France must address deep issues of racial discrimination in its police, the United Nations said on June 30, after a third night of unrest sparked by the fatal police shooting of a teenager. The death of 17-year-old Nahel during a traffic stop has revived long-standing grievances about policing and racial profiling in France’s low-income and multi-ethnic suburbs. “We are concerned by the killing of a 17-year-old of North African descent by police in France on Tuesday,” UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a media briefing in Geneva. “We note that an investigation has been launched into alleged voluntary homicide. This is a moment for the country to seriously address the deep issues of racism and discrimination in law enforcement.”
    French President Emmanuel Macron was to lead a crisis meeting of ministers on Friday after a third night of protests saw cars torched, shops ransacked and hundreds arrested.
    “We also emphasize the importance of peaceful assembly,” Shamdasani said.
    “We call on the authorities to ensure the use of force by police to address violent elements in demonstrations always respects the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, non-discrimination, precaution, and accountability.”
    “Any allegations of disproportionate use of force must be swiftly investigated.”
    Shamdasani said the UN rights office was concerned about the unrest that followed the shooting, and the large number of police officers injured.
    “There has been quite a lot of looting and violence as well by certain elements who are using the protests for these purposes,” she said.
    The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is a body of independent experts that monitors how states are implementing the convention on eliminating all forms of such discrimination.
    In December, CERD voiced its own deep concerns about the frequent use in France of identity checks, discriminatory stops, and criminal fixed fines that the committee said disproportionately targeted members of certain minority groups. (AFP)
    Stop the press: Vienna newspaper Wiener Zeitung ends daily print edition after 320 years
    BERLIN (TIP): One of the world’s oldest newspapers, the Vienna-based Wiener Zeitung, ended its daily print run on June 30 after more than three centuries.
    First published under the name Wiennerisches Diarium, the paper set out to provide a sober account of the news “without any oratory or poetic gloss” when it was launched on Aug. 8, 1703.
    “320 years, 12 presidents, 10 emperors, 2 republics, 1 newspaper,” the print edition’s final front page read.
    The Wiener Zeitung, which is owned by the Austrian government but editorially independent, suffered a sharp decrease in revenue after a recent law dropped a requirement for companies to pay to publish changes to the commercial registry in the print edition.
    The newspaper, which is considered a quality publication with a wide range of articles covering domestic and foreign news, culture and business, was forced to cut 63 jobs and reduce its editorial staff by almost two-thirds to 20.
    It will continue to operate online and plans a monthly print edition. (AP)

  • Indian-Americans preparing for a cultural extravaganza to welcome Prime Minister Modi

    Indian-Americans preparing for a cultural extravaganza to welcome Prime Minister Modi

    NEW YORK  (TIP): Indian-Americans are preparing for a cultural extravaganza for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives in the American Capital from New York City after leading a yoga session at the UN Headquarters.

    On the 9th International Day of Yoga on June 21, Prime Minister Modi will lead a yoga session for the first time at the UN Headquarters. Modi will address an invitation-only gathering of diaspora leaders from across the country at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington on June 23.

    More than 160 artists are rehearsing for the past week to stage as many as 25 cultural programs representing 15 Indian states. Most of them are dances, songs and musicals reflecting the rich cultural diversity of India.

    The performance would be staged at the historic Freedom Plaza near the White House in front of the Willard Hotel from 10 am in the morning to 2 pm, which would coincide with the arrival of the Prime Minister. A large number of Indian Americans are planning to gather at the Freedom Plaza to welcome the Prime Minister with ‘Vande Mataram’ and wave the tricolor. Engagement with the Indian Diaspora has been a signature part of Modi’s overseas travel. Most of the time, the prime minister spends some time with his diaspora followers, interacts with them and takes selfies.

    (Source: PTI)

     

  • Indian security forces partisan; Manipur groups write to UN

    Indian security forces partisan; Manipur groups write to UN

    GUWAHATI (TIP): A conglomerate of 15 Manipur organizations has submitted a memorandum to the United Nations and international rights bodies seeking global attention to the ongoing crisis in the northeastern State.

    The organizations include the influential All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation, Manipur Students’ Federation, All Manipur Women’s Voluntary Association, and Pangal (Muslim) Students’ Organisation. The memorandum was submitted on June 13 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other agencies apart from the Amnesty International.

    “Unabated violation”

    Flagging the issues of hunger, poverty, and militarization of Manipur, the organizations flagged the “partisan role” of India’s Central Security Forces and “unabated violation” of the ground rules of the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) by the Kuki extremists.

    Of some 30 outfits belonging to the Kuki-Zomi group of tribes, 25 are bound by the SoO, requiring them to stay in designated camps and not move around with firearms. The Manipur government and Imphal Valley-based organizations have been accusing the Kuki-Zomi extremists of killing Meitei people.

    The 15 organizations underlined the “breach of inter-community ties and peace” in Manipur and elsewhere in the northeast due to the involvement of “foreign (Myanmar-based) Chin-Kuki-Mizo mercenaries in inciting inter-ethnic violence” in the State.

    “An unbiased international attention and intervention is the need of the hour in accordance with the established international humanitarian laws,” they wrote.

    They also sought to draw the attention of the UN to the human rights violation and the blockade of highways, Manipur’s lifelines, by Kuki extremists along with members of the Committee on Tribal Unity, the Kuki Students’ Organisation, and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum. The action of these groups has led to price rise, hunger, and poverty in Manipur, they said.

    The organizations blamed the “mobilization for the Greater Chin-Kuki homeland, also known as the Zalengam project” for affecting the inter-ethnic relations in the region and asserted that the ethnic Zo politics had worked in collusion with “narco-financed capital terror network” to tear the social fabric in Manipur.

    Insidious cross-border economic activities such as human-trafficking, poppy cultivation, deforestation, illegal immigration, and space politics have added to the complications in Manipur, they argued. Consequently, the region has transformed itself from a consumer to an opium producer, which is a cause of alarm for every ethnic community, they claimed.

    (Source: The Hindu)

  • Top UN officials voice support for India’s initiative to establish memorial wall honoring fallen peacekeepers

    Top UN officials voice support for India’s initiative to establish memorial wall honoring fallen peacekeepers

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP): Top United Nations officials voiced support for India’s initiative to establish a memorial wall honoring fallen UN peacekeepers as they lauded the country’s role and contribution to the global organization’s peacekeeping missions across the world. The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was commemorated here on Thursday, May 25, with solemn ceremonies, including a wreath laid by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Peacekeepers Memorial to honor the women and men who sacrificed their lives while serving under the UN flag. Guterres also presided over a ceremony in the General Assembly Hall at which the Dag Hammarskjöld Medals were awarded posthumously to 103 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers, who were killed in the line of duty last year, including three Indian personnel.

    Border Security Force personnel Head Constables Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi, who both served with the Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and Shaber Taher Ali who served in a civilian capacity with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) were honored with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal at the solemn ceremony. India’s Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj received the medal from the Secretary-General.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Republican Nikki Haley for merit based legal immigration

    Republican Nikki Haley for merit based legal immigration

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Indian American Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has called for legal immigration based on merit, talent and business needs and would stop allowing any immigrants into the country before immigration reform. Legal immigration should be dependent on factors such as merit, talent and business needs, she told the media on Sunday, May 14. “Let’s not do it just because people happen to cross the fence and get away,” Haley said. “Let’s not do it because we have crowded facilities and we can’t hold anymore. That’s the wrong way to go about it. We have to make sure this is a national security issue.”
    “We shouldn’t wait for another 9/11 to realize that Republicans and Democrats have to get in the room and figure out immigration reform and start working for the American people instead of the other way around,” she added.
    Haley, first Indian American to serve in a presidential cabinet as US ambassador to UN under former President Donald Trump also distanced herself from Trump’s policy of separating migrant children from their parents.
    It happened because lawmakers have long been at a stalemate on immigration reform, she said. “It should never get to that point.” Haley said when asked if she would revive the controversial policy as a deterrence to illegal border crossings. “No, we should not be separating families, but we shouldn’t be taking families that we don’t have any control over.” Before Title 42 — a pandemic-era emergency rule that allowed the Trump and Biden administrations to expel migrants without court hearings — ended last week, Customs and Border Protection apprehensions hit all-time highs.
    Haley blamed the crisis at the border on both Republicans and Democrats, saying it “should have been dealt with a long time ago and it wasn’t.” She indicated she would stop allowing any immigrants into the country until immigration reform is passed. “I think we need to stop the bleeding of the border and completely do immigration reform before we can think of taking anybody else into this country,” she said.
    On the issue of abortion, Haley, who describes herself as against abortion, said instituting a federal abortion ban is not “realistic.”
    “I’m not going to lie to the American people. Nothing’s going to happen if we don’t get 60 votes in the Senate. We’re not even close to that on the Republican or the Democrat side,” she said when asked about what kind of limits on abortion she would seek if elected president. “At the federal level, it’s not realistic. It’s not being honest with the American people,” she added. “Why not talk about the fact that we should be trying to save as many babies as possible and support as many mothers as possible?”
    She called for the elimination of “late-term abortions,” and voiced support for adoption and increased access to contraception. As governor in 2016, she signed a law that banned abortions in South Carolina after 20 weeks.
    “You know, there’s some states that have been pro-life, I welcome that. There are some states that have erred on the side of abortion. I wish that wasn’t the case, but it is. I think that we need to make sure that people’s voices are heard,” Haley said.

  • India a ‘bright spot’ in world economy right now: Top UN economist

    India a ‘bright spot’ in world economy right now: Top UN economist

    United Nations (TIP)- India is a “bright spot” in the world economy currently and is on a “strong footing”, projected to grow at 6.7 per cent next year, a very high growth rate relative to other G20 member countries, a top UN economist said. These remarks were made by the Chief of the Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN-Department of Economic and Social Affairs Hamid Rashid.

    “I think India is a bright spot in the world economy right now,” Rashid said at a press conference here Wednesday at the launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023 report.

    The flagship report said that India’s GDP is projected to moderate to 5.8 per cent in 2023 as higher interest rates and global economic slowdown weigh on investment and exports.

    India’s economic growth is expected to remain “strong” even as prospects for other South Asian nations “are more challenging.” India is projected to grow at 6.7 per cent in 2024, the fastest-growing major economy in the world.

    Rashid said, “we believe the Indian economy is on a strong footing given the strong domestic demand in the near term.” Noting that India’s economic growth is expected to pick up in 2024 to 6.7 per cent, he said this is “very high growth relative to other G20 member countries.”

    The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom and United States) and the European Union. “This is a sustainable growth rate for India. India also has a significant number of people living in poverty. So this would be a great boost. If India can sustain this growth rate in the near term, that would be good for the Sustainable Development Goals, good for poverty reduction globally,” Rashid said. Responding to a question on the Indian economy, Rashid, who is the lead author of the report, attributed three factors to India’s current economic strength.

    He said India’s unemployment rate has come down significantly in the last four years to 6.4 per cent and is lower than what it was around 2017. “That means the domestic demand has been pretty strong,” he said.

    India’s inflation pressure also has “eased quite significantly” and it is expected to be about 5.5 per cent this year and 5 per cent in 2024.

    Rashid said this means that the country’s central bank would not have to aggressively go for monetary tightening.

    The third factor benefitting India is that its import bills have been lower, “especially energy import cost has been lower than in the previous years. That has also helped India’s growth prospect in 2022 and 2023,” he said.

  • World plagued by perfect storm on multiple fronts, we can work together to control damage: Guterres

    World plagued by perfect storm on multiple fronts, we can work together to control damage: Guterres

    Now more than ever, it is time to forge the pathways to cooperation in our fragmented world, he said

    DAVOS (TIP): The world is facing a perfect storm on multiple fronts and all that can be done now is working together to control the damage and seize the opportunities, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday, January 18. In a special address at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 here, he also called for ending the addiction to fossil fuels, and stopping “our self-defeating war on nature.” “There are no perfect solutions in a perfect storm. But we can work to control the damage and seize opportunities,” he added.

    Now more than ever, it is time to forge the pathways to cooperation in our fragmented world, he said.

    “I am not here to sugarcoat the scale of that challenge, or the sorry state of our world. We can’t confront problems unless we look them squarely in the eye. And we are looking into the eye of a Category 5 hurricane,” he said.

    “Our world is plagued by a perfect storm on a number of fronts. Start with the short-term, a global economic crisis. The outlook is bleak. Many parts of the world face recession. The entire world faces a slowdown,” Guterres warned.

    He further said COVID-19 is still straining economies while the world’s failure to prepare for future pandemics is straining credulity. “Somehow, after all we have endured, we have not learned the global public health lessons of the pandemic. We are nowhere near ready for pandemics to come,” he said.

    In addition to that, there is an existential challenge with the world flirting with climate disaster, he said.

    “Every week brings a new climate horror story. Greenhouse gas emissions are at record levels. The commitment to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees is going up in smoke. Without further action, we are headed to a 2.8 degree increase,” he added. “The consequences will be devastating. Several parts of our planet will be uninhabitable. And for many, this is a death sentence,” he cautioned.

    “But it is not a surprise. The science has been clear for decades… We learned last week that certain fossil fuel producers were fully aware in the 1970s that their core product was baking our planet,” he said.

    “Just like the tobacco industry, they rode rough-shod over their own science. Big Oil peddled the big lie. And like the tobacco industry, those responsible must be held to account. Today, fossil fuel producers and their enablers are still racing to expand production, knowing full well that their business model is inconsistent with human survival,” he said. Guterres said all these challenges, including violence and war, are inter-linked and they are piling up like cars in a chain reaction crash.

    “It would be difficult to find solutions to these global problems in the best of times — if the world was united. But these are far from the best of times, and the world is far from united,” he said.

    “We risk what I have called a Great Fracture — the decoupling of the world’s two largest economies,” he said, adding that it would result in a tectonic rift that would create two different sets of trade rules, two dominant currencies, two internets and two conflicting strategies on artificial intelligence. There are many aspects in which US-China relations diverge — particularly on questions of human rights and regional security. But it is possible and essential for the two countries to have meaningful engagement on climate, trade and technology to avoid the decoupling of economies or even the possibility of future confrontation, Guterres said.

    He also said that a “morally bankrupt financial system” is amplifying systemic inequalities and called for a new debt architecture that would provide liquidity, debt relief and long-term lending to enable developing countries to invest in sustainable development. According to him, the multilateral development banks must also change their business models and must concentrate on systematically directing private finance towards developing countries, providing guarantees and being first risk takers.

    (Source: Agencies)

  • India, Pakistan clash over Kashmir at the UN

    India, Pakistan clash over Kashmir at the UN

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP):  At the United Nations, India dismissed as “frivolous and pointless’’ an attempt by Pakistan to raise the Kashmir issue during the emergency debate on the Ukraine issue. Speaking after the UNGA had voted on the issue, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Munir Akram said he looked forward to “similar concern and condemnation about the attempts by India to formalize’’ annexation of Kashmir. India’s Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj replied by stating that statements “by one delegation to misuse this forum and make frivolous and pointless remarks against my country deserve our collective contempt and sympathy for a mindset which repeatedly utters falsehoods.’’ “We call on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism so that our citizens can enjoy the right to life and liberty,’’ she also said. Pakistan replied with diplomat Gul Kaiser Sarwani commenting on Hindutva, the RSS, cow vigilantism and the state of minorities in India. India preferred not to exercise its right to reply.

    India and Pakistan also  clashed over the issue of Kashmir at two other  international forums spread as far apart as  Kigali (Rwanda) and Astana (Kazakhstan). In Astana, Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi said it was unfortunate that Pakistan misused the ongoing CICA conference to “propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country and distract from the theme and focus of today’s discussions and cooperation among the member states’’.

    “The UTs of J&K have been and will remain an integral part of India. Pakistan has no locus standing to comment on India’s internal affairs,’’ she added at the CICA Summit in Astana. In Rwanda, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh exercised his right of reply against remarks made by a Pakistani delegate on the issue of Kashmir at an Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Both he and Lekhi said it was unfortunate that Pakistan has once again chosen to misuse the platform to “propagate false and malicious propaganda against India and distract from today’s discussion’’. The Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman called on Pakistan to immediately cease anti-India cross-border terrorism and shut down its infrastructure of terrorism.