Joel Nielsen’s Post

These few days in New York have been game-changing for the movement to reform the United Nations Charter, so that "We the People" get the global governance we deserve. On Thurs, Global Governance Forum launched its "Second Charter" report, with proposals for what a new Charter could look like, with Martin Kimani Ann Linde Global Challenges Foundation María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés: https://lnkd.in/dW58sPG6 On Sat, our newly launched UN Charter Reform Coalition hosted an event on the sidelines of the UN Summit of the Future with Maja Groff, Rebecca Shoot, Natalia N. Aishwarya Machani, Mark Malloch-Brown & Mary Robinson of The Elders Foundation: https://lnkd.in/dmuc3jvn On Mon, with Brenda Chikwe Mofya, Augusto Lopez-Claros, Fergus Watt, Tim Murithi, Andreas Bummel, I published this article in Al Jazeera Media Network making the case for re-writing the UN Charter: https://lnkd.in/dv6R-Bu6 And today, Brazilian President Lula da Silva made the call to reform the Charter at the UN General Assembly. Excerpt below: https://lnkd.in/dh8Xwzv3 Oh, and the Coalition launched its new website! https://lnkd.in/dCG_dWbb Momentum is growing, people! "About to turn 80, the United Nations Charter has never undergone comprehensive reform... The Charter’s current version fails to address some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. When the UN was founded, we were 51 countries. We are now 193 countries. Several countries were under colonial rule when the UN was founded. They had no say over its goals and functioning. It is time to react vigorously to this situation... One-off adjustments are not enough. We need to think about reviewing and revising the Charter comprehensively. The reform should include the following goals:  - Transforming the Economic and Social Council into the main forum for dealing with sustainable development and the fight against climate change - Revitalizing the role of the General Assembly including in matters of international peace and security - Strengthening of the Peacebuilding Commission - Reform of the Security Council, focusing on its composition, working methods and veto powers in order to make it more effective and representative of contemporary realities. Excluding Latin America & Africa from the permanent seats of the Security Council is an unacceptable echo of domination practices from the colonial past. I have no illusions of the complexity of a reform like this, which will face crystalized interest in maintaining the status quo. It will require enormous negotiation effort. But that is our responsibility. We cannot wait for another world tragedy, like World War II, to only then build a new governance on its rubbles. The will of the majority can persuade those who cling to the raw expression and mechanisms of power."

Happy #UNCharterDay. Please check out this much-needed and timely effort spearheaded by Heba Aly that is working to make thr UN work for everyone everywhere. When adopting the UN Charter in San Francisco, then US President Harry Truman specifically said: "This Charter will be expanded and improved as time goes on. No one claims that it is now a final or perfect instrument. It has not been poured into any fixed mold. Changing world conditions will require readjustments." It’s high time for that re-adjustment. A new UN Charter could reform the Security Council to make it better represent today's world; emphasize climate change, which is not currently mentioned in the charter at all; create a World Parliament, allowing citizens to elect their representatives at the international stage (akin to the European Parliament) and creating mechanisms for the UN to be able to enforce its decisions; and provide more predictable financing for the institution.

I have been too busy actually doing the work to share much about my new project, but since today is #UNCharterDay, it's an appropriate time! On 26 June 1945, the United Nations Charter was adopted by 51 founding member states. Nearly 80 years later, the world has changed significantly; the UN architecture has not. So last month, in the lead-up to the UN Summit of the Future, 20 civil society organisations came together to launch a new coalition to push for the UN Charter to be reformed so that it can more effectively and equitably address today's challenges. We are mobilizing member states to call a general conference to review the UN Charter, as provided for in Article 109. This would allow a more comprehensive and structured process to negotiate fundamental changes to make the #UN more effective, inclusive, and equitable. Article 109 was a concession made by the drafters in 1945. Recognizing how much power they were giving to the permanent five members of the UN Security Council in the wake of WW2, they agreed - and wrote into the provisions of the Charter - to revisit and adjust its distribution of power over time. Surprise surprise, it hasn't yet happened. When adopting the UN Charter in San Francisco, then US President Harry Truman specifically said: "This Charter will be expanded and improved as time goes on. No one claims that it is now a final or perfect instrument. It has not been poured into any fixed mold. Changing world conditions will require readjustments." It’s high time for that re-adjustment. A new UN Charter could reform the Security Council to make it better represent today's world; emphasize climate change, which is not currently mentioned in the charter at all; create a World Parliament, allowing citizens to elect their representatives at the international stage (akin to the European Parliament) and creating mechanisms for the UN to be able to enforce its decisions; and provide more predictable financing for the institution. The charter reform movement is growing quickly, and already counts in its ranks former President of the UN General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, former Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Lofven, former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Oxfam International, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), the Global Governance Forum, Democracy Without Borders, the World Federalist Movement/Institute for Global Policy, Plataforma CIPÓ, Coalition for the UN We Need (C4UNWN), TrustAfrica, Adeso, Integrity Initiatives International , Amani Africa, and many others. Several governments have also expressed interest, even if there is understandable trepidation. For more, read this piece by me and Daniel Perell and to keep up with our developments, sign up to the UN Charter Reform Coalition’s mailing list: https://lnkd.in/drgKwpHe https://lnkd.in/dJAjPwpQ

This. This. This. To somebody working on reimagining global governance for food security (#KACFS) right now, this couldn't have been more timely. Let's talk about imagination, let's talk about inspiration, and let's talk about a shared endeavour! What struck me the most in this article is: "Imagine a new Charter drawn up by a far more representative display of the world’s many cultures and governments (only 51 countries existed when the current Charter was drafted – most of Africa was still colonized)."

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them"- Albert Einstein ➡️This #UNCharterDay, let's reimagine a #UN better equipped to build a peaceful, sustainable world and address #globalchallenges such as the #climatecrisis and international #conflict! 🇺🇳 👉For ideas about the kind of #UNreform that's needed, read this Global Governance Forum article by Heba Aly and Daniel Perell!👇

The Pact for the Future adopted at the UN's Summit of the Future this weekend acknowledges the need of a transformation of global governance. An opinion piece published today notes that the Summit "failed to deliver the radical change the world needs to truly live up to the UN objectives to maintain peace and security and achieve international cooperation in solving collective problems." In order to do so, the groundwork needs to be laid for a reform of the UN's founding document, the UN Charter, the article argues. Among other things, "a new charter could introduce a parliamentary assembly made up of representatives elected by the people of the world, giving them a say in the way world affairs are run and ushering in a whole new era of inclusion and representation." The piece is co-authored by Heba Aly, Coordinator of the UN Charter Reform Coalition; Brenda Mofya, head of Oxfam International’s UN Office; Andreas Bummel, Executive Director of Democracy Without Borders; Tim Murithi, head of the Peacebuilding Programme at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation; Augusto Lopez-Claros, Executive Director of the Global Governance Forum; and Fergus Watt, Coordinator of the Coalition for the UN We Need. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ewK3J5vk Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ekPGH6bx #SummitoftheFuture #PactfortheFuture

Today's UN institutions – as well as other international bodies – no longer reflect the balance of power in a changing, multipolar world. Therefore, they are in need of thorough reform. Moreover, it is high time to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Could the UN's Summit of the Future in September 2024 act as a catalyst for this change? https://lnkd.in/emRqpfJB

The United Nations has recently passed a resolution known as the "Pact for the Future," a significant document that outlines global priorities and aspirations for addressing the challenges of our time. While this resolution is a step toward international cooperation, it raises many important questions: Can institutions like the UN, which were established in the aftermath of World War II, continue to be the ones guiding the decisions that affect the lives of citizens across the planet? Or, perhaps, is it time for us—the global citizens—to modify or completely eliminate the UN and other similar organizations or modernize their structures, making them more effective, accountable, and better suited to today’s complex realities? The world has changed dramatically since the UN’s inception, created by the hegemony powers of the 1959’s and while its founding principles theoretically promote peace, human rights, and development the mechanisms for achieving these goal need to be rethought. Our planet since WW2 has not seen peace completely and in many parts of the world wars and conflicts have been waging and are still ongoing without any consequences. institutions formed in the mid-20th century face challenges in keeping pace with modern technology, global interconnectedness, and the increasingly complex inequality between the wealthy and the poor or economic crises. For the UN to stay relevant, it must evolve, reflecting the voices of the people it serves and ensuring its processes are not only inclusive but also responsive to the rapidly changing global landscape. Instead of the UN trying to determine how we should navigate our future, there is an opportunity for global citizens to demand a more transparent and adaptable approach—one that embraces modernization and holds international institutions like the UN accountable for their actions, no more carrots 🥕 but sticks . A reformed and more efficient UN could better reflect the diversity and needs of today’s world, ensuring that the voices of all nations and peoples are heard and respected in decision-making processes. This coukd enable the UN to not only continue playing a role but also become a dynamic force in addressing the global challenges of the 21st century. In short, while the "Pact for the Future" is a step, it invites reflection on how global institutions like the UN can better serve humanity by evolving and improving their efficiency, inclusiveness, and accountability to ensure a future that works for all. NB: Please be polite , don’t insult or use foul language, if you criticize please be constructive

🇺🇳 #UnitedNations UN Day 2024: Guterres Advocates for Action and Hope In Today’s Troubled World, Hope Requires Determined Action and Multilateral Solutions for Peace. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ Message for United Nations Day, observed on October 24, 2024: “The United Nations was established by the world, for the world. Since 1945, it has been a platform for countries to collaborate on global solutions to pressing global issues. “These solutions aim to ease tensions, build bridges, and promote peace. They seek to eradicate poverty, encourage sustainable development, and support the most vulnerable individuals. The UN delivers life-saving assistance to those facing conflicts, violence, economic hardship, and climate disasters. “Solutions that level the scales of justice and equality for women and girls. Solutions that tackle issues that were unimaginable in 1945 — climate change, digital technology, artificial intelligence, and outer space. “In September, the General Assembly adopted the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations. Together, these agreements will help ensure the United Nations system adapts, reforms, and revitalizes itself to address our evolving challenges and deliver solutions for everyone. “However, our work will always be grounded in the timeless values and principles of the UN Charter, international law, and every individual’s dignity and human rights. “In today’s troubled world, hope alone is not enough. Hope requires determined action and multilateral solutions for peace, shared prosperity, and a thriving planet. It necessitates all countries working together as one. It requires the United Nations. “On United Nations Day, I urge all countries to keep this beacon of hope and its ideals shining bright.” — UN Secretary-General António Guterres Source: United Nations, New York

The Pact for the Future adopted by the UN Summit of the Future on 22 September 2024 rightfully states that the multilateral system with the UN at its center “must be fit for the present and the future – effective and capable, prepared for the future, just, democratic, equitable and representative of today’s world, inclusive, interconnected and financially stable.” However, our Executive Director Andreas Bummel in an opinion piece finds that the Pact’s commitments "overall do not deliver on these goals". "At least in the field of enhancing participation and representation of citizens, elected representatives and civil society in global governance, it is clear that the Summit delivered only minimal progress", he writes. This was not a surprise, though, because the Pact was required to be negotiated by consensus, giving even single states the ability to "stop language" they disliked. The Pact thus merely represents the lowest common denominator. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eAFw2tRr Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/ekPGH6bx #SummitoftheFuture #Multilateralism