The movement for a new UN Charter gains steam

From events at the Summit of the Future to multiple meetings with UN Ambassadors; from an endorsement from a head of state at the UN General Assembly to increased media coverage - the UN Charter Reform Coalition has been busy! 

Read some of our recent news below. 

Our Coalition at the Summit of the Future

The recent Summit of the Future was convened to chart a new way forward for multilateralism and international cooperation - including reforming global governance. While there were some positive advances in the Summit’s Pact for the Future, it failed to deliver the radical change the world needs.

We co-hosted an event on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future, presenting ideas for more ambitious global governance reform, including a Charter review conference. You can watch the event below.

Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, former UN Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch-Brown, and representatives from the Iswe Foundation , Citizens for Global Solutions, and the Climate Governance Commission joined our very own Natalia Nahra and Heba Aly for the side-event.

And we are not alone in advocating for UN Charter reform. Watch what the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. 

"About to turn 80, the United Nations Charter has never undergone comprehensive reform...One-off adjustments are not enough. We need to think about reviewing and revising the Charter comprehensively.” - President of Brazil Lula da Silva at the UN

Following the UNGA, we stayed in New York and met with several diplomats and UN Ambassadors to make our case for reforming the UN through Article 109. 

Article 109

We have been busy publishing our ideas to spread the word about Article 109 and UN Charter reform more generally.

We published an op-ed in Al Jazeera English on how the Pact for the Future does not go far enough in addressing modern challenges. The best way to meet the needs of our time is to draw up a new global contract instead, one that "recognises that the international power balance has changed since 1945, one that prioritises shared protection of our global commons over state sovereignty, and one that puts the world’s people and future generations before short-sighted national interests".

We also published an op-ed in Devex to mark UN Day. This op-ed touches on how 79 years later, the UN needs to adapt. In it, we make the case for how strengthening the UN Charter can actually help it live up to its ideals: from maintaining peace and security to delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. A reformed Charter could also help us respond to the climate crisis more effectively.

In both of these articles, we explain how Article 109 of the UN Charter calls for a General Conference to be held to review the Charter if supported by a two-thirds vote of the UN General Assembly and any nine members of the UN Security Council.

This particular provision was included in the Charter as a concession to the many countries opposed to the idea of the permanent members of the Security Council having veto power. Thus, the Charter was always intended to be a living document; reviewed and revised over time.

Reforming the UN Charter was part of the original plan.

And while there are very valid concerns about reopening the Charter, no reforms to the Charter can be adopted unless they secure support from a majority of governments as well as the permanent five members of the Security Council. Until such agreement exists, the current Charter stands, so there is a fail-safe mechanism against regression.

“This Charter … will be expanded and improved as time goes on. No one claims that it is now a final or a perfect instrument. It has not been poured into any fixed mould. Changing world conditions will require readjustments.” U.S. President Harry Truman in 1945

Where to next?

Our movement is gathering steam. So, stay up-to-date with our latest news on reforming the UN Charter by connecting with us on LinkedIn or on X.

Feel free to send us an email at UNCharterReformCoalition@outlook.com if you want to become an active member of our Coalition to help deliver the global governance we need. You can become involved in advocacy, research, fundraising, or communication.

You can also read more about who we are and what we are working towards online.