O.P Sharma
United Nations Day, an annual commemorative day, is celebrated on October 24, 1945. It was announced that Charter of the United Nations “shall be devoted to making known to the people of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nation for gaining their support for its work”.
UNITED NATION DAY
In India, as elsewhere across the globe, various functions are organized highlighting the role and responsibility of UNO in the peace, stability and progress by all the nations. Needless to point out that India is one of the founding members of this world body (UNO) and has been actively associated with all its activities.
India’s international profile and capabilities rise due to its ever-expanding global footprint in diverse areas like politics, sustainable development, economics, and culture and science and technology. Also, India has been inducted in various export control regimes like MTCR, Wassenaar arrangement and so on.
Solid Ground
Presently, the United Nations Organization with 193 Member States acting as an umbrella body, is headquartered in New York, where all the world’s nations can gather together, discuss common problems and find shared solutions for the benefit of entire humanity. UNO’s past years are well known part of history with some achievements but some outstanding problems still lurking on the horizon. It is time to look back and also look ahead to challenges like growing menace of terrorism, fanaticism; environmental degradation, COVID-19 Pandemic, economic stability, cyber-security, stock-piling of armaments, disease and hunger.
Everyone across the globe must join their hand together to drastically reform the UNO so that it place its pivotal role in reshaping the fate of all the nations. Though this organization has played some positive role but still it need to be strengthen by involving some prominent countries like India and few other countries have been leading their case for permanent membership with due powers like the Big Five viz Russia, China, France, UK and USA. The bright minds and experts in international law must put their heads to find an innovative way out for dealing with contentious Article 108 and 109 of the United Nations Charter to deal with the reforming, re-structuring and revitalizing to give this world body a new shape and strength.
Gaining Support
India’s bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council has support from four of the five P5 nations, namely the US, UK, France and Russia. China is the only permanent member which is yet to officially back India’s bid.
While India is the Founding Member of the UN it has almost twice the number of peacekeepers deployed on the ground than by P5 countries. It may be added that our country has been elected for eight terms for a two-year non-permanent member seat. India being the largest democracy of 130 crore, 7th largest in area and second-most populous country has undisputed claim. Additionally, India is one of the largest economies has a sound claim for permanent seat in UNSC.
In the run-up to India’s turn to take over the presidency of UNSC, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said, “We will make the best of our two-year term in the Security Council. We will leave our mark on the Council and our point is to say that India really, by its contribution, establishes the right to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”
Expanding Footprints
It may be mentioned that the US and many other nations have been expressing support for reformed Security Council that is representative, that is effective, and that is relevant. These matters are urgent and important for the world body to address and boldly tackle this critical issue before it is too late.
The current Secretary-General, the 9th occupant of the high post is António Guterres who took office on January 1, 2017 has been re-appointed for second term from June 18, 2021.
Reforms Needed
Some keen observers have noted the “irrational set-up” of UNSC that many of the important nations have been not included and left high and dry. The powers of veto have been “misused for their own interest”.
Due to all these factors, even the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said “The Security Council must either reform or risk becoming increasingly irrelevant”.
Take Bold Steps
Now that India is a bright spot in the global economy and its macro-economic fundamentals, it has a strong case for its permanent seat with adequate powers in the UNSC.
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