‘General Assembly divided over UN reforms’

Source– The post is based on the article “General Assembly divided over UN reforms” published in The Hindu on 31st January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Important international institutions

Relevance– Global governance

News– The article explains the reason behind the slow pace of UNSC reforms. It also explains the issues with UNSC working.

What are the reasons behind the slow pace of UNSC reforms?

The disunited state of the UN General Assembly is responsible for it. Reform of the UN Security Council was a member-driven process.

The members of the UNGA had to first come together to pass a resolution demanding the reform of the Security Council. Still, no resolution has been passed by UNGA

The General Assembly has always been very much divided. Among the 193 countries, there are five negotiating groups and they are neutralising each other.

Permanent members are not enthusiastic about reform of the UN system. But, they had all agreed that it was necessary for introducing changes in the Security Council.

What are the issues with UNSC?

The system of veto in the Security Council is 77 years old. It has become a tool to block the work of the global body and not to encourage it.

The Indian establishment views the UN as a “frozen 1945-invented mechanism”. Some powers have been singularly focused on their own advantage. They are not concerned about the well-being of the international community.

Why does India deserve to be a member of UNSC?

India had played a vital role in the past years in improving the response mechanism of the United Nations.

India has contributed in stabilising the world which had been shaken by pandemic and war in recent years.