As the United Nations commemorated the 80th anniversary of its founding document, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning about nations undermining the UN Charter. “We see an all too familiar pattern: Follow when the charter suits, ignore when it does not,” Guterres said on Thursday. “The Charter of the United Nations is not optional. It is not an a-la-carte menu. It is the bedrock of international relations.”
Guterres emphasized that upholding the principles of the UN Charter is a continuous mission, especially in today’s global landscape. He called on all member states to “respect and re-commit to international law – in words and deeds.”
“On this anniversary, I urge all member states to live up to the spirit and letter of the charter, to the responsibilities it demands, and to the future it summons us to build—for peace, for justice, for progress, for we the peoples,” he added.
The UN Charter, adopted on June 25, 1945, at the San Francisco Conference, serves as the foundational treaty of the United Nations. It was signed by delegates from member states the following day, establishing the framework for international cooperation and peacekeeping efforts that continue to this day.
