Today marks 80 years since delegates gathered in San Francisco to sign the UN Charter, the bedrock of international relations. With 193 member states united under one document, the charter has guided global cooperation on peace, justice and progress.
In a stirring address, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the charter is under unprecedented assault. “Follow when the charter suits, ignore when it does not,” he said, emphasizing that the UN Charter is not optional and must never be treated like an a-la-carte menu.
Guterres went on to call this anniversary a moment for reflection and action. Upholding the purposes and principles of the charter, he said, requires a constant recommitment to international law—in both words and deeds.
“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, challenging nations to turn rhetoric into results.
As geopolitical tensions and selective rule-following test the world’s resolve, the UN Charter remains the compass guiding collective action. Its principles are non-negotiable, reminding young global citizens, business innovators, sustainability advocates, and travellers alike that a stable, connected world depends on shared rules and mutual respect.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
