Pretoria - South Africa will use its participation at the upcoming 70th session of the United Nations to advocate for the reform of the organisation in order to be more inclusive, democratic and representative.
Developing nations in Africa and Asia have been calling for reform of the UN, and its entities like the UN Security Council, which has since World War II accorded veto rights on substantive resolutions to five permanent members: the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China.
For example, of the 54-nations, the African continent has only three non-permanent members without veto power represented in the UNSC.
In an unpreceded briefing with the media and over 80 foreign ambassadors and high commissioners and heads of mission resident in South Africa on Tuesday, President Jacob Zuma underlined the need for the organisation to consider how it can transform and evolve to improve its capacity to respond to modern-day challenges, especially considering Africa’s needs.
South Africa’s concern, President Zuma said, is the lack of progress on this matter and that the UN Security Council still remains undemocratic, unrepresentative and unfair to developing nations.
According to the President, the reform is a key role in promoting world peace and security.
“The 70th anniversary of the United Nations is an opportunity to reflect and redouble efforts to meet current and future challenges across the three pillars - UN’s: peace and security, development, and human rights,” he said.
The world leaders will meet at the UN Headquarters, in New York, from next week under the theme “United Nations at 70 – the Role Ahead: Peace, Security and Human Rights”.
Among others they will adopt a new agenda which consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets that will aim to be a charter for people and the planet in the twenty-first century.
They will stimulate action over the next 15 years in areas of critical importance towards building a more equitable and sustainable world for all.
Made up of all the 193 Member States of the UN, the General Assembly provides a forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the UN Charter.
It meets in regular sessions intensively from September to December each year and thereafter as required. - SAnews.gov.za
