The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in global diplomacy, with leaders from around the world coming together to address the urgent issues facing the international community. The session officially begins in September 2024 and will run until September 2025, with the highly anticipated General Debate set to take place from September 17-24, 2024. As the only body of the UN where all 193 member states have equal representation, the General Assembly provides a unique forum for discussions on global challenges and opportunities.
Key Issues on the Agenda
This year’s session comes at a time of profound geopolitical and environmental uncertainty, and the agenda reflects that reality. While the UNGA always tackles a wide range of topics, this session will be especially focused on five core areas: geopolitical conflicts, climate change, public health, sustainable development, and global inequality.
Geopolitical Conflicts and Peacekeeping:
The Ukraine-Russia War will likely dominate the conversation as the conflict shows no signs of abating. Diplomatic efforts will focus on finding peaceful resolutions and mitigating the humanitarian disaster that the war has caused.
Another area of intense focus will be the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly the situation in Gaza, where escalating violence continues to take a heavy toll on civilians. Expect debates over the implementation of long-standing UN Security Council resolutions aimed at a two-state solution.
Sudan’s civil war, and conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan will also feature prominently as the UN seeks to coordinate international efforts to address these humanitarian crises.
Climate Change and Environmental Action:
Climate change remains a top priority for the UN, especially following the COP28 Summit held earlier in 2024. This session will focus on accelerating global climate action, including new commitments to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy.
Another major agenda item will be the financial support needed to help developing countries adapt to climate change. Wealthier nations will be asked to step up their commitments to climate finance as part of broader discussions on environmental justice.
Public Health:
While the world is moving on from the immediate crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-term impact on global health systems remains a concern. Expect discussions on how to strengthen public health infrastructure, improve vaccine distribution equity, and ensure global preparedness for future pandemics.
The role of global institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO) will also be examined to ensure that they are fit for purpose in responding to future health emergencies.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
As the 2030 deadline for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals draws closer, this session will assess global progress. The pandemic significantly delayed many countries’ efforts to achieve the 17 SDGs, and there will be a strong push for renewed commitments to end poverty, improve education, and reduce inequality.
Food security will also be a critical topic, with leaders discussing how to address hunger in regions affected by conflict, drought, and economic instability.
Global Inequality:
Economic disparities between developed and developing nations will take center stage as nations debate ways to ensure fairer distribution of resources. Debt relief for the most vulnerable countries and increased development aid will likely be key issues.
Reforms to global economic governance, including changes to trade policies and international financial institutions, will also be discussed as part of a broader effort to create a more just and equitable world.
Digital Governance and Technological Advancements
As artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies transform the global economy, there will be an urgent need for new frameworks to govern their use. The UNGA will likely focus on regulating the ethical use of AI and protecting countries from cybersecurity threats. Discussions on digital governance will aim to balance innovation with responsible oversight to prevent the misuse of these powerful technologies.
Reforming Global Institutions
A longstanding debate that will return during the 79th session is the reform of global institutions, particularly the UN Security Council (UNSC). Many countries argue that the UNSC, with its current structure of five permanent members, does not reflect the geopolitical realities of the 21st century. There will be calls for reforms to make the UNSC more inclusive, particularly for regions like Africa and South Asia, which currently lack permanent representation.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), established in 1945, was designed to be the primary body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. However, despite its mandate and considerable powers, the UNSC has often faced criticism for its inability to resolve several longstanding and serious disputes.
One such failure is the Kashmir dispute between Pakistan, India, and China. The UNSC passed Resolution 47 in 1948, calling for a plebiscite to allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine their future. However, this resolution remains unimplemented to this day, with both India and Pakistan maintaining opposing stances, while India has repeatedly rejected the idea of a plebiscite. The continued tension in the region underscores the UNSC’s inability to mediate and enforce its own resolutions, leading to decades of instability.
Similarly, the Palestine-Israel conflict has seen numerous UNSC resolutions calling for peace, recognition of Palestinian rights, and a two-state solution. Israel’s refusal to comply with resolutions such as Resolution 242, which demands Israel’s withdrawal from territories occupied in the 1967 war, has stymied any meaningful progress toward peace. The recent Gaza genocide and Israeli aggression further illustrate the UNSC’s paralysis in the face of flagrant violations of international law. Israel’s continued occupation and expansion of settlements are blatant rejections of UNSC’s authority, yet the council has failed to take effective measures.
Another glaring example is the Ukraine-Russia war, which erupted in 2022. The UNSC has been unable to effectively intervene due to the veto power of Russia, a permanent member of the council. This has rendered the UNSC ineffective in stopping the war, mediating peace, or holding accountable those responsible for the destruction and human suffering caused by the conflict.
In these and other cases, the UNSC’s structural limitations, including the veto power held by its five permanent members, have often led to gridlock and inaction. Countries like Israel and India have openly disregarded UNSC resolutions, undermining the council’s credibility. The failure to implement its resolutions, which are meant to be binding, exposes the weaknesses within the global governance system, particularly in the face of powerful nations or vested interests.
The UNSC’s inability to resolve these critical disputes has raised questions about its effectiveness and fairness, with calls for reform growing louder. Many believe that the council needs to be restructured to reflect the realities of modern geopolitics, where influential regional actors and new powers should have a greater role, and the veto power needs to be reconsidered to avoid perpetual deadlock.
Pakistan’s role and contribution in the UN:
Pakistan has long been a key player within the United Nations, particularly in the areas of peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, where its contributions have been both substantial and impactful. As one of the largest contributors of peacekeeping troops, Pakistan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to global peace and security. Since its first deployment in Congo in 1960, Pakistan has participated in over 40 UN peacekeeping missions, sending more than 200,000 troops to conflict zones across the world. Pakistani peacekeepers have earned widespread respect for their professionalism and dedication, serving in some of the most challenging environments, including Sudan, Haiti, Somalia, and Congo.
This commitment is a reflection of Pakistan’s long-standing belief in the principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly in promoting peace, security, and stability. Pakistani forces have not only helped in maintaining peace but have also actively participated in reconstruction efforts, providing humanitarian aid, rebuilding infrastructure, and supporting local communities.
Pakistan’s role goes beyond peacekeeping. It has been a strong advocate for humanitarian causes on various global platforms, offering assistance in the form of medical aid, relief during natural disasters, and support for displaced populations. Pakistan’s humanitarian efforts are recognized globally, and its contributions have often been a beacon of hope for nations in crisis.
This significant contribution on the global stage highlights Pakistan as a responsible and mature nation, fully aware of its international responsibilities. Despite its own economic and security challenges, Pakistan has consistently prioritized its role in promoting global peace and serving humanity. This underscores the country’s positive image in the international community, as a nation committed to supporting multilateralism, global peace, and sustainable development.
By sending troops to peacekeeping missions and extending humanitarian assistance across continents, Pakistan reinforces its stance as a country that not only strives for peace at home but also dedicates itself to promoting peace and stability globally. The country’s dedication to peacekeeping and humanitarian causes serves as an exemplary model of Pakistan’s services to humankind and solidifies its standing as an indispensable partner in the United Nations’ mission for global peace.
This legacy of responsible participation further strengthens Pakistan’s voice in global discussions, including in key forums such as the UN General Assembly. As the 79th session of the UNGA progresses, Pakistan’s active engagement, rooted in decades of experience and service, will be a reminder of its essential role in addressing global challenges and fostering international cooperation for a better and more peaceful world.
Recommendations for Reforming the United Nations Structure
The United Nations (UN) was created in 1945 to prevent conflicts, promote peace, and uphold international law. However, over time, the organization’s effectiveness has been questioned due to various structural issues, especially within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The UNSC, dominated by a few powerful countries, is increasingly seen as not fully representative of the modern, multi-polar world. To make the UN more functional, inclusive, and effective, some key reforms are necessary.
The current composition of the UNSC reflects a power structure rooted in the post-World War II era. The permanent members (P5)—the US, UK, Russia, China, and France—do not accurately represent today’s global dynamics. Countries from the Muslim world and Africa are notably absent, despite their significant population sizes and geopolitical importance.
To make the UNSC more equitable and representative, it’s crucial to expand the council by granting permanent seats to African nations and Muslim-majority countries. This would ensure a more balanced global perspective, considering these regions have often been overlooked or marginalized in international decision-making. Their inclusion as permanent members with veto powers would also recognize their growing role in global affairs and contribute to a more inclusive international system.
A significant challenge for the UN has been its inability to enforce its own decisions. Examples include the unresolved Kashmir conflict, the ongoing Israel-Palestine dispute, and the Russia-Ukraine war. The lack of enforcement power has rendered many of the UN’s resolutions ineffective.
To address this, the UN should be empowered to take coercive action, including the use of military force, when necessary, to implement its resolutions. This should be done in a fair and transparent manner, ensuring that any use of force is in line with international law and aims to maintain peace and security.
The UNSC’s permanent members, with their veto powers, often use the council to advance their own national interests rather than global peace. This leads to an imbalance of power, where resolutions critical to global peace and justice are frequently blocked by a single nation’s veto.
To counter this, reforms are needed to limit the use of the veto, particularly in cases involving humanitarian crises or violations of international law. This would prevent any one country from using its veto to protect its interests at the expense of global peace.
For the UN to remain neutral and not be used as a tool for political coercion, the organization must implement safeguards that prevent undue influence from any one country or group. These could include:
Rotating the presidency of the UNSC more frequently among a larger pool of member states, particularly those from developing nations.
Ensuring that key leadership positions within the UN are filled based on merit rather than political favor or external pressure.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) represents all member states, yet its role is often secondary to the UNSC in critical matters of peace and security. Since the UNGA offers a more democratic forum where all countries have a voice, its influence should be enhanced.
Strengthening the UNGA’s role would ensure a broader and more inclusive approach to decision-making, reducing the concentration of power in the hands of a few nations and promoting a more balanced approach to global governance.
Africa and the Muslim world have historically been victims of colonization, exploitation, and conflict—often due to external interventions. The UN must recognize these injustices and take steps to address them. By giving these regions a more prominent voice in the UNSC and other UN bodies, the organization can help promote fair and just solutions to their challenges.
Representation in the decision-making process is critical to ensuring that the unique perspectives and interests of these regions are heard and considered in global affairs.
The UN needs institutional reforms to enhance its effectiveness. These reforms could include:
Fairer allocation of resources, ensuring that peacekeeping missions, humanitarian efforts, and development projects receive the necessary support.
Improving accountability mechanisms to ensure that UN decisions are properly implemented and that those responsible for upholding them are held to account.
Strengthening the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and ensuring that its rulings are respected, particularly in cases where the UNSC fails to act.
The United Nations was founded with the noble goal of maintaining peace and security around the world. However, to meet the challenges of the modern world, the UN must evolve. Expanding the UNSC to include permanent members from Africa and the Muslim world, empowering the organization to enforce its decisions, and reforming the way the UN functions will help it remain relevant and effective in today’s complex geopolitical environment. These reforms are essential if the UN is to fulfill its original mission of promoting global peace, justice, and security for all.
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