UN Adopts Pact to 'Bring Multilateralism Back'
The UN General Assembly on Sunday adopted a 'Pact for the Future' — a non-binding agreement that Secretary-General António Guterres described as a 'step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism.'...
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Facts
- The UN General Assembly on Sunday adopted a 'Pact for the Future' — a non-binding agreement that Secretary-General António Guterres described as a 'step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism.'[1]
- The pact contains 56 broad goals that countries pledged to achieve, including peace and security, global governance, digital cooperation, climate change, and sustainable development.[2]
- Guterres said the pact, adopted without a vote at the Summit of the Future during the 79th UN General Assembly, is an attempt to 'bring multilateralism back from the brink.'[2][3]
- Russia attempted to defer the pact's adaptation — which came after nine months of negotiations — and introduced an amendment emphasizing the 'principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states.'[1][4]
- However, the General Assembly overwhelmingly rejected Russia's amendment and adopted the pact with 143 votes in favor of it and seven against it. 15 countries abstained from voting.[5][6]
Sources: [1]Al Jazeera, [2]US News & World Report, [3]Arab News, [4]The Manila Times, [5]TASS and [6]Guardian.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. Crises across the world have highlighted the need to reform the UN with greater multilateralism to improve its work for its members. This is a foundational pact that strengthens the UN's institutions and better prepares it for future challenges.
- Narrative B, as provided by Al Jazeera. While it's an ambitious plan, there is skepticism about whether its non-binding nature will yield the results it promises, as UN member states are already violating the UN charter on a daily basis.
- Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. The text of this pact was not fully agreed upon before its adoption, and the UN rejected key amendments that Russia had called for. Since this pact only represents Western interests, Russia will not be a party to this agreement.
