UN faces Critical Test as Leaders Pledge Renewed Commitment to Charter
NEW YORK – Addressing the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock delivered a stark message: now is a time for critical self-assessment, not celebration, amidst ongoing global conflicts in regions including Gaza, Ukraine, and Haiti. Baerbock urged member states to reaffirm their commitment to the UN Charter and “be better together,” emphasizing the institution’s continued relevance in a world grappling with complex crises.
While acknowledging past failures and the pain felt globally, Baerbock cautioned against dismissing the UN as outdated or ineffective. “The Charter, our Charter, is only as strong as Member States’ willingness to uphold it. And their willingness to hold to account those who violate it,” she stated. She argued that failures stem not from flaws within the Charter itself, but from a lack of commitment from its members.
Baerbock highlighted the vital work of UN agencies like UNICEF, the World Food Program (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) in providing life-saving assistance. “sometimes we could have done more. But we cannot let this dishearten us. If we stopped doing the right thing, evil would prevail,” she warned.
The address framed the UN’s 80th anniversary - marking its founding in the wake of world War II, the Holocaust, and widespread colonialism affecting 750 million people – not as a moment for grand celebration, but as a call to action. The UN, she asserted, has historically served “as a compass pointing toward peace, humanity, and justice.”
Baerbock concluded by emphasizing the urgency of the present moment, stating the international community stands at a crossroads. She called on all member states to demonstrate the same leadership shown by their predecessors 80 years ago in San Francisco,and to prove the UN’s enduring value,describing it as ”the life insurance for every country.”
