UN 2024: India calls for change at UN as conflicts persist

By Yoshita Singh

UNITED NATIONS:  As the United Nations prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary next year, India stressed that reform is “key” to the organisation’s “relevance” in addressing current and future global challenges, as world leaders signed off on an ambitious pact in 2024 to transform global governance and drive sustainable action.

When world leaders descended at the UN Headquarters in September for the high-level 79th session of the General Assembly, they adopted by consensus the landmark ‘Pact of the Future’ – a document that covers themes from peace and security, sustainable development to climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and transformation of global governance.

Underlining the need for reform, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “We don’t need a crystal ball to see that 21st Century challenges require problem-solving mechanisms that are more effective, networked and inclusive. We can’t create a future fit for our grandchildren with systems built for our grandparents.”