Guterres: "The principles of the United Nations are under attack."

WashingtonUnited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres opened the 80th session of the General Assembly by warning that the founding principles on which the multilateral organization was founded are in jeopardy. "We have entered an era of reckless disruption and unrelenting human suffering," Guterres said, addressing the packed chamber with representatives of member states. "Look around you. The United Nations principles you established are under assault," he warned. He added that "the pillars of peace and progress are bending under the weight of impunity, inequality, and indifference."

The UN is reaching its 80th anniversary at one of the most critical moments for the institution and multilateralism. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have called into question the authority of the United Nations, while the return of Donald Trump to the leadership of the United States threatens to further unravel the current international system and global institutions. In the first months of the Trump administration, international cooperation organizations and those dedicated to combating climate change have already suffered a drain on funding as a result of the Republican-ordered withdrawal of funding. In the case of the UN, the president's cuts will mean a loss of $500 million from next year's budget, resulting in the layoff of 20% of its staff.

The genocide in Gaza has also exposed the UN's powerlessness to fulfill its original promise to prevent another major conflict like that of World War II and the horrors that resulted from Nazism and the Holocaust. Last year, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reveled in this fact: shortly after speaking at the Assembly, he launched several attacks against Lebanon, escalating the conflict in the region. The prime minister most likely ordered the action before his speech even began.

A year after that episode, the genocide in Gaza continues, with the nuance that the UN now recognizes the genocide – Guterres himself used the term in his speech – and that a large number of member countries already recognize the Palestinian state. All this, when more than 63,000 Palestinians have already died since October 2023.

In his speech on Monday, Guterres called for "an immediate ceasefire" in Gaza and an immediate halt to the colonization of the West Bank. "In Gaza, the denunciation of humanity is challenged (ICJ) issued precautionary measures ordering Israel to provide resources to prevent a possible genocide. "Nothing can justify the attacks of October 7 and the kidnapping of hostages, but nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian population." "Ceasefire now, release all hostages now, and entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza now" the UN these days. "All over the world we see countries acting as if the rules don't apply to them and treating humans as if they were less than human, and we must denounce it," he said, without mentioning anyone in particular, but it seemed to be an allusion directed at Israel and probably also Russia as "the demand" a form of "pragmatism", because collaboration between countries is necessary to face global challenges such as the climate crisis or artificial intelligence.

Lula warns against unilateralism

Brazilian President Lula da Silva was the first representative to speak at the opening session. Lula emphasized that the UN represents the "highest aspiration for peace and prosperity" and also warned that "the ideas that inspired its creation are in danger." "Unilateral interventions are becoming the norm," warned the Brazilian president, who emphasized how the crisis of multilateralism is directly related to the crisis of democracy globally.

Brazil is suffering from Trump's 50% tariffs solely because of the conviction of Jair Bolsonaro for his failed coup d'état. Brazilian court ruling It holds up a mirror to the United States and Trump himself, who escaped prosecution for instigating the assault on the Capitol and attempting to interfere in the outcome of the 2020 elections. An action that, in fact, inspired Bolsonarism and the Brazilian far right to repeat the same plan of action when Lula won the last election.

"The attacks on the judicial system are unacceptable," Lula asserted, referring to the pressure he is under from Washington, and he emphasized: "Brazil has sent a message to all autocrats around the world: our democracy is non-negotiable."

Lula also referred to the defense of freedoms and human rights, as well as the rights of women and migrants, as pillars that sustain democracy. "Democracy fails when women earn less than men," he said, asserting that migrants are to blame. He also celebrated the fact that Brazil has stopped appearing on the world's appetite map this year.

On the other hand, he warned of the growing polarization everywhere and argued that "maintaining peace is our priority." Therefore, he celebrated the fact that there are no nuclear weapons in South America. But he lamented, in a criticism directed at the Trump administration, "the comparison between drug trafficking and terrorism," alluding to the ships that have attacked Washington in the Caribbean Sea in recent weeks. "The solution is to reduce arms treaties. The way is not to execute people without prior trials," he said.

Furthermore, Lula has shown his commitment to the fight against the climate crisis, an issue that is increasingly being buried in the public sphere and the media agenda due to the ongoing democratic backsliding. The president of the country that holds the world's lungs recalled the duty that developed countries have towards developing countries. "It's not charity, it's justice. [...] The energy transition cannot reproduce the unjust logic of colonialism. It's time to implement measures. Climate change must receive the attention of the United Nations."