Eighty-one years after its signing, the UN Charter remains, in the words of Secretary-General António Guterres, “a survival guide for humanity” and our “best hope for peace.”
For generations, its principles have helped shape a more stable and prosperous world — placing guardrails on a nuclear arms race, ending conflicts and wars, advancing human rights, and improving lives around the world. But compounding crises are testing the foundations of international cooperation, Guterres warned during a Security Council open debate. At this pivotal moment, the vision of the UN’s founding document remains as vital as ever. The real test today is whether all countries will act to uphold and defend it.
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