UN Secretary-General urges renewed commitment to U.N. Charter on 80th anniversary

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the U.N. General Assembly that the 80th anniversary of the U.N. Charter is a moment for member states to "respect and renew" their commitment to international law and collective action.

Guterres said the charter, adopted after World War II, "is a declaration of hope and the foundation of international cooperation for a better world," and he urged governments to defend its purposes and principles against what he described as unprecedented assaults. "The Charter of The United Nations is not optional. It is not an a la carte menu," he said.

Why it matters: Guterres framed the anniversary as a juncture to confront multiple and simultaneous global threats. He cited the continued threat and use of force against sovereign states, violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and the "weaponization of food and water." He described a pattern of selective adherence to the charter's obligations and called on member states to stop normalizing such violations.

In his roughly six-minute address, Guterres said the U.N. has been "a force of construction in a world often marked by destruction," enabling rival states to convene, representing small and large nations alike, and advancing human rights, sustainable development and humanitarian action. He drew a line from the charter's creation to the prevention of a third world war while noting that progress on issues such as denuclearization has at times been offset by renewed rearmament.

Guterres also highlighted nonmilitary challenges, saying the world has "mobilized for climate action and also are enduring record heat and climate chaos," and that digital technology and artificial intelligence "hold so much potential for humanity" while requiring responsible, safe management. He urged more inclusive, networked multilateralism that brings in civil society, youth and the private sector, and said the system must adapt to an increasingly multipolar and digital world.

On the U.N.'s recent political work, Guterres referenced the "pact for the future" adopted by member states in September and called on governments to live up to "the spirit and the letter of the charter." He closed by inviting member states to renew commitments "for peace, for justice, for progress, for We, the Peoples."

The address was delivered as a policy statement; no votes or formal decisions were recorded in the transcript of the exchange that followed.