By Janet Ekstract – NEW YORK On Sunday, speaking to the press at the 3rd South Summit of the Group of 77 in Kampala, Uganda – U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an overhaul of global multilateral institutions as he did last week when he criticized the status quo at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and pointed out how antiquated it is. The U.N. chief added: “How can we accept that Africa still lacks a single Permanent Member in the Security Council?” Guterres further stated: “From the United Nations Security Council to the Bretton Woods system, global institutions reflect the world that built them 80 years ago, when many African countries were still colonized. They are no longer fit for purpose.” The secretary general reiterated that the UNSC is “stuck in a time warp,” and also lamented that the global financial system “is outdated, dysfunctional and unfair.”
The U.N. chief emphasized how significant the Summit of the Future will be and explained its purpose. He said: “This September, the United Nations will convene the Summit of the Future, with a focus on updating these institutions so that they align with today’s world and respond to today’s challengers – notably, the vital interests of developing countries.” Meanwhile, Guterres has been instrumental in calling for a full ceasefire and unconditional release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. For months, Guterres has reiterated the U.N. position on Gaza and has referred to Israel’s incessant bombing of innocent Palestinians as akin to war crimes. The majority of victims in Israel’s war on Gaza are women and children with numerous cases of extremist Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians and forcing them from their homes. At the Uganda summit, Guterres explained: “I will not give up on calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.” He reiterated that it’s the “only way to end this nightmare for civilians in Gaza, facilitate the release of all hostages, and prevent the conflict from engulfing the entire region.” The U.N. chief emphasized: “The refusal to accept the two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians, and the denial of the right to statehood to the Palestinians people are unacceptable.”
