On September 22, the United Nations approved a “Pact for the Future” aimed at addressing the numerous challenges of the century, ranging from conflicts to climate change and human rights, despite last-minute objections from a group of countries led by Russia.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who organized the “Summit for the Future,” described it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to rewrite human history by fostering international cooperation.
As an opening act for the high-level week of the UN General Assembly, beginning on September 24, dozens of heads of state and government gathered for the signing of the text.
In the adopted version, leaders pledged to strengthen the multilateral system to “keep pace with a changing world” and to “safeguard the needs and interests of current and future generations” in the face of “ongoing crises.”
“We believe there is a path toward a brighter future for all of humanity,” the document states.
The pact contains 56 “actions,” including commitments to multilateralism, protection of the UN Charter, and the preservation of peace.
It also calls for reforms in international financial institutions and the UN Security Council, along with renewed efforts to combat climate change, promote disarmament, and lead the development of artificial intelligence.
The approval of the text faced a brief delay when Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergey Vershinin, presented an amendment emphasizing the “principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states.”
Russia’s objections were supported by its allies, such as Belarus, North Korea, and Iran.
