United Nations – Here and there

US plans to reengage with ‘flawed’ UN human rights council

8 February 2021 Online editor In the news

The United States today [Monday, 8 February 2021] announced plans to reengage with the U.N. Human Rights Council. The US withdrew from the UNHRC three years ago, citing concerns about the Council’s focus on Israel. “The Biden administration has recommitted the United States to a foreign policy centered on democracy, human rights, and equality,” Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said in a statement. “Effective use of multilateral tools is an important element of that vision.” The

UN Security Council calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi

5 February 2021 Online editor In the news, International relations

On 3 February 2021, the 15-member United Nations Security Council issued a statement agreed by consensus that called for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others detained by Myanmar’s military, and stressed the need to uphold democracy.

The UN at 75: a real declaration of intent, or multilateral virtue signalling?

14 September 2020 Mike Scrafton By Mike Scrafton, Climate crisis, Foreign policy, trade and diplomacy, International relations

An atmosphere of unreality is building in advance of the virtual meeting of world leaders on 21 September 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN). Nothing demonstrates this more than the proposed draft declaration. Rather than reaffirming the UN’s centrality, the draft declaration’s faux earnestness jars amid the current international reality. Additionally, it ignores the biggest challenge to multilateralism.