Reforming Security Council Key to Advancing Peace and Development

Dr. Reneva Fourie

In an era defined by interconnected crises, from the escalating climate emergency and persistent underdevelopment to the proliferation of conflict, the necessity of a robust multilateral system has never been more apparent.

The challenges we face are borderless, demanding collective action and a renewed commitment to international cooperation. 

The theme for the general debate of the 80th session of the General Assembly, occurring from 23 to 29 September, is ‘Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights’. This theme embodies the essence of the United Nations as the cornerstone of global governance. Its eightieth anniversary must catalyze profound transformation, particularly of the United Nations Security Council, so that it becomes fit for purpose in the twenty-first century.

The escalating prevalence of unilateral action, often in contravention of Security Council resolutions and rulings of the International Court of Justice, represents a direct assault on the principles of multilateralism. The belief that powerful nations can withdraw from collective agreements, disregard international law, and impose their interests through economic coercion or military force is a blueprint for chaos.

Such behaviour undermines the foundational pledge of the UN Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. It erodes the credibility of the international system. It fosters a world where might makes right, a world that is less secure for all, including those who claim strength through domination.

The Security Council’s paralysis in the face of humanitarian catastrophes is a damning indictment of an outdated structure. The catastrophe in Gaza, where international bodies have confirmed evidence of genocide, demonstrates the inability of the global community to uphold its own principles.

The Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is as inalienable as that of any other nation. The same applies to the people of Western Sahara, who continue to live under occupation despite decades of UN resolutions. 

The issue of nuclear weapons also illustrates the need for principled multilateralism. The UN’s very first resolution in 1946 called for their elimination, yet stockpiles remain, and modernisation programmes continue. The pursuit of nuclear dominance by a handful of powers does not make the world safer. It increases the risk of catastrophe and undermines non-proliferation efforts. Only collective disarmament, anchored in international law, can remove this existential threat once and for all.

In its present form and composition, the Security Council has proven ineffective in fulfilling its mandate to maintain international peace and security. The veto power, exercised by a few, too often protects narrow interests while grave violations of international law continue without consequence.

An accountable Council, representative, democratic, and effective, is an urgent necessity for the UN’s preservation. The intergovernmental negotiations must move from rhetoric to the delivery of tangible change, including permanent African representation and a more equitable global balance of power.

Global economic instability compounds the paralysis of the Security Council. Arbitrary measures, unpredictable trade policies, and unilateral trade wars and coercive measures fragment economies and destabilise markets.

For the Global South, this volatility cuts off a critical stream of development capital, threatening growth and compromising the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Many countries are shackled by unsustainable debt burdens, where repayments eclipse expenditure on health and education. This financial stranglehold systematically undermines any prospect of social progress and shared prosperity. A fairer financial order, guided by solidarity and reform of multilateral banks, is the only credible path forward.

No challenge exposes the limits of isolationist thinking more clearly than climate change. The evidence of worsening floods, droughts, and storms is overwhelming, with Africa bearing the harshest effects despite its minimal contribution to the crisis. Food insecurity, displacement, and the destruction of infrastructure are already reversing decades of progress.

To deny responsibility or to treat climate action as optional is to gamble recklessly with the lives of future generations. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities acknowledges the historic burden of industrialised nations while recognising the right of developing countries to grow sustainably. 

The struggle for gender equality is equally central. The Beijing Declaration remains a landmark, yet three decades on, women continue to face barriers to participation in politics, the economy, and society. South Africa’s reaffirmation of women’s rights and its call for equal and meaningful participation recognises that no society can achieve peace or prosperity while half its population is marginalised.

Progress in this area is not guaranteed and must be defended vigorously against reactionary currents that seek to reverse it. The UN remains the platform through which women’s voices can shape global decision-making and where commitments can be translated into binding action.

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, the question is not whether the institution is relevant but how it must adapt to serve humanity more effectively. The UN80 Initiative is a vital step in reimagining the organisation’s structures and methods, aiming to make the organisation more agile, accountable, and responsive.

Reform is not an admission of failure but a recognition that new challenges require renewed tools. From artificial intelligence to pandemics, from climate change to financial instability, today’s crises cross borders and defy unilateral answers. The international system can only remain legitimate if it reflects the voices of all and delivers tangible results for those most in need.

The global challenges of our time cannot be resolved by retreat into narrow self-interest. They demand solidarity, justice, and a recommitment to the principles of the UN Charter. Attempts to undermine multilateralism are attempts to abandon humanity itself to a future of unchecked conflict and inequality.

The task before us is to renew the promise made in 1945: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to advance development, and to uphold human rights. The world cannot afford to walk away. It must transform and strengthen the UN so that it endures as a beacon of cooperation for the next 80 years and beyond.

* Dr Reneva Fourie is a policy analyst specialising in governance, development, and security.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.