On Thursday 24 October, UNA-UK marked the 79th anniversary of the UN Charter entering to force, in partnership with the World Food Programme. UNA-UK were honoured to present this year’s Sir Brian Urquhart Award for Distinguished Service to the UN to Sir Charles Petrie, former Senior UN Official and human rights expert.
The evening was an opportunity for guests from the diplomatic community, civil society, the media and the UK government to reflect on the importance of the UN, and the challenges the organisation faces in today’s geopolitical climate.
The UN is under unprecedented pressure from every angle, as peacekeepers are targeted, funding shortfall is at its worst in the organisation’s history, and the credibility of the system is being questioned. However, its work has never been more important or more needed. We were delighted to present this year’s Sir Brian Urquhart award to Sir Charles, who has dedicated his career to peace, security, and advocating for a truly effective UN.
Sir Charles delivered an honest, insightful and inspiring keynote speech on the challenges that the UN faces, its shortcomings, and how faith in the institution must be matched with action.
Sir Charles said:
Though it may not have always seemed to be the case, I fundamentally believe in the importance of the United Nations. The UN, for me, is an institutional fairytale. It is the fairytale that believes the world can be made into a better place. The UN Charter embodies that fairytale. In the world as it is today, it is essential to retain the belief that it is possible for governments and people to work together to make it that better place. The UN as an institutional fairytale must survive for the good of humanity.
We are in a world today where multilateralism is under serious threat. One of the greatest concerns has to be the perversion and rejection of a rules based international system. We are seeing the re-emergence of a particularly cynical, opportunistic, almost Darwinian, form of world order.
He closed his speech with an inspiring quote from the awards namesake, Sir Brian Urquhart:
I wish to end this intervention with these words from Sir Brian Urquhart: “I think idealism is the only form of realism because unless you're idealistic, you don't have anything to look forward to, you don't have anywhere to go. We are only on this world once as far as we know. We might as well make the best of it.”
You can watch Sir Charles’ speech in full below or read it here.
UNA-UK was delighted to partner with the World Food Programme London Global Office to mark UN Day this year. Their Director, Geraldine O’Callaghan, reflected on the significance of the UN in today’s challenging world:
As we mark UN Day this year, these feel like dark times. But, in my lifetime at least, it has never been more important to stand up for human rights and respect for humanitarian law and live by the values of the UN system.
It’s a cliché to say the opportunities come from crises. But the international community – not just the UN – needs to reflect on the reasons why the system is under threat. It is an opportunity to reset, rather than to just double down. To think harder on how we make the system fit to not just respond but also prevent the world’s crises.
Frances Chambers, UNA-UK's interim Chair, used her speech to welcome UNA-UK's incoming Chair Ian Martin, and emphasise the importance of international collaboration to support an effective UN.
we are here to celebrate the United Nations, so let’s celebrate global unity, multilateralism, and hope [...]
[...] we find ourselves amidst complex crises in which interconnected and escalating challenges require immediate attention. The principles that underpin international humanitarian law are being consistently breached, and human rights are increasingly casualties of both war and climate change.
Here at UNA-UK, we firmly believe that an effective UN is integral to building peace and ensuring a sustainable future for everyone. We are committed to continue to stand up for the UN—working with the United Kingdom to be both a strong partner and a loyal, yet critical, friend.
