The United Nations (UN) has adopted a "Pact for the Future" aimed at addressing the growing challenges of the 21st century, ranging from conflict to climate change and human rights.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who organized the Future Summit, declared it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to reshape human history by rekindling international cooperation.
As the opening of the annual high-level week of the UN General Assembly, which begins 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 "protect the needs and interests of present and future generations" in the face of "permanent crisis."
"We believe there is a path to a brighter future for all humanity," the document said.
The pact outlines 56 "actions", including commitments to respect the UN Charter and maintain peace.
Countries are also calling for reforms to international financial institutions and the UN Security Council, along with renewed efforts to combat climate change, promote disarmament and manage the development of artificial intelligence.
Adoption of the text faced a brief delay when Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin tabled an amendment emphasizing "the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states."
Russia's objections were supported by allies Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Nicaragua and Syria, but its amendment was overwhelmingly rejected.
From words to action
During the negotiation phase, Guterres called on nations to show "vision" and "courage", urging "maximum ambition" to strengthen international institutions struggling to respond effectively to today's threats.
While it has some "good ideas", the text "is not the kind of revolutionary document reforming the whole of multilateralism that Antonio Guterres originally called for," Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group told AFP.
This view was widely shared among diplomats, many of whom expressed disappointment when discussing the ambition and impact of the text, describing it as "tepid", "lowest common denominator" and "disappointing".
"Ideally you would hope for new ideas, fresh ideas," said one diplomat.
The fight against global warming has been one of the sticking points in the talks, with references to the "transition" from fossil fuels disappearing from the draft text weeks ago before being re-inserted.
Despite the criticism, it is still "an opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to multilateralism, even in the difficult current geopolitical context," a Western diplomat said, stressing the need to rebuild trust between the global North and South.
Developing countries have been particularly active in demanding specific commitments to the reform of international financial institutions aimed at providing easier access to preferential financing, especially considering the impact of climate change.
The text does include "important commitments to economic justice and reforming the international financial architecture," commented Human Rights Watch (HRW), while praising "the centrality of the document to human rights." However, world leaders "still need to demonstrate that they are ready to act in defense of human rights."
Regardless of its content, the pact and its annexes - the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration for Future Generations - are non-binding, raising concerns about their implementation. Some principles - especially the protection of civilians in conflict - are violated on a daily basis.
"Our next task is to bring them to life, to turn words into actions," urged Guterres. | BGNES
