This year, the United Nations turns 80. In its lifetime, the U.N. has been and remains to be a crucial lifeline for millions around the world suffering human rights violations, persecution, conflict, and more. But instead of commemorating its legacy, this 20th-century institution has been buckling under the weight of 21st-century challenges and contemplating dramatic reform.
If the U.N. is to live up to its promise, reform must be more than structural. It must be transformational and intentionally embed human rights and atrocity prevention across every dimension of its work.
Long rebuked for being outdated, the U.N. faces a liquidity crisis amid mounting global upheaval. The past 15 years have seen a sharp rise in violent conflict, commission of atrocities, and attacks on human rights and international law. Hard-won development progress is stalling, even reversing, in many parts of the world, and the U.N.’s humanitarian work is on the verge of collapse. Seemingly unable to do more than shout from the sidelines, the U.N.’s capacity for protection has been questioned by local communities and governments.
About the authors
Natalie Samarasinghe
Natalie Samarasinghe is executive director of the Public Engagement Platform for climate action. She was previously CEO of the United Nations Association — UK, chief of strategy for UN75, and global director of advocacy for Open Society Foundations. She serves on the boards of the Security Council Report and GCR2P.
Savita Pawnday
Savita Pawnday is the executive director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, or GCR2P. She is a preeminent expert on the “responsibility to protect” and atrocity prevention.
