Daijiworld Media Network – United Nations
United Nations, Jul 15: India has reiterated its demand for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations, calling for an urgent overhaul of the Security Council and a stronger role for other UN bodies to ensure multilateralism remains effective.
Addressing a ministerial roundtable on "Making Multilateralism Fit for the Future", India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, said public confidence in the UN had declined due to the Security Council's inability to respond effectively to ongoing global conflicts.
"Public perception about the UN has changed adversely in the recent past, primarily due to the Security Council's inability to meaningfully intervene in raging conflicts across different parts of the globe," he said.
The ambassador said the Security Council had failed to effectively address humanitarian crises and questioned its credibility in maintaining international peace and security.
He attributed the Council's shortcomings to its outdated structure, saying its architecture, designed nearly 80 years ago in the aftermath of World War II, is no longer suited to address present-day global challenges.
Parvathaneni also criticised the slow pace of reforms, stating that discussions on restructuring the Security Council had remained confined to an "endless cycle of prepared statements" without meaningful progress.
Reaffirming India's commitment to reforming global governance institutions, he said New Delhi would continue to support genuine efforts to restructure the UN Security Council and international financial institutions to make them more representative and capable of addressing contemporary challenges.
In addition to Security Council reforms, India called for the revitalisation of the UN General Assembly and a stronger role for the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in promoting sustainable development across economic, social and environmental sectors.
Highlighting India's commitment to the Global South, Parvathaneni said the country remained dedicated to ensuring inclusive development, mobilising resources where they are most needed and leading by example in advancing global development goals.