Elizabeth Morgan | A look at the main issues arising at the 80th UNGA General Debate

LAST WEEK, this column addressed the imminent UNGA general debate during high-level week under the theme, ‘Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights’. The general debate concluded on Monday morning, September 29. The president of the General Assembly noted that 189 UN member states delivered speeches and 124 of those were delivered by heads of state and government. This column indicated that statements delivered could be unpredictable in content. Indeed, there was the unpredictable.

There was consensus across the globe that the statement delivered by US President Donald Trump will go down in the history of the UN as one of the most unusual in form and content.

The statement delivered by the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, was perhaps the most combative, directly addressing issues arising including US military action in the Caribbean. A speech from among the CARICOM members, which took a slightly different track, was that of Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

PEACE AND SECURITY

The statements, as customary, covered a wide range of issues, political, economic and social at the international, regional and national levels. A main concern was peace and security given the wars ongoing across the globe and the threat which they pose to stability and prosperity. In fact, one was made aware of conflicts long forgotten, such as that in Cyprus involving Türkiye and Greece, and one which recently reignited involving Mali and Algeria.

There was consensus that the Israeli operation in Gaza should end as it had far exceeded proportional retaliation and was in breach of international humanitarian law creating a catastrophic situation for civilians in Gaza. Israel’s actions were assessed by the vast majority to be unjust and inhumane.

By the meeting on Palestine held on Monday, September 22, Palestine had been recognised as a sovereign state by 156 of the UN’s 193 member states. Thus showing support for a two-state solution. Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, was facilitated to address the UN by video as he was not granted a visa by the US to attend the meeting in person. When Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed the assembly a large number of delegates walked out. The people of Israel should be aware that their country is falling out of favour in the international community. HAMAS should also be aware that the world wants this conflict to end.

There was also a call in the UNGA for an end to the war in Ukraine which was draining resources as defence spending increased and again creating human suffering and instability within Europe.

There was concern that the UN is not directly involved in efforts to find solutions to these conflicts. The Security Council, responsible for promoting peace and security, is hamstrung by the use of the veto power in that body.It could also be said that a personal ambition to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize was now preventing a multilateral approach to finding peaceful solutions.

There was also concern about the brutal civil war in Sudan which has led to famine within the country.

The action of gangs in Haiti, which was eroding governance and the viability of the economy, was also addressed. The force led by Kenya in Haiti needed increased support from the international community. This was highlighted as a key issue for CARICOM countries. For Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean could not be truly considered a zone of peace when gangs were actively aiming to destabilise countries. For Jamaica, the illegal trade in small arms also needed to be addressed and called on producers to assist in cauterising this serious arms flow.

Countries also called for relief for Cuba, ending the decades long trade embargo and removing the country from the list of states supporting terrorism.

It is evident that solving conflicts, through dialogue and within the law, could stem the flow of illegal migrants and refugees.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

With 2030 just five years away, members were concerned about the effort to further shift focus away from the Sustainable Development Goals which would stimulate the development of many UN members and promote prosperity, peace, and security in countries.

Note that this focus on development could also stem the flow of illegal migrants and refugees.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Members raised concern about the unilateral decisions being taken in international trade which were weakening the international trading system and limiting countries ability to achieve growth. Trade requires cooperation and negotiations.

ILLEGAL MIGRATION

Trinidad and Tobago was very firmly against illegal migration supporting US actions against drug trafficking and organised crime in the region, within the law. Other countries pointed out that migrants should not be made scapegoats and treated as criminals. It was the lack of employment and opportunities in their homelands that led to migration.

As said above, note that addressing conflicts, sustainable development, and trade in a cooperative manner would aid in limiting the flow of illegal migrants and refugees.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Trinidad and Tobago argued that the climate agenda must support balanced and realistic climate policies and take account of the need to maintain fossil fuels.

Other countries expressed their concern that the USA has opted out of the climate accord and that large emitters were not taking action to reduce carbon emissions. They pointed to the urgency of dealing with the climate change issues and providing the promised funding. The challenges facing small island developing states need to be prioritised.

Note that climate change is also seen as another factor encouraging migration.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

Members appreciated the benefits which could be derived from artificial intelligence, but the dangers of it were recognised and the need to address the emerging problems.

Note that technology is also impacting job creation and employment.

MULTILATERALISM

It was evident to most speakers that the global system is changing. They pointed out that the UN of 1945 no longer exists. The multilateral system is under stress. For India, it is in crisis. The UN needs to be reformed.

It was not members’ position that the UN system should not exist, but that it needs to be reformed to reflect the world existing today. Cooperation has to prevail as current problems facing the world cannot be addressed unilaterally. Multilateralism is a necessity.

Jamaica recommitted to multilateralism through the UN system, while recognising the need for reform and revitalisation. On the UN 80 reform initiative, Jamaica is co-chairing, with New Zealand, the working group on the UN 80 mandate implementation review.

CAN THE UN HAVE ANY EFFECT?

It will be very interesting to see how work at the UN unfolds as US President Donald Trump left the world in no doubt that he is not a big fan of the organisation. It should be clear to Israel and, its supporter, the US, that countries around the globe, with the few exceptions, consider the Israeli military operation in Gaza to be a humanitarian catastrophe. UN members were mainly not supporting HAMAS.

The UN is definitely needed, indeed better together, but the UN is its member states. It can only do what its member states commit to doing and are prepared to implement and support financially in the global and their own interest. The UN can be effective in peace and security if its member states, particularly those in the Security Council, are prepared to act. Are they?

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com