The UN Secretary-General’s human rights crisis can be solved

by Dr Bertrand G. Ramcharan Beyond the Council, Blog, By invitation

There is a crisis in the United Nations human-rights system. Secretary-General António Guterres can lead the way out of it. Indeed, the world continues to look to the UN secretary-general to stand up for the principles of the organisation. One of the highest responsibilities of the incumbent is to help steer a course toward realising UN goals in the areas …

The missing human rights chapter in Secretary-General Guterres’ strategic priorities

by Dr Bertrand G. Ramcharan and Geneva Beyond the Council, Blog, By invitation

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has set about the modernisation of some sectors of the United Nations and has been fulsome in his recognition of the interrelatedness of the three sectors of the UN: peace and security, development, and human rights. He has made impassioned statements about the need to protect human rights. But, beyond rhetoric, there has so far been no …

Why Guterres and Haley are set to become the U.N.’s odd couple

by Richard Gowan and Geneva Beyond the Council, Blog, By invitation

Are Antonio Guterres and Nikki Haley set to be New York’s new power couple? The future of the United Nations may rest on the duo’s personal and political chemistry.  Guterres has only been U.N. secretary-general since the start of the year, and Haley began work as U.S. representative to the U.N. ten days ago. But diplomats are watching both of …

The role of the next Secretary-General in revitalising the UN’s ‘neglected pillar’

by Marc Limon, Executive Director of the Universal Rights Group and the URG team Beyond the Council, Blog

This article originally appeared in New World magazine , published by the United Nations Association – UK (UNA-UK)  Human rights – alongside peace and security, and development – constitutes one of the three pillars of the United Nations. Their interconnected nature is clear: without steps to promote and protect human rights, the international community will be unable to achieve peace and security, while …