An Equitable Future: How the UN balances Crises & its Mission

By Ingrid Wittendorff Humblen

Editor - Aarohini Ghosh

The opinions expressed in this article reflect the opinions of its author(s). They do not represent the views of the UCL International Relations Society, Circum Mundum, or its Editorial Team.

September 2023 saw the most recent gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly, which unfolded amidst a confluence of pressing global concerns. The General Assembly met under the theme of “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity” to discuss issues like the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate ambition, pandemic prevention and universal health coverage. However, the presence of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and the ongoing war in Ukraine took more attention than some actors might have hoped. This has left many wondering whether the priorities of Ukraine and their Western backers are reconcilable with the concerns of the Global South and the international community at large.

Global Priorities

The Russian invasion of Ukraine captured significant attention at the UNGA due to the attendance of President Zelensky who was in New York in person to deliver his 15-minute address to the Assembly. While the ongoing conflict has caused increased geopolitical tensions and instability in global food security, concerns have arisen regarding the balance of dialogue within the UN. Recall that numerous countries in the Global South abstained from taking sides or condemning Russia’s illegal invasion in a UN vote earlier this year. It is evident that while the conflict has been of great concern for the US and its allies, other actors in the international community are worried about the potential overshadowing of pivotal topics such as the SDGs.

These apprehensions were particularly noticeable as the 2023 assembly marked the halfway point towards the 2030 SDG deadline. Since 2015, progress on the 17 SDGs remains considerably stunted, with only around 12% of the goals having been met. In 2030, an estimated half a billion people are expected to remain in poverty, while chronic hunger levels have risen dramatically since 2019. As hunger, extreme poverty and adverse effects of climate change predominantly affect the Global South, it is of existential importance to these countries that development is at the top of the agenda in the UN.

To address this, the UN purposefully scheduled the General Assembly around climate change and assisting nations in achieving the U.N.'s development objectives concerning prosperity, health, education, and gender equality. Yet, many Western leaders allocated their 15-minute slot in the speaker’s chair to discuss the war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions with Russia, rather than development issues. The EU ambassador to the UN acknowledged that the focus of this year’s UNGA was on development, but wished that more time had been spent discussing Ukraine, highlighting a conflict of priorities and a potential North-South divide in the General Assembly.

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Ukraine in the World

Perhaps in an effort to address concerns from the Global South, President Zelensky used part of his 15-minute speech to bring attention to the global impacts of the Russian invasion, pleading the case that the Global South has a vested interest in the future of Ukraine. Zelensky highlighted how Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea and its undermining of the Black Sea Grain Initiative has had impacts “from the Atlantic coast of Africa to Southeast Asia”. This was of particular relevance, as the speech was held the morning before international food security was to be discussed. The repercussions of the invasion of Ukraine are clearly far-reaching, affecting even the Global South and stunting progress on SDGs like ending global hunger. To add to this, the war has been named partially responsible for high global inflation and energy prices, underscoring the multifaceted impact of a seemingly isolated event.

Despite the war’s global impacts, some countries, such as those in South America, report a general sense that “Ukraine’s problems is none of their business”. However, those in support of Ukraine would argue that it is in the interest of regions like South America that Ukraine is not forgotten. The Russian invasion remains relevant on the international stage as an aberrant violation of UN principles and charters. It is vital that the UN sets a precedent in responding to invasions and annexations, to ensure authoritarian states realize that violations of autonomy entail substantial consequences. Defending the integrity of the UN system is of benefit to all member states, whether NATO allies or emerging economies. As Chilean President Gabriel Boric argued in his speech to the Assembly: “today it is Ukraine, but tomorrow it could be any one of us.”

Balancing the Focus

While the focus on Ukraine is inevitable, there needs to be a balanced approach to addressing various global issues, particularly at the General Assembly. Mitigating the impacts of the invasion and resolving associated issues should be prioritized alongside other pressing global concerns like climate change and sustainable development.

Here, the media plays an important role: it is essential for Western media to report on discussions around climate and development issues that transpired at the UNGA and work in the interest of the majority of its members, primarily the Global South. While the war in Ukraine, a central theme over the past year, remains significant, it is not the only important topic to come out of the UNGA.

The U.S. and its allies should work towards a holistic focus, moving away from the immediate tensions of the Eastern front line, to encapsulate and address the broader, intertwined challenges facing the international community.

In conclusion, the UN General Assembly should serve as a platform where issues of global importance, irrespective of geographical or political leanings, are deliberated with equal emphasis. This year, the conflict in Ukraine prominently figured in the discussions, raising pertinent questions regarding the alignment of Western priorities with the broader interests of the international community and the Global South. In the future, the assembly should learn from such mistakes, and address the necessity for a harmonious approach to globally significant issues, enabling a cooperative pathway towards a sustainable and equitable future.