Published on: 2026-06-26
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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26 June 2026 UN
Could the world today agree on the creation of a new United Nations organization? In my opinion, the President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock most likely says no. That is why the main task of states today is to preserve and renew the Organization, created 81 years ago after the most destructive war in human history.
Free future generations from the horrors of war
This idea became one of the main themes at the solemn meeting of the General Assembly dedicated to the anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter. The document, signed on June 26, 1945 in San Francisco, laid the foundations of modern international law and relations between states.
His main goal is to save future generations from the horrors of war and to create a system in which countries will resolve disputes not by the force of arms, but through negotiations.
Speaking at the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reminded that the Charter begins with three simple words (in English: We, the peoples), which still define the meaning of the Organization’s existence today. “Not ‘we, the strong.’ Not ‘we, the victors.’ ‘We, the peoples’ – all of us united by a common conviction that we are safer, stronger and more humane when we stay together,” he emphasized.
According to the head of the UN, it was this idea that helped the Organization operate for eight decades – despite wars, political crises, and rivalry between states.
“The United Nations Organization has never been perfect. But it is irreplaceable,” he emphasized.
Irreplaceable organization
Today, the UN has already 193 member states, not 50 as it did 81 years ago. However, as Annalena Baerbock noted, it is practically impossible to present that all of them could have started from scratch to agree on the creation of such an organization: some have nuclear weapons, others do not even have air defense; some handle billions, others are burdened by heavy debts. “The United Nations is a miracle of humanity. And, perhaps, its greatest achievement is that it exists at all,” said the Chair of the General Assembly.
The United Nations is a miracle of humanity. And, perhaps, its greatest achievement lies already in the fact that it exists at all
According to her, it is especially important today for the international community not to allow skeptics to use the shortcomings of the Organization as an argument against the very idea of multilateral cooperation.
“Our main responsibility is to protect the United Nations,” Berbock stated.
Time of reforms
Together with that, both leaders recognized that the UN needs a serious update. After more than eighty years of operation, the system has become too cumbersome: today it includes tens of thousands of active mandates and conducts about 27,000 official meetings annually. It is precisely for this reason that the “UN-80” initiative is being implemented within the Organization, which should make its work more effective and better prepare it for the challenges of the 21st century. At the same time, the reforms, emphasized the speakers, should strengthen the Organization, not weaken it.
UN Achievements
In their speeches, Guterres and Berboke reminded that many UN achievements remain practically unnoticed by the general public. News stories rarely tell about wars that were successfully avoided thanks to diplomacy, about famine prevented, or about lives saved.
The Chairperson of the General Assembly recounted the story of a seven-year-old boy Saki from Sudan. His last words were: “My stomach hurts. I want to go home and play with my friends.” The child died of exhaustion, never receiving humanitarian aid. Bearbock suggested reflecting on how many similar tragedies have been prevented precisely thanks to the work of the United Nations.
According to the data presented in her speech, vaccination programs under the guidance of UNICEF have saved more than 150 million children’s lives over the past decades. More than two million peacekeepers have served in over 70 operations worldwide, protecting civilians and helping countries recover after conflicts.
The Secretary-General reminded that modern threats cannot be stopped alone. “In a world where dangers are common, cooperation is not naivety. This is the most realistic path,” he stated.
UN Charter-80
The member states have recently been proposed to sign the UN Charter-80 to symbolically reaffirm their commitment to the principles and goals of the UN Charter and support the course for reforming the Organization, which should meet the demands of the 21st century.
81 years after the signing of the Charter, its main idea remains unchanged. The world has become more complex, new threats have emerged – from artificial intelligence to the climate crisis – but no single country can handle them alone. That is why this document, born after the Second World War, still remains the foundation of international cooperation and a reminder that even in the most difficult times, states can seek not new lines of division, but points of contact.
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