India Stresses Need For Immediate UNSC Reforms, Says 'Otherwise, Risk Sending The Council To Oblivion'

Ruchira Kamboj underscored the urgency for tangible progress in reforms, stressing the significance of amplifying the voices of younger generation and rectifying “historical injustices”.

New Delhi: India once again emphasised the pressing need for immediate reforms within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), cautioning that without such reforms, the global body risks fading into "oblivion." Expressing frustration over prolonged deliberations, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, highlighted that nearly a quarter-century has passed since world leaders committed to comprehensive reforms at the Millennium Summit in 2000.

“Discussions on Security Council reforms have persisted earnestly for well over a decade since the early 1990s. The world and our future generations can no longer afford to wait. How much longer must they wait?” Kamboj said at the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform.

She underscored the urgency for tangible progress in reforms, stressing the significance of amplifying the voices of the younger generation and rectifying “historical injustices”, particularly in Africa. She cautioned against maintaining the status quo and advocated for a more inclusive approach, warning that confining Security Council expansion solely to non-permanent members could exacerbate disparities in its composition.

Emphasising the imperative of representativeness and equitable participation, Kamboj asserted that this would bolster the Council's overall legitimacy.

In a pragmatic approach, Kamboj proposed the identification of specific groups or nations deserving special consideration in the reform process, advocating for attentive listening to their perspectives and concerns.

“The Summit of the future, this September and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations next year are important milestones towards which we should aim to make concrete progress. We must push forward a reform heeding the voices of the young and future generations, including from Africa, where the demand to correct historical injustice grows even stronger. Otherwise, we simply risk sending the council down the path of oblivion and irrelevant,” Kamboj said.

Notably, Kamboj presented the ‘G-4 model’ on behalf of Brazil, Germany, Japan and India for debate, dialogue and negotiations. The proposals garnered strong support from wider UN members.