By Raymond Ken-Mbata
NEW YORK – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for reforms of major international institutions, saying the changing balance of global power requires the international system to reflect present-day realities.
Guterres made the call ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where world leaders are expected to discuss pressing issues, including armed conflicts, economic challenges, climate change and growing divisions among major powers.
The UN chief said the world was experiencing deep uncertainty, with emerging challenges becoming increasingly difficult for individual countries to tackle alone. He stressed the need for international institutions to adapt to changing circumstances while upholding the principles of peace, human rights and cooperation.
A major part of his reform agenda is the United Nations Security Council, whose current structure, according to Guterres, does not adequately reflect today’s geopolitical realities. Calls for reform have continued amid concerns that divisions among major powers are limiting the international community’s ability to respond effectively to global crises.
Guterres has also advocated reforms of international financial institutions, including the Bretton Woods institutions, to give developing countries a stronger voice in global economic decision-making. He believes the institutions established after the Second World War must evolve to accommodate the emergence of a more multipolar world.
The UN chief has identified the risks associated with uncontrolled artificial intelligence, the climate crisis and deepening inequality as major threats facing humanity. He has urged governments to strengthen international cooperation and ensure that global institutions remain capable of addressing these challenges.
His reform campaign comes as the United Nations prepares for another gathering of world leaders to discuss peace, development and the future of multilateral cooperation. Guterres is also approaching the end of his tenure as Secretary-General, which is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2026.