President of UN General Assembly wins hearts in his milestone India visit
2024 is set to be a historic year for the United Nations and the multilateral system, with the once in a generation ‘Summit of the Future’ scheduled to be held in September 2024 at UN Headquarters in New York, USA. Yet the UN enters 2024 fractured by 2 major wars, its own projections of a bleak global economy and facing increasing scrutiny and frustration with its preeminent bodies, particularly the United Nations Security Council.
In the face of these multiple crises, the man on whose shoulders the formidable task of ‘rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity’ rests is His Excellency Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly (UN PGA). During a 5 day Official Visit to India from 22 January to 26 January 2024, Mr. Dennis Francis focused on this important agenda, seeking India’s continued support for his presidency’s priorities of peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability at the UN General Assembly – with dedication, humbleness and a smile. His gentle and intelligent demeanor, combined with his deep sense of solidarity with the common people, was deeply appreciated in New Delhi’s diplomatic corridors, forcing even the harshest of UN critics (of which there are many in India) to take note and listen.
During the visit, HE Dennis Francis met with the President of India, Smt. Draupadi Murmu, the External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar in Delhi and the Governors and Chief Ministers of the states of Rajasthan and Maharashtra, covering Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai in his official programmes and engagements. In Rajasthan, he visited an NGO that manufactures affordable prosthetic limbs, toured World Heritage List sites in Jaipur and Mumbai, rang the bell at the National Stock Exchange, participated in a roundtable on digital public infrastructure and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) meeting with young Indian changemakers in Delhi, interacted at think tanks and participated in India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations in Mumbai. This was the UN PGA’s first visit to India and he was visibly inspired by the immense diversity, culture and society of the country, even exclaiming at a press conference in New Delhi “Incredible India indeed”. HE Dennis Francis, an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and holding deep reverence for him, gave tribute at Rajghat memorial in Delhi and also layed a wreath at the 26/11 memorial in Mumbai.
But what really set the UN PGA’s visit to India apart was his candid words and his passion for rebuilding multilateral trust and reigniting global solidarity – a critical role that he envisions India can play as a reliable, highly respected and valued member of the UN System. The UN PGA sees India as a leader in many ways having the capacity to repair the trust deficient in a deeply divided UN membership. During his interactions with the press, the UN PGA focused on this and other key issues, elaborating on them in a straightforward and honest way:
Towards Peace
The UN PGA explained that the world has underinvested in peace. Stating that development is not possible without peace and peace is a decision, he said that, “when member states decide to violate the UN Charter, it is a decision.” At the same time the world must understand that the “UN is not the police. But the [International] System needs to be policed.” And the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly are the institutional processes to hold member states accountable. He explained that the UN multilateral system is different from domestic national settings, where you have jails. You can put the person who has committed the crime in jail, but “you cannot put a nation in prison in the international system.” The only mechanisms available to the UN to hold member states accountable are ‘UN Resolutions’ and ‘Sanctions’. Once a UN Resolution is passed, it has the force of law. When a country decides to violate these resolutions, the UN cannot put them in jail. In reality “There is no jail” he exclaimed. The expectation of the international system is that the member state will comply with the UN Resolution, because each member state took the membership themselves. No one forced them. And in international relations, no country wants to be isolated. No country wants to be seen to be destroying the system. Thus he stated that its “not a perfect system, but we do not live in a perfect world.”
And that is why HE Dennis Francis often invokes the dictum of Mahatma Gandhi – ‘there is no way to peace. Peace is the way.’ As the world’s largest democracy, with 1/4th of humanity, where unity and diversity have endured for many years, peace and multilateralism is something he believes India embodies and can relate to very easily.
UNSC Reforms
The President of the General Assembly (PGA) emphasized the critical need for reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), describing the current setup as reflective of the post-World War II era, and no longer fit for to- day’s global challenges. The PGA stressed that the structure must evolve to repre- sent the modern geopolitical landscape, citing widespread dissatisfaction within the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and among the global population over the UNSC’s inefficacies. Despite unanimous agreement on the necessity for reform, achieving consensus among member states remains challenging, particularly with current powers showing reluctance to alter the status quo. The PGA mentioned that discussions are ongoing, with five potential reform strategies being considered, highlighting that any change to the UN Charter requires careful consideration, given its foundational role in the international system.
Summit of the Future
Looking ahead, the PGA outlined plans for the Summit of the Future in 2024, aiming to establish a foundation for more effective global multilateralism. The summit is set to focus on adapting to new technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, and addressing the significant digital divide, as exemplified by the lack of internet access The summit will develop new frameworks for the 3 core pillars of the UN Peace and Security, Sustainable Development, and Human Rights— with a particular emphasis on youth involvement in shaping future policies. Highlighting the urgent need to combat climate change, the PGA warned of the planet transitioning from global warming to “glob- al boiling,” calling for innovative, youth-led solutions to forge a sustainable path forward.
In the face of mounting global challenges, the PGA’s vision of charting new pathways to a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world for everyone, everywhere is significant. The UN above all else has a voice, and UN PGA made his voice heard in India.
