Al Jazeera

The UN General Assembly on Sunday adopted a "Pact for the Future" — a non-binding agreement that Secretary-General António Guterres described as a "step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism."

US News & World Report

The pact contains 56 broad goals that countries pledged to achieve, including peace and security, global governance, digital cooperation, climate change, and sustainable development.

Arab News

Guterres said the pact, adopted without a vote at the Summit of the Future during the 79th UN General Assembly, is an attempt to "bring multilateralism back from the brink."

The Manila Times

Russia attempted to defer the pact's adaptation — which came after nine months of negotiations — and introduced an amendment emphasizing the "principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states."

TASS

Guardian

However, the General Assembly overwhelmingly rejected Russia's amendment and adopted the pact with 143 votes in favor of it and seven against it. 15 countries abstained from voting.

Al Jazeera #

The UN General Assembly on Sunday adopted a "Pact for the Future" — a non-binding agreement that Secretery General António Guterres described as a "step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism."

"We are here to bring multilateralism back from the brink," Guterres added.

The text, adopted at a two-day Summit of the Future that precedes high-level meetings of the UN, includes 56 broad goals that countries pledged to achieve. They included aims on peace and security, global governance, digital cooperation, climate change and sustainable development.

Despite nine months of negotiation, adoption of the pact was delayed by Russia who attempted to introduce a last-minute amendment emphasizing the "principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states."

A vote to reject Russia's amendment got the support of 143 countries while delegations from Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea and Nicaragua, as well as Syria and Sudan, voted against. 15 countries abstained.

Crises across the world have highlighted the need to reform the UN with greater multilateralism to make the body work better for its members. This is a foundational pact that strengthens the institutions of the UN and better prepares it for the challenges of the future.

UN Adopts Pact That Aims to Save Global Cooperation

While this is an ambitious plan to bring much-needed reform to the UN, there is skepticism about whether its non-binding nature will yield the results it promises — namely as UN member states are already violating the UN charter on a daily basis.

UN aims to bring multilateralism back as it adopts Pact for the Future

The text of this pact was not fully agreed before its adoption and did not include key passages that Russia, alongside other countries, called for. As such, Russia is distancing itself from this agreement.

UNGA member countries adopt Pact for the Future, despite Russia’s objection

There's a 50% chance that there will be at least 12 active UN peacekeeping missions in the year 2032, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

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Active UN Peacekeeping Missions

Angela Weiss/AFP/Contributor via Getty Images News

UN Seeks to 'Bring Multilateralism Back' as it Adopts 'Pact for the Future'

Crises worldwide have highlighted the need to reform the UN with greater multilateralism to improve its work for its members. This is a foundational pact that strengthens the UN's institutions and better prepares it for future challenges.

Meetings Coverage and Press Releases

World Leaders Pledge Bold Action to Protect Present, Future Generations amid Climate Crisis, Conflicts Gripping Globe, as General Assembly Adapts Pact for Future

While it's an ambitious plan, there is skepticism about whether its non-binding nature will yield the results it promises, as UN member states are already violating the UN charter on a daily basis.

The text of this pact was not fully agreed upon before its adoption, and the UN rejected key amendments that Russia had called for. Since this pact only represents Western interests, Russia will not be a party to this agreement.

There's a 50% chance that there will be at least 12 active UN peacekeeping missions in 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

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