Treaty for the Future

(NB&CL) One of the world 's greatest expectations as we enter 2025 is the dozens of commitments in the "Pact for the Future" - a document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024. It is expected to translate into strong action, creating a breakthrough for multilateralism and global peace.

A call to multilateralism

During the UN General Assembly's High-Level Week in September 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted the "Pact for the Future," a document described by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a landmark agreement, paving the way for the world to move towards "more effective, inclusive, and networked multilateralism."

With over 50 pages and 56 stated objectives, the treaty outlines a vision for multilateral cooperation across a range of top issues facing the world today, including peace and security, sustainable development goals, global governance reform, climate change, gender equality, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital cooperation.

A symbol of peace and sustainable development for the future at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA. Photo: Eduardo Kobra.

“This treaty is the brainchild of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who aims to provide a new and comprehensive blueprint for multilateral reform and cooperation,” said Karen Mathiasen, Director of Projects at the Centre for Global Development (CGD).

Right in the opening provisions of the treaty, the UN General Assembly committed to taking bold, ambitious, swift, equitable, and transformative action to implement the “2030 Agenda” for Sustainable Development and placed poverty eradication at the heart of efforts to achieve that goal.

Among other provisions, world leaders committed to narrowing the funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries, to ensuring that the multilateral trading system continues to be a driver of sustainable development, and to accelerating reforms to the international financial structure to enhance the voice and representation of developing countries.

The General Assembly also committed to reforming the Security Council, acknowledging the urgent need to make the body more representative, inclusive, transparent, effective, efficient, democratic, and accountable.

The “Pact for the Future” also has two annexes. The first annex, entitled “Global Digital Pact,” aims to eliminate all digital divides; promote an inclusive, open, secure, and confidential digital space that respects, protects, and promotes human rights; and enhance international governance of artificial intelligence (AI). The second annex, entitled “Declaration on Future Generations,” sets out a set of guiding principles, commitments, and actions to promote international stability, peace, and security; ensure peaceful, inclusive, and equitable societies while addressing inequalities within and between states, as well as the specific needs of developing countries.

With those provisions, the "Pact for the Future" is seen as a victory, albeit not a huge one, but a turning point for multilateralism. Or, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres put it, this treaty will "bring multilateralism back from the brink of collapse."

Waiting for concrete and decisive actions.

Against the backdrop of escalating wars in the Middle East, ongoing devastating conflicts in Africa and Europe, and growing distrust among Southern Hemisphere member states regarding the failure of the wealthier Northern Hemisphere nations to fulfill previous commitments to combat climate change, hunger, and extreme poverty, the UN's adoption of the "Pact for the Future" represents a crucial effort to address the leading challenges facing humanity.

“Our future is in our own hands,” emphasized former Cameroonian Prime Minister Philemon Yang, who holds the rotating presidency of the UN General Assembly, at the 79th session following the adoption of the Treaty. According to him, this document represents a commitment to addressing immediate crises and laying the foundation for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order for all peoples and nations.

Some notable commitments in the "Pact for the Future"

- End hunger, eliminate food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition.

- Ensure that the multilateral trading system continues to be a driving force for sustainable development.

- Investing in people helps alleviate poverty and strengthen trust and social cohesion.

- Strengthen efforts to build a peaceful, just, and inclusive society.

- Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

- Strengthen action to address climate change.

But for the treaty to truly make a difference, countries must act. Richard Gowan, Director of the UN's International Crisis Group, said : “It’s crucial that UN members put forward a suitable implementation plan for the enforceable parts of the treaty, because we often see world leaders signing seemingly good-sounding commitments at the UN but then failing to fulfill them.”

According to Mr. Gowan, significant efforts will be needed to advance the 56 actions agreed upon in the treaty. This requires not only clearly defining timelines and specific progress targets, but also ensuring a comprehensive review of the treaty through a meeting at the head of state level.

However, member states and other parties interested in ensuring the full implementation of the treaty will have several opportunities to act in the coming months and years. Furthermore, Germany – one of the two sponsoring states of the “Treaty for the Future” – will lead the 80th term of the General Assembly (2025-2026), and a new UN Secretary-General will take office in January 2027, also promises ongoing UN action to promote the realization of the treaty's commitments.

A path to change, offering present and future generations the opportunity to build a more effective, interconnected, and inclusive global governance system, will therefore open up as early as 2025. As German Chancellor Olaf Scholz put it , “if nations do not unite to implement the more than 50 actions of the treaty, not only history… but also young people around the world will judge us.”

Quang Anh

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hiep-uoc-cho-tuong-lai--cot-moc-mo-duong-cho-su-thay-doi-post331229.html