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The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in global diplomacy, with leaders from around the world coming together to address the urgent issues facing the international community. The session officially begins in September 2024 and will run until September 2025, with the highly anticipated General Debate set to take place from September 17-24, 2024. As the only body of the UN where all 193 member states have equal representation, the General Assembly provides a unique forum for discussions on global challenges and opportunities.

Key Issues on the Agenda

This year’s session comes at a time of profound geopolitical and environmental uncertainty, and the agenda reflects that reality. While the UNGA always tackles a wide range of topics, this session will be especially focused on five core areas: geopolitical conflicts, climate change, public health, sustainable development, and global inequality.

Geopolitical Conflicts and Peacekeeping:

The Ukraine-Russia War will likely dominate the conversation as the conflict shows no signs of abating. Diplomatic efforts will focus on finding peaceful resolutions and mitigating the humanitarian disaster that the war has caused.

Another area of intense focus will be the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly the situation in Gaza, where escalating violence continues to take a heavy toll on civilians. Expect debates over the implementation of long-standing UN Security Council resolutions aimed at a two-state solution.

Sudan’s civil war, and conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan will also feature prominently as the UN seeks to coordinate international efforts to address these humanitarian crises.

Climate Change and Environmental Action:

Climate change remains a top priority for the UN, especially following the COP28 Summit held earlier in 2024. This session will focus on accelerating global climate action, including new commitments to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy.

Another major agenda item will be the financial support needed to help developing countries adapt to climate change. Wealthier nations will be asked to step up their commitments to climate finance as part of broader discussions on environmental justice.

Public Health:

While the world is moving on from the immediate crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-term impact on global health systems remains a concern. Expect discussions on how to strengthen public health infrastructure, improve vaccine distribution equity, and ensure global preparedness for future pandemics.

The role of global institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO) will also be examined to ensure that they are fit for purpose in responding to future health emergencies.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

As the 2030 deadline for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals draws closer, this session will assess global progress. The pandemic significantly delayed many countries’ efforts to achieve the 17 SDGs, and there will be a strong push for renewed commitments to end poverty, improve education, and reduce inequality.

Food security will also be a critical topic, with leaders discussing how to address hunger in regions affected by conflict, drought, and economic instability.

Global Inequality:

Economic disparities between developed and developing nations will take center stage as nations debate ways to ensure a fairer distribution of resources. Debt relief for the most vulnerable countries and increased development aid will likely be key issues.

Reforms to global economic governance, including changes to trade policies and international financial institutions, will also be discussed as part of a broader effort to create a more just and equitable world.

Digital Governance and Technological Advancements

As artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies transform the global economy, there will be an urgent need for new frameworks to govern their use. The UNGA will likely focus on regulating the ethical use of AI and protecting countries from cybersecurity threats. Discussions on digital governance will aim to balance innovation with responsible oversight to prevent the misuse of these powerful technologies.

Reforming Global Institutions

A longstanding debate that will return during the 79th session is the reform of global institutions, particularly the UN Security Council (UNSC). Many countries argue that the UNSC, with its current structure of five permanent members, does not reflect the geopolitical realities of the 21st century. There will be calls for reforms to make the UNSC more inclusive, particularly for regions like Africa and South Asia, which currently lack permanent representation.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), established in 1945, was designed to be the primary body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. However, despite its mandate and considerable powers, the UNSC has often faced criticism for its inability to resolve several longstanding and serious disputes.

One such failure is the Kashmir dispute between Pakistan, India, and China. The UNSC passed Resolution 47 in 1948, calling for a plebiscite to allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine their future. However, this resolution remains unimplemented to this day, with both India and Pakistan maintaining opposing stances, while India has repeatedly rejected the idea of a plebiscite. The continued tension in the region underscores the UNSC’s inability to mediate and enforce its own resolutions, leading to decades of instability.

Similarly, the Palestine-Israel conflict has seen numerous UNSC resolutions calling for peace, recognition of Palestinian rights, and a two-state solution. Israel’s refusal to comply with resolutions such as Resolution 242, which demands Israel’s withdrawal from territories occupied in the 1967 war, has stymied any meaningful progress toward peace. The recent Gaza genocide and Israeli aggression further illustrate the UNSC’s paralysis in the face of flagrant violations of international law. Israel’s continued occupation and expansion of settlements are blatant rejections of UNSC’s authority, yet the council has failed to take effective measures.

Another glaring example is the Ukraine-Russia war, which erupted in 2022. The UNSC has been unable to effectively intervene due to the veto power of Russia, a permanent member of the council. This has rendered the UNSC ineffective in stopping the war, mediating peace, or holding accountable those responsible for the destruction and human suffering caused by the conflict.

In these and other cases, the UNSC’s structural limitations, including the veto power held by its five permanent members, have often led to gridlock and inaction. Countries like Israel and India have openly disregarded UNSC resolutions, undermining the council’s credibility. The failure to implement its resolutions, which are meant to be binding, exposes the weaknesses within the global governance system, particularly in the face of powerful nations or vested interests.

The UNSC’s inability to resolve these critical disputes has raised questions about its effectiveness and fairness, with calls for reform growing louder. Many believe that the council needs to be restructured to reflect the realities of modern geopolitics, where influential regional actors and new powers should have a greater role, and the veto power needs to be reconsidered to avoid perpetual deadlock.

Pakistan’s role and contribution to the UN:

Pakistan has long been a key player within the United Nations, particularly in the areas of peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, where its contributions have been both substantial and impactful. As one of the largest contributors of peacekeeping troops, Pakistan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to global peace and security. Since its first deployment in Congo in 1960, Pakistan has participated in over 40 UN peacekeeping missions, sending more than 200,000 troops to conflict zones across the world. Pakistani peacekeepers have earned widespread respect for their professionalism and dedication, serving in some of the most challenging environments, including Sudan, Haiti, Somalia, and Congo.

This commitment is a reflection of Pakistan’s long-standing belief in the principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly in promoting peace, security, and stability. Pakistani forces have not only helped in maintaining peace but have also actively participated in reconstruction efforts, providing humanitarian aid, rebuilding infrastructure, and supporting local communities.

Pakistan’s role goes beyond peacekeeping. It has been a strong advocate for humanitarian causes on various global platforms, offering assistance in the form of medical aid, relief during natural disasters, and support for displaced populations. Pakistan’s humanitarian efforts are recognized globally, and its contributions have often been a beacon of hope for nations in crisis.

This significant contribution on the global stage highlights Pakistan as a responsible and mature nation, fully aware of its international responsibilities. Despite its own economic and security challenges, Pakistan has consistently prioritized its role in promoting global peace and serving humanity. This underscores the country’s positive image in the international community, as a nation committed to supporting multilateralism, global peace, and sustainable development.

By sending troops to peacekeeping missions and extending humanitarian assistance across continents, Pakistan reinforces its stance as a country that not only strives for peace at home but also dedicates itself to promoting peace and stability globally. The country’s dedication to peacekeeping and humanitarian causes serves as an exemplary model of Pakistan’s services to humankind and solidifies its standing as an indispensable partner in the United Nations mission for global peace.

This legacy of responsible participation further strengthens Pakistan’s voice in global discussions, including in key forums such as the UN General Assembly. As the 79th session of the UNGA progresses, Pakistan’s active engagement, rooted in decades of experience and service, will be a reminder of its essential role in addressing global challenges and fostering international cooperation for a better and more peaceful world.

Recommendations for Reforming the United Nations Structure

The United Nations (UN) was created in 1945 to prevent conflicts, promote peace, and uphold international law. However, over time, the organization’s effectiveness has been questioned due to various structural issues, especially within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The UNSC, dominated by a few powerful countries, is increasingly seen as not fully representative of the modern, multi-polar world. To make the UN more functional, inclusive, and effective, some key reforms are necessary.

1. Expanding the UNSC: Including Africa and the Muslim World

The current composition of the UNSC reflects a power structure rooted in the post-World War II era. The permanent members (P5)—the US, UK, Russia, China, and France—do not accurately represent today’s global dynamics. Countries from the Muslim world and Africa are notably absent, despite their significant population sizes and geopolitical importance.

To make the UNSC more equitable and representative, it’s crucial to expand the council by granting permanent seats to African nations and Muslim-majority countries. This would ensure a more balanced global perspective, considering these regions have often been overlooked or marginalized in international decision-making. Their inclusion as permanent members with veto powers would also recognize their growing role in global affairs and contribute to a more inclusive international system.

2. Strengthening the UN’s Authority to Implement Decisions

A significant challenge for the UN has been its inability to enforce its own decisions. Examples include the unresolved Kashmir conflict, the ongoing Israel-Palestine dispute, and the Russia-Ukraine war. The lack of enforcement power has rendered many of the UN’s resolutions ineffective.

To address this, the UN should be empowered to take coercive action, including the use of military force, when necessary, to implement its resolutions. This should be done fairly and transparently, ensuring that any use of force is in line with international law and aims to maintain peace and security.

3. Preventing Domination by Powerful Nations

The UNSC’s permanent members, with their veto powers, often use the council to advance their own national interests rather than global peace. This leads to an imbalance of power, where resolutions critical to global peace and justice are frequently blocked by a single nation’s veto.

To counter this, reforms are needed to limit the use of the veto, particularly in cases involving humanitarian crises or violations of international law. This would prevent any one country from using its veto to protect its interests at the expense of global peace.

4. Ensuring the UN’s Independence

For the UN to remain neutral and not be used as a tool for political coercion, the organization must implement safeguards that prevent undue influence from any one country or group. These could include:

Rotating the presidency of the UNSC more frequently among a larger pool of member states, particularly those from developing nations.

Ensuring that key leadership positions within the UN are filled based on merit rather than political favor or external pressure.

5. Strengthening the Role of the General Assembly

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) represents all member states, yet its role is often secondary to the UNSC in critical matters of peace and security. Since the UNGA offers a more democratic forum where all countries have a voice, its influence should be enhanced.

Strengthening the UNGA’s role would ensure a broader and more inclusive approach to decision-making, reducing the concentration of power in the hands of a few nations and promoting a more balanced approach to global governance.

6. Addressing Historical Injustices: Representation for Africa and the Muslim World

Africa and the Muslim world have historically been victims of colonization, exploitation, and conflict—often due to external interventions. The UN must recognize these injustices and take steps to address them. By giving these regions a more prominent voice in the UNSC and other UN bodies, the organization can help promote fair and just solutions to their challenges.

Representation in the decision-making process is critical to ensuring that the unique perspectives and interests of these regions are heard and considered in global affairs.

7. Comprehensive Reforms for a More Effective UN

The UN needs institutional reforms to enhance its effectiveness. These reforms could include:

Fairer allocation of resources, ensuring that peacekeeping missions, humanitarian efforts, and development projects receive the necessary support.

Improving accountability mechanisms to ensure that UN decisions are properly implemented and that those responsible for upholding them are held to account.

Strengthening the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and ensuring that its rulings are respected, particularly in cases where the UNSC fails to act.

The United Nations was founded with the noble goal of maintaining peace and security around the world. However, to meet the challenges of the modern world, the UN must evolve. Expanding the UNSC to include permanent members from Africa and the Muslim world, empowering the organization to enforce its decisions, and reforming the way the UN functions will help it remain relevant and effective in today’s complex geopolitical environment. These reforms are essential if the UN is to fulfill its original mission of promoting global peace, justice, and security for all.

第79届联合国大会(UNGA)正在成为全球外交的关键时刻，来自世界各地的领导人齐聚一堂，解决国际社会面临的紧迫问题。本届会议于2024年9月正式开始，将持续到2025年9月，备受期待的一般性辩论将于2024年9月17日至24日举行。作为联合国唯一一个193个成员国均享有平等代表权的机构，大会为讨论全球挑战和机遇提供了一个独特的论坛。

议程上的关键问题

今年的会议是在地缘政治和环境具有深刻不确定性的时期举行的，议程反映了这一现实。虽然联合国大会总是处理广泛的议题，但本届会议将特别侧重于五个核心领域:地缘政治冲突、气候变化、公共卫生、可持续发展和全球不平等。

地缘政治冲突与维和:

乌克兰-俄罗斯战争很可能会成为话题的焦点，因为冲突没有显示出减弱的迹象。外交努力将集中于寻求和平解决方案和减轻战争造成的人道主义灾难。

另一个高度关注的领域将是以色列-巴勒斯坦冲突，特别是加沙局势，那里不断升级的暴力继续给平民造成严重伤亡。可以预见，围绕联合国安理会旨在两国解决方案的长期决议的实施将引发辩论。

苏丹内战以及叙利亚、也门和阿富汗的冲突也将成为联合国寻求协调国际努力以解决这些人道主义危机的重要议题。

气候变化与环境行动:

气候变化仍然是联合国的首要任务，特别是在2024年早些时候举行的COP28峰会之后。本次会议将重点讨论加速全球气候行动，包括减少碳排放和促进可再生能源的新承诺。

另一个主要议程项目将是帮助发展中国家适应气候变化所需的资金支持。作为更广泛的环境正义讨论的一部分，富国将被要求加大对气候融资的承诺。

公共卫生:

虽然世界正在摆脱COVID-19大流行的直接危机，但其对全球卫生系统的长期影响仍然令人担忧。预计将讨论如何加强公共卫生基础设施、改善疫苗分配的公平性以及确保全球为未来的大流行做好准备。

还将审查世界卫生组织(世卫组织)等全球机构的作用，以确保它们在应对未来的突发卫生事件方面能够胜任。

可持续发展目标(SDGs):

随着2030年联合国可持续发展目标的最后期限越来越近，本届会议将评估全球进展。疫情严重推迟了许多国家实现17项可持续发展目标的努力，各方将大力推动重新作出承诺，消除贫困、改善教育和减少不平等。

粮食安全也将是一个重要议题，各国领导人将讨论如何解决受冲突、干旱和经济不稳定影响地区的饥饿问题。

全球不平等:

随着各国就如何确保更公平地分配资源展开辩论，发达国家和发展中国家之间的经济差距将成为人们关注的焦点。最脆弱国家的债务减免和增加发展援助可能是关键问题。

双方还将讨论全球经济治理改革，包括贸易政策和国际金融机构的改革，作为创造一个更加公正和公平的世界的更广泛努力的一部分。

数字治理与技术进步

随着人工智能(AI)和其他数字技术改变全球经济，迫切需要新的框架来管理它们的使用。联合国大会可能将重点关注规范人工智能的道德使用和保护各国免受网络安全威胁。关于数字治理的讨论旨在平衡创新与负责任的监督，以防止滥用这些强大的技术。

改革全球机构

在第79届联大期间，一个长期存在的争论将再次出现，那就是全球机构的改革，尤其是联合国安理会(UNSC)。许多国家认为，目前由五个常任理事国组成的联合国安理会不能反映21世纪的地缘政治现实。人们将呼吁进行改革，使联合国安理会更具包容性，特别是对非洲和南亚等目前缺乏常任理事国席位的地区。

联合国安理会(UNSC)成立于1945年，旨在成为负责维护国际和平与安全的主要机构。然而，尽管联合国安理会拥有授权和相当大的权力，但它经常因无法解决一些长期存在的严重争端而受到批评。

1948年，联合国安理会通过了第47号决议，呼吁举行公民投票，让查谟和克什米尔人民决定自己的未来。然而，这项决议至今仍未得到执行，印度和巴基斯坦都持反对立场，而印度则一再拒绝举行公民投票的想法。该地区持续的紧张局势凸显了联合国安理会在调解和执行其决议方面的无能，导致了数十年的不稳定。

同样，在巴以冲突中，联合国安理会通过了许多决议，呼吁和平，承认巴勒斯坦人的权利，以及两国解决方案。以色列拒绝遵守242号决议等要求以色列从1967年战争中占领的领土撤出的决议，阻碍了任何有意义的和平进展。最近加沙的种族灭绝和以色列的侵略进一步表明，安理会面对公然违反国际法的行为束手无策。以色列继续占领和扩建定居点是对安理会权威的公然蔑视，但安理会未能采取有效措施。

另一个明显的例子是2022年爆发的乌克兰-俄罗斯战争。由于常任理事国俄罗斯的否决权，联合国安理会一直无法进行有效的干预。这使得联合国安理会在制止战争、调解和平或追究那些应对冲突造成的破坏和人类苦难负责的人的责任方面无能为力。

在这些和其他情况下，联合国安理会的结构限制，包括五个常任理事国拥有的否决权，经常导致僵局和无所作为。像以色列和印度这样的国家公然无视联合国安理会的决议，破坏了安理会的信誉。未能执行其本应具有约束力的决议，暴露了全球治理体系的弱点，特别是在面对强国或既得利益集团时。

联合国安理会无法解决这些关键争端，这引发了对其有效性和公平性的质疑，要求改革的呼声越来越高。许多人认为，安理会需要进行改组，以反映现代地缘政治的现实，有影响力的区域行动者和新兴大国应该发挥更大的作用，需要重新考虑否决权，以避免永久僵局。

巴基斯坦对联合国的作用和贡献:

巴基斯坦长期以来一直是联合国内部的一个关键角色，特别是在维持和平和人道主义援助领域，它在这些领域作出了大量和有影响的贡献。作为维持和平部队最大的派遣国之一，巴基斯坦一贯表现出对全球和平与安全的承诺。自1960年首次在刚果部署以来，巴基斯坦参加了40多项联合国维和行动，向世界各地的冲突地区派遣了20多万名士兵。巴基斯坦维和人员在苏丹、海地、索马里和刚果等一些最具挑战性的环境中服役，他们的专业精神和奉献精神赢得了广泛的尊重。

这一承诺反映了巴基斯坦长期以来对《联合国宪章》原则的信念，特别是对促进和平、安全与稳定原则的信念。巴基斯坦军队不仅帮助维持和平，而且还积极参与重建工作，提供人道主义援助，重建基础设施，并支持当地社区。

巴基斯坦的作用不仅仅是维持和平。它一直在各种全球平台上大力倡导人道主义事业，以医疗援助、自然灾害期间的救济和支持流离失所人口的形式提供援助。巴基斯坦的人道主义努力得到了全球的认可，它的贡献常常成为处于危机中的国家的希望灯塔。

这一在全球舞台上的重大贡献凸显了巴基斯坦是一个负责任和成熟的国家，充分意识到自己的国际责任。尽管巴基斯坦自身面临着经济和安全方面的挑战，但它始终把促进全球和平和为人类服务的作用放在首位。这凸显了中国致力于支持多边主义、全球和平和可持续发展的积极形象。

通过向维和任务派遣部队和向各大洲提供人道主义援助，巴基斯坦加强了其作为一个不仅在国内争取和平，而且致力于促进全球和平与稳定的国家的立场。该国致力于维持和平和人道主义事业，是巴基斯坦为人类服务的典范，巩固了其作为联合国全球和平使命中不可或缺的伙伴的地位。

这种负责任参与的传统进一步加强了巴基斯坦在全球讨论中的发言权，包括在联合国大会等重要论坛上的发言权。随着第79届联合国大会的进展，巴基斯坦基于几十年的经验和服务的积极参与将提醒人们，巴基斯坦在应对全球挑战和促进国际合作以建设一个更美好、更和平的世界方面发挥着重要作用。

关于改革联合国结构的建议

联合国(UN)成立于1945年，旨在防止冲突，促进和平，维护国际法。然而，随着时间的推移，由于各种结构性问题，特别是在联合国安理会(UNSC)内部，该组织的有效性受到了质疑。由少数几个强国主导的联合国安理会，越来越被视为不能完全代表现代多极世界。为使联合国更具功能性、包容性和有效性，有必要进行一些关键改革。

扩大联合国安理会:包括非洲和穆斯林世界

联合国安理会目前的构成反映了一种根植于二战后时代的权力结构。五个常任理事国——美国、英国、俄罗斯、中国和法国——并不能准确地代表当今的全球动态。来自穆斯林世界和非洲的国家明显缺席，尽管它们的人口规模和地缘政治重要性都很大。

为了使联合国安理会更加公平和更具代表性，至关重要的是扩大安理会，向非洲国家和穆斯林占多数的国家授予常任理事国席位。考虑到这些区域在国际决策中经常被忽视或边缘化，这将确保更平衡的全球观点。它们被接纳为拥有否决权的常任理事国也将承认它们在全球事务中日益增长的作用，并有助于建立一个更具包容性的国际体系。

加强联合国执行决定的权力

联合国面临的一个重大挑战是，它无法执行自己的决定。例子包括未解决的克什米尔冲突、正在进行的以色列-巴勒斯坦争端以及俄罗斯-乌克兰战争。由于缺乏执行权，联合国的许多决议都是无效的。

为了解决这个问题，联合国应该被授权采取强制行动，包括在必要时使用军事力量，以执行其决议。这应该公平、透明地进行，确保任何使用武力的行为都符合国际法，并以维护和平与安全为目的。

防止强国的统治

拥有否决权的联合国安理会常任理事国经常利用安理会来推进自己的国家利益，而不是全球和平。这导致了权力的不平衡，对全球和平与正义至关重要的决议经常被一个国家的否决权所阻止。

为了解决这一问题，需要进行改革以限制否决权的使用，特别是在涉及人道主义危机或违反国际法的情况下。这将防止任何一个国家使用否决权以牺牲全球和平为代价来保护自己的利益。

确保联合国的独立性

为了使联合国保持中立，不被用作政治胁迫的工具，该组织必须实施保障措施，防止任何一个国家或集团施加不当影响。这些可能包括:

让更多的成员国，特别是发展中国家，更频繁地轮流担任联合国安理会主席。

确保联合国内部关键领导职位的人选基于才干，而不是政治支持或外部压力。

加强大会的作用

联合国大会代表所有会员国，但在和平与安全的关键问题上，其作用往往次于联合国安理会。联合国大会是一个更加民主的论坛，所有国家都有发言权，因此应提高其影响力。

加强联合国大会的作用将确保更广泛和更具包容性的决策方式，减少权力集中在少数国家手中，促进更平衡的全球治理方式。

解决历史的不公正:代表非洲和穆斯林世界

非洲和穆斯林世界在历史上一直是殖民、剥削和冲突的受害者——通常是由于外部干预。联合国必须认识到这些不公正现象，并采取措施加以解决。通过在联合国安理会和其他联合国机构中给予这些地区更突出的发言权，本组织可以帮助促进公平和公正地解决这些地区面临的挑战。

决策过程中的代表权对于确保这些地区的独特观点和利益在全球事务中得到倾听和考虑至关重要。

全面改革以提高联合国的效率

联合国需要进行机构改革，以提高其效力。这些改革可包括:

更公平地分配资源，确保维和行动、人道主义工作和发展项目得到必要的支持。

完善问责机制，确保联合国决定得到妥善执行，并确保负责维护这些决定的人受到问责。

加强国际法院(ICJ)并确保其裁决得到尊重，特别是在联合国安理会未能采取行动的情况下。

联合国成立的崇高目标是维护世界各地的和平与安全。然而，为了应对现代世界的挑战，联合国必须不断发展。将联合国安理会扩大到包括非洲和穆斯林世界的常任理事国，赋予该组织执行其决定的权力，并改革联合国的职能方式，将有助于它在当今复杂的地缘政治环境中保持相关性和有效性。

(  注意： 本文是用AI翻译的，或有误差。请以原版英文为准。谢谢。)

Reference Link:- https://strafasia.com/the-79th-session-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly-and-pakistan/#comment-45808