The United Nations (UN) is a testament and foundation of global cooperation where peace is possible for all. As the one and only biggest intergovernmental organization across the globe, what strategic roles does the UN perform in the age of disruptions? The UN was founded on the merits and aspirations of preventing another World War; eventually, World War II prospered. The UN came into force in 1945 after the failed attempt by the “League of Nations.”
Given today’s geopolitical landscapes, the modern world witnessed breakthroughs from the Israel-Hamas war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and China’s militarization of the South China Sea, including the friction between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF); Myanmar’s junta situation; the Tigrayan rebels against Ethiopian federal forces; Haitian gang violence; Venezuela’s questionable Maduro presidency; and the fall of Bangladesh Prime Minister, among others.
In any case, an issue is brought to the UN Security Council, which is composed of permanent members, namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Their veto power is the greatest barrier. The extraordinary feature of the Security Council is that the abstain of a permanent member country will not allow the passage of a resolution. This means that if one permanent member does not feel confident about a certain issue of global interest, the Security Council cannot proceed to make an intervention.
Obviously, these permanent member countries, in one way or another, have their national interests in many conflicts across the world. It can be observed that member nations should submit themselves together in unison, not otherwise. Only then may the UN, in its council or subsidiary organs, intervene, understanding that both parties are willing to comply with the final resolution immediately. As a matter of protocol, the view on the sovereignty of each member state further exempts some countries from being liable for any conflicts that impact the global community.
The United Nations diplomacy is an international norm applicable only to those who recognize it despite being a member state. The International Court of Justice (ICJ, or World Court) is a civil tribunal for member states, while the ICC is a criminal tribunal that prosecutes state actors or individuals from the member states. The ICJ is the only international court that adjudicates general disputes between nations and gives advisory opinions on international legal issues.
During the 52nd session of the UN General Assembly, the body decided to convene a diplomatic conference to finalize and create the establishment of an international criminal court. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) came into existence. UN member states signed the ICC rules of procedure and the mechanisms for their cooperation. This further pointed out that any member state should submit itself to future cases before the tribunal when they happen. Ironically, there are countries that have not signed because they don’t want to be subjected by the ICC or UN diplomacy to future conflicts that may arise. Issues that threaten peace across the world, included in the Rome Statute, are murder, rape, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, enslavement, and particularly for women and children, sexual slavery, torture, apartheid, and deportation.
As the United Nations turns 79 years old this October, conflicts and war crimes have prospered in various disparities across continents, cultures, and even peoples. The United Nations’ diplomacy must be the greatest force in preventing conflicts across the world. Sovereignty is one aspect that can prevent multilateral or bilateral diplomacy from intervening on issues between two or more nations; this further includes domestic concerns. The major role of the United Nations must be the fulfillment of peace, so conflicts will certainly be resolved.