UN Secretary General Research Articles

Towards common ground: Strategies for effective collaboration between the humanitarian and peacebuilding communities

Abstract In an era marked by growing conflicts, prolonged humanitarian needs and less donor funding, collaboration between the humanitarian and peacebuilding sectors is essential for more effective responses. This paper examines the complexities of fostering such collaboration, emphasizing the importance of integrated multisectoral approaches capable of addressing both immediate necessities and long-term peace and development objectives. While recent initiatives such as the humanitarian–development–peace nexus framework and the United Nations Secretary-General's Agenda for Humanity reflect progress toward integrated approaches, substantial collaborative challenges persist. This paper identifies three key entry points for mutual learning between humanitarian and peace actors. Firstly, it discusses a “peace-responsive” approach to humanitarian activities that proactively contributes to “peace-positive” outcomes. Secondly, it emphasizes the need for the peace sector to learn from humanitarian efforts regarding accountability to affected communities. Thirdly, it underscores the need to understand the normative foundations of each sector and their implications for joint action. Drawing on these insights, the paper offers recommendations for policy-makers and practitioners to help them advance joint approaches to humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding in conflict-affected contexts.

DISCRIMINATION POLICIES THAT LEAD TO FORCED MIGRATION: THE QUESTION OF THE BULGARIAN TURKS WITHIN UNITED NATIONS (1988-1989)

On August 21, 1989, Turkey’s decision to close the borders with Bulgaria it was interpreted by the authorities in Ankara as an attempt to force Sofia through dialogue both governments to reach an immigration agreement. Turkey considering itself as the kin state several times tried to sensibilize and prove that ethnic Turks living in Bulgaria experienced continued repression and forced assimilation while Bulgaria perceived those attempts as long-term policy of Turkey in interfering on internal issues of Bulgaria. The confrontations between Turkey and Bulgaria increased with the decision of Turkey to address this problem within United Nations. In the recent academic literature, most of the studies are focused on the internal factors and practices related to the assimilation campaign, for the period 1985-1989. The purpose of this paper, it is to contextualize the arguments used in favor and against internationalization of the question of the Bulgarian Turks through multilateral diplomacy as an instrument used by state authorities in Turkey and Bulgaria. The term Bulgarian Turks it is used in the sense of ethnicity referring to the ethnic Turks living in Bulgaria and having the status of the minority group. In this paper will be analyzed the content of the documents delivered by the Permanent Representatives of Turkey and Bulgaria in UN to the UN Secretary General and UN General Assembly, and the reports of the UN Special Rapporteur appointed in accordance with resolution 1986/20. The paper it is guided by two research questions: What kind of engagement Turkey chose in raising the question of the Bulgarian Turks into UN level? What actions took Bulgaria within UN in negating the accusations for an assimilation campaign?

Leader ideology and state commitment to multilateral treaties

AbstractThe existing literature argues that the left is generally more supportive of multilateralism in foreign policy than the right. However, the impact of ideology on state commitment to multilateral cooperation have not yet been empirically tested adequately. We assess the presence of such a left–right divide on state commitment to multilateral treaties employing an original dataset, containing all the available information about the ratification of the multilateral treaties deposited with the UN Secretary General since 1945. Our results indicate that indeed countries led by left-wing leaders are generally faster at ratifying treaties than those led by right-wing leaders. However, the association between leader ideology and commitment to multilateral treaties is substantially conditioned by regime type and the international context. In fact, we find robust evidence of a significant gap in ratification duration between states led by left-wing and right-wing leaders in democracies but not in other regime types, and during the Cold War but not after. Through such findings, this article provides a contribution to the debate on the impact of ideology on international relations and the drivers of global support for multilateralism.

Microbial Forensics: Comparison of MLVA Results According to NGS Methods, and Forensic DNA Analysis Using MLVA

Microbial forensics is a scientific discipline for analyzing evidence related to biological crimes by identifying the origin of microorganisms. Multiple locus variable number tandem repeat analysis(MLVA) is one of the microbiological analysis methods used to specify subtypes within a species based on the number of tandem repeat in the genome, and advances in next generation sequencing(NGS) technology have enabled <i>in silico</i> anlysis of full-length whole genome sequences. In this paper, we analyzed unknown samples provided by Robert Koch Institute(RKI) through The United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism(UNSGM)’s external quality assessment exercise(EQAE) project, which we officially participated in 2023. We confirmed that the 3 unknown samples were <i>B. anthracis</i> through nucleic acid isolation and genetic sequence analysis studies. MLVA results on 32 loci of <i>B. anthracis</i> were analysed by using genome sequences obtained from NGS(NextSeq and MinION) and Sanger sequencing. The MLVA typing using short-reads based NGS platform(NextSeq) showed a high probability of causing assembly error when a size of the tandem repeats was grater than 200 bp, while long-reads based NGS platform(MinION) showed higher accuracy than NextSeq, although insertion and deletion was observed. We also showed hybrid assembly can correct most indel error caused by MinION. Based on the MLVA results, genetic identification was performed compared to the 2,975 published MLVA databases of <i>B. anthracis</i>, and MLVA results of 10 strains were identical with 3 unkonwn samples. As a result of whole genome alignment of the 10 strains and 3 unknown samples, all samples were identified as <i>B. anthracis</i> strain A4564 which is associated with injectional anthrax isolates in heroin users.

International legal foundations of national security

The article shows that modern national security is inextricably linked with ensuring global security, and also contains a very important legal component in addition to the military component. The primary role in this dual process belongs to the UN, so it is important to assess the position of the UN Secretary General on this issue. The latest Report of the Secretary General presents a new concept of the Rule of Law in international relations. Although the Report unduly focuses on the Rule of Law within States rather than in international relations, the Secretary General’s Report, which analyzes almost all aspects of the Organization’s activities, nevertheless shows effective measures towards strengthening International Law.

Sustainable Development and the Rights of Future Generations in the Iraqi Constitution of 2005: A Comparative Study

It seems we are sleepwalking towards a climate catastrophe," and "The era of global warming has ended, and the era of global boiling has begun," are two quotes from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the first in March 2022 and the latter in July 2023. He warns of countries neglecting their climate commitments and many, both developed and others, not adhering to the implementation of sustainable development plans. Sustainable development is no longer just a term or concept to be added to the field of other terms and concepts; it is an urgent necessity, and neglecting it signals a serious danger. The World Commission on Environment and Development defines it in its 1987 report titled "Our Common Future" presented to the United Nations as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It is clear that the issue of sustainable development is not new or emergent; it was discussed in the 1980s. Nor is it a secondary or marginal issue; it is supported by the United Nations. It is surprising that the Iraqi Constitution of 2005 does not mention sustainable development, even though it was written nearly a quarter-century after the term became widespread. The current constitution refers to the word "development" without specifying its meaning or content, whereas some constitutions, such as the amended Egyptian Constitution of 2014, clearly and explicitly refer to sustainable development and the rights of future generations. Respecting the rights of future generations is one of the most important topics that constitutional lawmakers should include at the core of the constitutional document to grant it both substantive and formal supremacy, giving it the necessary priority and care.

Saving the Earth for Future Generations: Some Reflections

Most legal systems recognize trusteeship functions of individuals or institutions to act on behalf and in the interest of those who cannot legally act for themselves. They can be advanced for the effective protection of future generations and the Earth. Guidance for Earth Trusteeship exist in the form of two agreements created by global civil society, the 2000 Earth Charter and the 2018 Hague Principles. Current opportunities include the UN Secretary General’s call for “repurposing the Trusteeship Council”, the UN Summit of the Future and ongoing developments in many countries towards implementing ecological integrity and rights of nature into their legal systems.

The Evolving Role of the United Nations Secretary General: A Comprehensive Appraisal

The United Nations Secretary-General embodies the aspirations and principles of the international community, serving as a symbol of global unity and advocate for the world's most vulnerable populations. Rooted in the UN Charter, the Secretary-General assumes multifaceted responsibilities spanning administrative, diplomatic, and peacemaking domains. This article provides a historical overview of the Secretary-General's evolution since the inception of the United Nations, delineating the tenure and contributions of each incumbent. Central to the analysis are the core functions of the Secretary-General, including administrative oversight, human resources management, peacekeeping operations, and mediation efforts. Notably, the Secretary-General's authority to address threats to international peace underscores the pivotal role in global security governance. Moreover, the Secretary-General serves as a liaison between the UN organs, world leaders, and member states, facilitating dialogue and consensus-building. Through meticulous examination, this paper elucidates the indispensable role of the Secretary-General in advancing the UN's mission of fostering peace, security, and sustainable development worldwide. Ultimately, it underscores the imperative of collective cooperation among member states to surmount the multifaceted challenges confronting the international community. Keywords: United Nations, Secretary-General, Appraisal of the United Nations, Appraisal of the Secretary-General, and Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Law of the Sea Dispute Settlement in the Eastern Mediterranean with Particular Reference to the Delimitation of Palestine’s Maritime Boundaries: Negotiation, Conciliation, Arbitration, or Adjudication?

Abstract Palestine currently holds contractual relations with 167 States under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. unclos’s dispute settlement mechanisms might vary depending on the process States have opted for. In order to pick a preferred mechanism, a State Party should deposit a declaration with the UN Secretary-General. As it did not file any such declaration, Palestine is deemed to have accepted arbitration by default. However, Palestine can still deposit a declaration to choose other procedures and therefore open the possibility to resort to the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, or a special arbitration. Yet, the neighboring States have different approaches. While Egypt has cast opposition to arbitration regarding boundary delimitation, Israel is not a Party to unclos and does not recognize its settlement mechanisms. How can disputes be resolved? Would conciliation work? What are exit channels? This article answers such questions.

Addressing gender-based violence through social protection: a scoping review

ABSTRACT Development practitioners are searching for novel ways to address gender-based violence (GBV) in the wake of what the UN Secretary General termed a “shadow pandemic” of violence against women (VAW). Social protection systems, which are oriented towards preventing poverty and improving quality of life, contain a wide range of policy tools with potential for addressing GBV, yet their application has been largely underexplored. This paper brings the fields of social protection and GBV together through a comprehensive scoping review and presentation of the “state of the evidence”. The paper moves beyond a focus on standalone programs to synthesise findings on the cross-cutting mechanisms by which the policies, programs, and administrative features of social protection systems can be leveraged to address violence against women in particular. The paper contributes to scholarship and practice by identifying promising entry points and design factors, as well as future directions for an actionable research agenda at the nexus of social protection and GBV prevention and response.

Internalization of Responsibility to Protect (R2P): Responsibility to Invoke ‘Peace from Within’ Afghanistan by the Taliban Regime (2021)

Internalization of Responsibility to Protect (R2P): Responsibility to Invoke ‘Peace from Within’ Afghanistan by the Taliban Regime (2021)

Observational Study on the Creation and Typology of Behavioral Design Units in International Organizations

Recently, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, presented a technical note on behavioral science () and its application by different UN organizations, in order to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Other supranational organizations are also setting up their own «behavioral analysis and design units» or leading specific initiatives. So far, the structure of such behavioral analysis units has not been examined. The aim of our work is to find out, through an observational study of their websites, both the structure of the behavior analysis and design units of supranational organizations and their composition, as well as the main types of projects they carry out and the opportunities and implications created for psychology professionals.

Policy product: Using machine learning to mitigate climate disasters

Climate change induced by human activities is a threat to us all, with consequences for various aspects of life (high temperatures, droughts, fires, floods) and worsening weather conditions. Faced with this situation, it is important to set up early warning systems. These systems, which aim to warn people of impending storms, floods or droughts, are not insignificant. They are an effective tool for saving lives and reducing economic losses and damage caused by meteorological, hydrological and climatic hazards1 . With this in mind, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres launched a global appeal in 2022 for all the world’s inhabitants to be protected by a multi-hazard early warning system (MHEWS) by 2027. Defined as the set of algorithms used to analyse data in order to identify patterns, trends, correlations and other relevant information that improve the decision-making process, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in weather prediction. This article therefore analyses its various implications for risk and disaster prevention, through its contributions to early warning systems.

Analysis and assessment of the quality of economic growth in Ukraine based on international ratings.

To confront the multidimensional challenges and crises of the 21st Century and to bring about transformative changes in the economy, policymakers need a tool that assesses the quality of economic growth in terms of both factors affecting productivity and consequences for people’s livelihoods and the environment. It is recognized that GDP alone is not sufficient to measure progress towards socially and economically inclusive, equitable and sustainable development. On behalf of the UN Secretary General, studies “beyond GDP” are carried out, aimed at updating and supplementing the UN System of National Accounts – 2008. There is also an update of the international organizations approaches to conduct rating studies of the countries based on balanced systems of indicators of well-being and progress, inclusive and sustainable development. The analysis of the results of such studies made it possible to conclude that in the conditions of worsening systemic risks, the assessment of the quality of economic growth in the country requires a comprehensive multidimensional system of indicators. It should cover, in addition to the volume of GDP per capita and the productivity factors, indicators of the quality of human capital, environmental sustainability, the quality of the management system, in particular, the regulatory and legal framework that forms the long-term development trajectory, the business environment and infrastructure, thereby influencing innovativeness, inclusiveness and resilience of society to shocks and threats. To assess the quality of economic growth in Ukraine, an analysis of the country’s position based on indicators of the economic policy impact on innovativeness, inclusiveness, stability and sustainability was carried out using the materials of the Future of Growth Report 2024 and the Sustainable Competitiveness Report 2023. Drivers and obstacles for the balanced development of Ukraine’s economy are identified, especially the low management capacity for changes towards inclusiveness, stability and sustainability. Proposals have been made to expand the range of indicators for evaluating the innovativeness and sustainability of economic growth in Ukraine, in particular for evaluating the results of the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Innovation Activity for the period until 2030.

Legal Challenges in Prosecuting the Crime of Aggression in the Russo-Ukrainian War

Abstract The Russian invasion of Ukraine has opened a debate over how to ensure accountability for the supreme international crime, namely the crime of aggression. Prosecuting the crime of aggression related to Russia’s attack on Ukraine is hampered by the fact that neither country, Russia nor Ukraine, are Member States of the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court (icc) and transferred the crime to its jurisdiction. As a result, this article will examine how and in what ways the crime of aggression may be prosecuted in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war, with a particular emphasis on prosecuting the crime through the icc, domestic courts, or by establishing an ad hoc tribunal. Based on an analysis of the legal aspects of prosecuting the crime of aggression, the article suggests that currently, the most appropriate approach to prosecuting the crime in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war is to establish an international ad hoc tribunal, either through a treaty signed by the United Nations and Ukraine on the basis of a referral from the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Secretary-General or a multilateral treaty between Ukraine and other states supported by the United Nations.

What do experts mean by “misinformation” in the COVID-19 era? A critical scoping review protocol

In April 2020, the World Health Organization released the report Managing the COVID-19 infodemic: A call to action, declaring that “the 2020 pandemic of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) [had] been accompanied by a massive ‘infodemic.’” Soon afterwards UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres tweeted - also alluding to COVID-19 - that “a tsunami of misinformation, scapegoating and scaremongering [had] been unleashed” also in relation to COVID-19. The tweet was followed by a March 2021 report from the Centre for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, warning that “health-related misinformation and disinformation” were undermining the public response to COVID-19, and by a February 2022 US Department of Homeland Security infographic, Disinformation Stops With You”, alerting about the dangers of “misinformation”, “disinformation”, and “malinformation” – dubbed MDM - distinguishing these terms based on the presumed intentionality of the agents producing or spreading them. However, there has been scant interrogation of expert meanings of MDM in the COVID-19 context and of the implications of the premises underlying these meanings for public policy, equity, and civil, social, and political rights. Drawing from the traditions of critical policy, discourse, and document analysis, we will apply Arksey O’Malley’s framework, enhanced by Levac et al.’s team-based approach, to conduct a critical scoping review of the medical and social scientific peer-reviewed literature, identifying, summarizing, and appraising expert meanings of MDM. We will also assess the implications of our findings for the health and well-being of populations affected by policies informed by dominant concepts of MDM.

From Global Warming to Global “Boiling” – UN Secretary General

The steady increase in average global temperatures, both on land and sea, coupled with an increasing frequency of extreme weather events is not only endangering ecosystems but now even threatening plants and animal species. Shrinking glaciers, dry spells, heat waves and forest fires compounded by ever increasing greenhouse gases synergistically escalate the problem. A 0.1°, 0.5°, 1.5° or 2°C rise in temperature may have profound effects. A half a degree or even a few tenths of a degree change may have a dramatic impact – causing dire water shortages, flooding and heat waves. Polar ice caps and coral reefs may be severely impacted by even a 0.5° C rise [1]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that unparalleled climate changes caused by human activity has increased the planet’s temperature by 1.1°C [1].

Convenience or complementarity: the African Union’s partnership with the United Nations in Sudan and South Sudan

ABSTRACT Over the past 20 years, the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) have developed a unique partnership rooted in complementarity, respect and African ownership. To reaffirm this partnership, the United Nations Secretary-General and Chairperson of the African Union (UN) Commission signed a Joint UN-AU framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security in 2017. Nevertheless, despite previous lessons learned, gaps in collaboration and strategic thinking, and oversight exist on the ground between the AU and the UN. Drawing on the case(s) of Sudan and South Sudan to further understand the AU’s partnership with the UN through the lens of complementarity and convenience, the paper arrives at a novel conceptualisation of the AU and UN partnership through their political missions. The paper finds that the AU-UN framework is sporadically implemented, and the AU’s role in the partnership on the ground is one of convenience, whereas, in contrast, the UN’s role is one of complementarity aimed at achieving legitimacy. The paper concludes that both organisations in-country were constrained by the lack of collaboration and synergy, which led to a misalignment of joint priorities, impacting the effectiveness of the partnership.

Commit to the Global South

Vulnerabilities of the world’s least developed countries to health, economic, and environmental crises were recently in the spotlight at a United Nations (UN) conference in Qatar. In March, the Doha Programme of Action was announced as a call for the developed world to renew commitments to support low- and middle-income countries in overcoming major challenges. UN Secretary General António Guterres aptly stated there are “no more excuses.” Such a commitment requires Global North-South and South-South partnerships that harness science and technology and that also empower the South to sustain progress. As a scientist from the Global South who can attest to science’s transformative role in this region of the world, individuals and organizations across sectors and society can play a strong role in supporting such a commitment.

‘Faith for Rights’ in Armed Conflict: Lessons from Practice

Abstract This article examines how the Beirut Declaration and its 18 Commitments on ‘Faith for Rights’ have been implemented in practice since 2017. It focuses on case studies from Afghanistan, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and hypothetical ‘cases to debate’ of the #Faith4Rights toolkit. The latter provides a peer-to-peer learning methodology to share the experiences of faith-based actors in dealing with tensions among human rights and in addressing armed conflicts across the globe. The 2017 Beirut Declaration, and the underlying 2012 Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of incitement to hatred, acknowledge the positive or negative roles of religious leaders and their responsibilities during armed conflict and beyond. These declarations have been considered soft law instruments since they are regularly referred to in reports by the United Nations Secretary-General, High Commissioner, Special Rapporteurs, Treaty Bodies, the European Union and the Council of Europe. Furthermore, social media companies and Meta’s Oversight Board use the Rabat threshold test when making content moderation decisions on Facebook and Instagram, including in situations of armed conflict or in regions that have a recent history of conflict. This article concludes that the #Faith4Rights toolkit provides a rights-based approach for bringing together the two worlds of faith and human rights. Its peer-to-peer learning methodology seeks to reflect and facilitate measurable changes rather than focusing only on inter-religious dialogue as such. It also provides concrete guidance to the—often daunting—task for facilitators of peer-to-peer learning events and for mediators in an armed conflict.