Dear friends,

Last month I attended one of the most fraught United Nations General Assembly high-level weeks in recent memory. While leaders from over 150 countries came to New York, we cannot ignore the fact our multilateral system stands at a precipice.

I have spent many years working at the United Nations. I have witnessed first-hand the incredible gains it has enabled, from the disputes it has peacefully resolved, often behind-the-scenes, to the unprecedented reductions in poverty, the eradication of smallpox or the recovery of the ozone layer. International cooperation is without a doubt a powerful tool. No state stands to benefit from its collapse.

I am a firm believer in the multilateral system, but I am not a propagandist for it. While I support all that the UN has achieved, it is now in desperate and urgent need of reform. This was a widespread belief from attendees at UNGA and a central theme in discussions. We must take it seriously. The world cannot afford another round of superficial, half-hearted reforms that would only embolden those who reject multilateralism and international norms, and who would prefer a return to a might-is-right approach.

This point of view is not sacrilegious. Those who believe in multilateralism have a duty to critique it. Only through honest reflection can institutions like the UN remain effective and evolve with the times. When its supporters fall silent, its opponents will define the narrative – as they have done – and seek to dismantle it.

While the current situation might feel unsettling, it is an opportunity to build a more modern and representative system. We must not cling on to what was, but shape what must be. Such a thing is not an easy feat, but it is a necessary one.

To build a truly resilient multilateral system, we must address the outdated processes that make it fragile. The rules of negotiation, for example, are in desperate need of updating. The idea that ‘nothing is agreed until everything is agreed’ makes it almost impossible to secure incremental progress. Similarly, the consensus rule allows a single member to block collective action, even when the vast majority are in favour.

These outdated practices paralyse decision-making at a time when the UN needs to be more agile and responsive.

Something else we must examine is the role of the Secretary-General. Today the position is too constrained by political caution and beholden to the very governments it is meant to hold accountable. It has steered increasingly further from the UN’s founding vision of an independent and dynamic international mediator. Reinstating this role to its full potential is essential if the UN is to regain credibility and resilience.

The Elders’ recently published policy position paper, 'Global cooperation in a fragmented world', goes into more detail on recommendations of how multilateral cooperation can be built back stronger. But one thing must be clear: we must move beyond a multilateral system held hostage to unilateral interests, that collapses when a single country pulls back.

The world needs a coalition of the willing, prepared to defend and reinvigorate global cooperation when it is needed. Even as others turn away from it, those still committed to collective solutions must step up. As we have seen with the Pandemic Accord – meaningful progress is still possible even when some of the world’s most powerful countries choose not to take their seat at the table.

By demonstrating leadership through action this coalition can help rebuild trust in these systems. Global solidarity is not a relic of the past but the only viable path forward.

With thanks for your ongoing support,

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein