ASIATODAY.ID, NEW YORK – The United Nations Secretary-General has issued a stark warning to the world: the global rule of law is rapidly giving way to the “law of the jungle.”
Speaking at a high-level open debate of the UN Security Council on Monday, António Guterres urged world powers to urgently recommit to international law as the backbone of peace, justice, and multilateral cooperation.
The debate, convened under Somalia’s presidency of the Council for January, comes at a moment of escalating global conflicts, rising geopolitical tensions, and declining trust in international institutions—ironically as the United Nations marks 80 years since the adoption of its founding Charter.
“The rule of law is a cornerstone of global peace and security,” Guterres said, calling it “the beating heart of the UN Charter.”
For eight decades, he noted, the UN Charter—alongside the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions, and other foundational legal instruments—has helped humanity avert another world war and limit the human cost of conflict.
Open Defiance of International Law
Yet today, those commitments are increasingly ignored.
“Around the world, the rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle,” the Secretary-General warned.
He cited flagrant violations of the UN Charter and international law, including the illegal use of force, attacks on civilian infrastructure, widespread human rights abuses, and the obstruction of life-saving humanitarian aid.
From Gaza to Ukraine and beyond, Guterres said international law is being treated as an “à la carte menu”—with States selectively choosing which rules to follow and which to discard.
Such behavior, he cautioned, fuels impunity, sets dangerous precedents, and steadily erodes trust among nations.
A Lifeline for the Weak, a Guardrail for the Powerful
For smaller and less-powerful countries—especially those burdened by historical injustice and colonial legacies—international law remains a vital lifeline, Guterres stressed.
It promises equal treatment, sovereignty, dignity, and justice.
For powerful States, by contrast, international law serves as a guardrail, defining what is acceptable—and what is not—during moments of disagreement, division, or outright conflict.
He underscored the unique role of the Security Council, the only UN body empowered by the Charter to issue decisions binding on all Member States and to authorize the use of force.
“Its responsibility is singular. Its obligation is universal,” he said.
Three Urgent Priorities
Looking ahead, the UN chief outlined three critical priorities to restore respect for international law.
First, he urged States to honor their Charter obligations—resolving disputes peacefully, protecting human rights, and respecting the sovereign equality of all nations.
Second, he called for renewed investment in peaceful dispute-resolution mechanisms, including negotiation, mediation, judicial settlement, and deeper cooperation with regional organizations. Addressing inequality, exclusion, and underdevelopment, he said, is essential to preventing conflict at its roots.
Third, Guterres emphasized the need for fair, independent judicial processes, encouraging greater reliance on international courts and tribunals, including the International Court of Justice, and stronger support for international criminal justice.
“There can be no sustainable or just peace without accountability,” he concluded.
“The rule of law must prevail.” (AT Network)
Follow Us at Google News and WA Channel