Guterres says UN's founding principles under "unprecedented attack"
6/26/2025 8:18:46 PM
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday condemned unprecedented "attacks" on the principles of the United Nations, in a speech marking the 80th anniversary of the signing of the organization's founding charter.
"Let us be clear: today, we are witnessing attacks on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations on an unprecedented scale," Guterres told member states.
He pointed to "the threat or use of force against sovereign states, violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, the exploitation of food and water, and the erosion of human rights," without naming any party responsible for these violations.
Guterres continued, "We are also observing a familiar pattern: adhering to the Charter when it suits us, and ignoring it when it doesn't. The UN Charter is not optional. It is not an a la carte menu."
He also said, "We cannot normalize these violations of the Charter's fundamental principles."
"Let us be clear: today, we are witnessing attacks on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations on an unprecedented scale," Guterres told member states.
He pointed to "the threat or use of force against sovereign states, violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, the exploitation of food and water, and the erosion of human rights," without naming any party responsible for these violations.
Guterres continued, "We are also observing a familiar pattern: adhering to the Charter when it suits us, and ignoring it when it doesn't. The UN Charter is not optional. It is not an a la carte menu."
He also said, "We cannot normalize these violations of the Charter's fundamental principles."