IBA-backed book on UN Charter’s 80 years
The International Bar Association (IBA) has backed the research and publication of a book marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Charter.
The UN Charter: Five Pillars for Humankind explores the origins of the charter, its five fundamental pillars – peace and security, human rights, economic and social progress, international law, and peace-making – and the continuing relevance of these purposes and principles in today’s world.
The authors are Dr Mark Ellis (IBA executive director) and Ambassador David Scheffer (Professor of Practice at Arizona State University).
‘Most important secular document’
They frame the charter as “the most important secular document” and reaffirm its role in upholding the universal principles of human conduct.
They also emphasise the continuing responsibility of signatory nations to honour those values.
In a foreword to the book, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson writes: “Throughout decades of public service at the national and international levels, I have regarded the United Nations Charter as the foundational constitutional document to guide governments, international organisations, and the global populace.
“The fact that the UN charter is sometimes overshadowed in the chaos of daily policy-making across the world, or challenged by sceptics questioning its relevance, does not diminish its significance,” the former president of Ireland adds.
Modern interpretation
As well as outlining the principles enshrined in the charter, the book addresses contemporary issues – climate change, wars of aggression, pandemics, large-scale migration, rising authoritarianism, threats from artificial intelligence (AI), and nuclear proliferation.
The authors argue that, while these may initially appear far removed from the creation of the charter in the 1940s, they should be governed by the same foundational principles.
The authors advocate for a modern interpretation of the charter’s provisions to ensure their continuing relevance when facing these challenges.
“The United Nations Charter remains the foundational document of international law and should serve as a crucial moral compass for the global community and reaffirm our collective obligation to uphold human rights, peace, and security for all,” Dr Ellis stated.
Ambassador Scheffer said that the charter was “not merely a historical artifact”, adding that its fundamental ideas were “more pertinent now than ever before” and offered the necessary framework to deal with existential concerns.