Modifying Charter of the United Nations: Possibilities for Significant Renovation
The Global Governance Forum and the Coalition for UN Reform have initiated a project called "A Second United Nations Charter: Modernizing the UN for a New Generation," aiming to propose comprehensive reforms to the United Nations system. The project, which was publicly released in September 2024, calls for updating the UN framework to better reflect contemporary realities and needs.
The project was presented at various diplomatic and academic venues, including the 10th Edition of the Youth & Leaders Summit and at PSIA (School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University). During the event on February 14, 2025, Dr Augusto Lopez-Carlos, the Executive Director and Chair of the Global Governance Forum, presented the project at PSIA.
Several students from PSIA, including Chloé Titaud (Master in International Security), Sara Vicinanza (Master in International Governance & Diplomacy), Dzhari Chauvet (Master International Security), Nana El Kory (Master in International Governance & Diplomacy), Andras Szelényi (Master in International Governance & Diplomacy), Haley Vandall (Master in Human Rights & Humanitarian Action), Ana Luisa Chartier (Master in International Governance & Diplomacy), and Manuel Campos Lago (Master in International Governance & Diplomacy), presented their reactions to the document. Mara Catalina Ciu (Master in International Development) also shared her thoughts on the proposed reforms.
The document outlines the proposed elements of the new UN Charter, which include comprehensive reforms to make the UN more effective, inclusive, and capable of meeting the complex global challenges of the 21st century. A consensus was reached that the UN Charter needs to be reformed to better respond to contemporary global challenges.
The proposed reforms have sparked discussions and debates among students and experts, including a debate on "Do we still need the UN?" moderated by Full Professor Frédéric Ramel. While no explicit details on PSIA students’ reactions or proposals are available from the search results provided, it is plausible that more detailed opinions or proposals might be found in academic papers, event reports, or forum discussions held at PSIA or affiliated institutions.
This project marks an important step towards modernizing the UN and ensuring its continued relevance in addressing the global challenges of the 21st century. As the UN Charter is being reviewed and revised, the voices and insights of students and experts, such as those from PSIA, will play a crucial role in shaping the future of global governance.
The project presented at the 10th Edition of the Youth & Leaders Summit and at PSIA focuses on education-and-self-development, as it invites students like Chloé Titaud, Sara Vicinanza, Dzhari Chauvet, Nana El Kory, Andras Szelényi, Haley Vandall, Ana Luisa Chartier, and Manuel Campos Lago to share their thoughts on the proposed UN reforms. Moreover, the project aims to equip the United Nations with the necessary capabilities to tackle the complex global challenges of the 21st century, thereby emphasizing the significance of education-and-self-development in shaping the future of global governance.
