Lucknow: United Nations could have played a much stronger role in global conflicts such as Israel-Hamas and Ukraine-Russia, and in humanitarian crises in Sudan, defence ministerRajnath Singhon Friday said, while stressing that today’s world needs a new UN and international order.Addressing the International Conference of Chief Justices of the World in Lucknow, Rajnath said while the UN successfully maintained post-World War II stability, it is now struggling with contemporary challenges. “UN could have played a much stronger role but has been hampered by the complexities of global politics, dominance of major powers and sluggish institutional processes. Its authority is repeatedly questioned,” he said, stressing that the shortfall is not one of intent but of structure.Rajnath asserted that the current era of unprecedented prosperity alongside unpredictable challenges is completely new for the world, necessitating a fresh international order. He clarified that a ‘new UN’ does not mean a new institution, but rather a revitalization of the existing one with a new energy, new working style and new perspective. The core reform, the minister said, must involve returning the UN to its founding principles of peace, justice and equal representation.He argued for a UN with balanced representation, impartial decision-making and real power-sharing to effectively fulfill its mission. Positioning India as a key player in this transformation, Singh said India’s civilizational ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) aligns perfectly with the UN’s foundational spirit. The Lucknow MP highlighted India’s contributions as a ‘first responder’ in global crises and said the country has contributed nearly 3,00,000 troops to UN peacekeeping — the highest by any nation — with many making the supreme sacrifice. “In such a time, justice and peace have not remained just ideals. Rather, they have become the basis for global survival,” Singh concluded, urging the global community to strengthen, not criticize, the UN to build a world where justice is a universal right. He urged the legal luminaries to guide the world toward a global order where justice is a universal right, not a privilege of the powerful.Expressing happiness that the event was being held in his parliamentary constituency, Singh said the judges’ conference’s theme, “A New Look at the United Nations and Its Charter: Global Governance for a Sustainable Future in a Fractured World”, is highly relevant.
