Rule of Law: Corner stone of Intl. Peace and Security - UN Chief | United Nations

Secretary-General António Guterres said the United Nations Security Council “stands alone in its Charter-mandated authority to act on behalf of all Member States on questions of peace and security,” and stressed that “no other body or ad-hoc coalition can legally require all Member States to comply with decisions on peace and security.” Addressing a Council meeting on the promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security, Guterres said, “the founders of this Organization understood that global problems can only be solved by wielding not the weapons of war, but instead the tools of diplomacy, supported by a system based on international law. By dialogue, not the zero-sum rhetoric of division. And by collaboration — not geopolitical competition.” Around the world, he said, “the rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle,” denouncing “flagrant violations of international law and brazen disregard for the UN Charter.” The Secretary-General said, “from Gaza to Ukraine, and around the world, the rule of law is being treated as an à la carte menu. We see States flouting the rule of law with impunity; through the illegal use of force, the targeting of civilian infrastructure, human rights violations and abuses, the illegal development of nuclear weapons, unconstitutional changes of government, and denial of lifesaving humanitarian aid.” These violations, he said, “set dangerous precedents, encouraging other countries to do what they want, instead of what they are required to do under international law.” Guterres again stressed that “the Security Council alone adopts decisions binding on all” and “only the Security Council can authorize the use of force under international law, as set out in the Charter.”


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