National Statement at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on 18 February 2025
Practicing multilateralism, reforming and improving global governance by Permanent Representative, Ambassador Elina Kalkku
Mr. President
Thank you for organizing this very important open debate.
As the 80th anniversary of the United Nations is approaching, we live through times when multilateralism is tested, truly.
Multipolarism is often offered as a new model for the modern world. However, during the past years, we have begun to see its consequences. Growing instability: many have felt free to pursue their different goals by military means. The number of armed conflicts has risen to an unprecedented level since World War II. Borders have been crossed. Attempts are made to annex territories belonging to others. Respect for civilian life and infrastructure has collapsed in many conflicts, and International Humanitarian Law is often neglected. The world has been moving in the wrong direction. Finland continues to believe that rules-based multilateralism with reforms offers the best model for the modern world.
The majority of the UN membership consists of small states. For them – no need to say – the UN and international law are indispensable. But the UN was not established only to support the existence and rights of small states – it was established to safeguard peace and stability for all Members. “We the peoples.”
The vision of multilateralism is still very much alive.
First: Global progress may have been big enough to be irreversible. The vast majority of UN membership stands for multilateralism. We pay our dues. The reason why the UN or its principal organs are criticized, may be the fact that Members have high expectations towards them. Most of us want to see the UN deliver and perform, and uphold the Charter. Spirited by multilateralism, we compromised and agreed on the Pact for the Future, which paves the way forward, together with the SDGs. Today, many have commented the importance of implementing them. 2015 was a very challenging year, but also a flagship year with major multilateral achievements: Paris Agreement, Agenda 2030, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. All three highly relevant even today.
Second: The UN system is not perfect, and it definitely needs reforms and modernization. Its organs need to function efficiently and better focus on solving major problems, instead of being sidelined. And the UN membership has evolved remarkably in 80 years. But things would be much, much worse and chaotic without the UN. Innumerable staff and peacekeepers work all over the world, pursuing a common ideal, and to promote peace, sustainable development and human rights.
Third: While International law is not always respected, it has actually grown in importance and coverage. New treaties have emerged, and states are increasingly placing their trust in the authority of judicial institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
And fourth: Multilateralism works and progresses regionally, which in turn supports the UN. Many regional institutions have proven successful. Take the EU, which has guaranteed peace and well-being among its membership after very troubled history, and grown into the biggest global development financier.
Or take the African Union, or important regional institutions in Asia and Latin America.
UN bashing has become popular, and - no doubt - this seems to be a dark hour for multilateralism. But the need for a multilateral system based on international law has not gone away – the need has grown. The UN can only be successful if we respect it, use it, and turn the UN into a modern and efficient organization, capable of standing for the Charter and our common ideals.
Mr. President, does the UN need substantive reforms? Yes it does. Can we afford sidelining the UN? No, we can’t.
I thank you.