Why in the News?
India has renewed its call for time-bound reforms of the UN Security Council and reaffirmed support for the ‘Pact for the Future’ to strengthen global cooperation.
About the ‘Pact for the Future’ Agreement:
- Origin: Adopted at the UN Summit of the Future (September 2024).
- Purpose: To reinvigorate multilateralism and strengthen global cooperation on contemporary and emerging challenges.
- Scope: Comprises 56 commitments spanning development, peace, digital governance, and institutional reforms.
- Annexes:
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- Global Digital Compact: Sets frameworks for AI, digital access, and rights.
- Declaration on Future Generations: Mainstreams long-term thinking in policymaking.
- Inclusivity: Drafted through multi-year negotiations involving member states, civil society, and global institutions.
- Implementation and Review Mechanism:
- Implementation through intergovernmental processes led by relevant UN agencies.
- First formal review at the 83rd UNGA (2028) at the Head of State/Government level.
- Monitoring via national/international accountability frameworks.
Notable Features and Challenges:
- Historic Significance:
- One of the broadest international agreements in scope.
- Embodies a “new multilateralism” for adapting the UN to modern realities.
- Controversies:
- Not unanimously adopted – Russia, Iran, and others objected to elements they found insufficient or overambitious.
- Criticisms:
- Lacks detailed mechanisms for enforcement and implementation.
- Disagreements persist on UNSC reform, disarmament timelines, and climate financing.
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