Subject: “United Nations,Agencies,Adjacent Bodies”

UNESCO, established in 1945, promotes education, culture, heritage, and scientific cooperation as pillars of global peace.

Context of US Withdrawal

The United States withdrew from UNESCO in 2017, accusing it of anti-Israel bias.

The trigger was UNESCO’s 2011 recognition of Palestine as a full member, and resolutions declaring East Jerusalem and Hebron as occupied Palestinian territories.

The US described this as “politicization of culture”

The US also objected to inefficient governance within the organization.

It rejoined in 2023 but again withdrew in 2025 citing bias against Israel.

Impact of the US Withdrawal

Geopolitical Power Shift- Creates space for China’s greater influence within UNESCO.

The US was UNESCO’s largest contributor (22% of its budget) – withdrawal caused program cuts.

Cultural preservation, education, and global literacy programs suffered from lack of funds.

Political polarization among members eroded UNESCO’s credibility and neutrality.

Developing nations’ initiatives faced delays due to resource shortages.

Highlights US unpredictability and undermines credibility of multilateral institutions

Way Forward

Depoliticize cultural resolutions and heritage conservation.

Diversify funding sources to reduce reliance on a few donors.

Strengthen transparency and consensus-based decision-making.

Strengthen South-South and regional cooperation for promoting capacity-building in developing nations

UNESCO’s revival requires inclusive governance and financial sustainability to rebuild global trust, credibility and address the ‘crisis of confidence’ in multilateralism.

The WHO, established in 1948, is the UN’s specialized agency responsible for global public health coordination. During the COVID-19 pandemic, its actions were criticized for lack of timeliness, transparency, and independence.

Positive Role of WHO during the Pandemic

Early Alerts: Declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in January 2020.

Technical Guidance: Issued scientific protocols, travel advisories, and surveillance guidelines to member states.

Global Solidarity Mechanisms: Launched the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) and COVAX Facility to ensure equitable vaccine distribution.

Information Sharing: Provided daily situation reports and facilitated exchange of data among countries.

Support to Developing Nations through logistics, diagnostics, and training.

Research and development about the virus – transmission, mutation, and vaccination.

Criticisms and Limitations

Delayed Declaration of Pandemic: Accused of underestimating the early outbreak in Wuhan and relying too heavily on China’s official data.

Political Influence: inadequate scrutiny of China’s early containment measures.

Weak Enforcement Powers: WHO lacks authority to compel nations to share data or enforce health regulations under the International Health Regulations (2005).

Vaccine Inequity: Despite COVAX, vaccine access remained highly unequal.

Funding Dependence: Over 80% of WHO’s budget comes from voluntary contributions.

Confusion among public and healthcare professionals due to inconsistencies in communication

Way Forward

Strengthen the International Health Regulations (IHR) for faster response and accountability.

Establish a Global Health Emergency Council for coordinated crisis action.

Financial autonomy to reduce donor dependency.

To ensure future global health security, WHO must evolve into a more independent, transparent, and empowered institution, capable of acting decisively in the face of global emergencies.

The oceans cover nearly 71% of the Earth’s surface and are the foundation of planetary life. The IMO, a UN specialized agency established in 1959, plays a critical role in promoting safe, secure, and environmentally sustainable use of the seas.

Sea as an Important Component of the Cosmos

It regulates climate, supports biodiversity, and drives global trade (over 80% of international trade by volume)

Oceans absorb about 30% of global CO₂ emissions, produce half of the world’s oxygen, and absorb 90% of excess heat generated.

Biodiversity and Life: Marine ecosystems host nearly 80% of all life forms

Moral Value as part of the “common heritage of mankind”

Engine of the Blue Economy: fisheries, renewable ocean energy, tourism, and seabed resources

Role of IMO in Environmental Protection

Net-Zero Framework – a global mechanism to price carbon emissions from ships and use the proceeds to help developing countries transition to green shipping.

Pollution Prevention through MARPOL convention:

Regulates oil, chemical, sewage, garbage, and air pollution.

Enforce low-sulphur fuel standards and Energy Efficiency Design for new ships

IMO’s Initial GHG Strategy targets 50% reduction in ship emissions by 2050 (from 2008 levels).

Promotes green shipping and alternative fuels (LNG, methanol, hydrogen), and carbon intensity.

Prevents transfer of invasive aquatic species through Ballast Water Management Convention

IMO’s Polar Code addresses safety and environmental protection in polar waters

Role in Maritime Safety and Security

IMO provides a legal and technical framework for cleaner and safer shipping.

SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea, 1974) is IMO’s flagship convention, setting global ship design and emergency standards.

STCW Convention (1978): Mandates uniform global training and certification for seafarers.

ISPS Code (2002): Strengthens ship-port security against terrorism and piracy.

IMO assists regional frameworks like Djibouti Code of Conduct (Somalia Basin) and ReCAAP (Asia) to combat piracy.

Introduced e-navigation and Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) to improve real-time communication.

Challenges

Weak Enforcement: IMO relies on flag states’ compliance.

Developing countries face technological and financial limitations for meeting emission targets.

Emerging Threats: Cybersecurity and illegal fishing.

Slow Decision-Making due to consensus-based model.

Climate-Trade Dilemma: Balancing decarbonization with global trade competitiveness remains difficult.

Recently, negotiations on the net zero framework have been adjourned for a year after opposition from the US and Saudi Arabia.

Way Forward

Stronger Monitoring Mechanisms through real-time tracking.

Capacity Building of developing nations under a “Common but Differentiated Responsibility” framework.

Strengthening R&D : green shipping corridors, hydrogen fuel, and maritime innovation hubs

Global Cooperation among IMO, UNEP, UNDP, and regional maritime bodies like IORA

As seas sustain both life and livelihood, global cooperation under IMO’s leadership is essential to achieve a safe, secure, and sustainable ocean future.

Terrorism refers to the use of violence or threat to create fear and achieve political, ideological, or religious objectives by targeting civilians and governments.

Terrorism as a Threat to Global Peace and Security

Non-traditional global security challenge undermining state sovereignty, human rights, and economic stability.

Evolving nature – cross-border networks, online radicalization, financing through illicit trade, and use of emerging technologies (drones, crypto-assets).

Threats

Economic – Terrorism and organised crime linkage. Eg- role of D-Company in Bombay Blasts 1993

Bioterrorism – Eg- use of chemical weapons in Syria

State sponsored terrorism – Eg- Pakistan

Cyber terrorism – Eg- online radicalization by ISIS

Regional Instability – Eg- Taliban in Afghanistan

United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and Associated Bodies

Established under UNSC Resolution 1373 (2001) after 9/11.

CTC’s mandate: Enhance state co-operation and capacity building to deal with global terror

Associated Bodies:

CTED (Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate): Provides technical assistance to member states.

UNOCT (UN Office of Counter-Terrorism): Coordinates UN counter-terror programs.

FATF : Monitors terror financing and money laundering globally.

Positive Role

Global Framework: Universal adoption of Resolution 1373, creating a global legal framework.

Capacity Building: Support to developing states in border management, cyber surveillance, and financial tracking.

Curbing Terror Financing: Criminalization of fund-raising and cross-border money flows.

Information Sharing: Enhanced coordination among INTERPOL, UNODC, and regional organizations (ASEAN, AU, SAARC).

1267 Sanctions Regime: Travel bans and arms embargoes on listed terrorist entities.

Limitations

No Universal Definition of Terrorism: Political differences hinder cohesive action.

Enforcement Limitations: CTC cannot impose sanctions; compliance depends on state will.

Selectivity and Geopolitics: Veto politics within UNSC prioritizes strategic interests over global consensus. Eg- China blocking Masood Azhar terrorist designation

TRF, designated a terrorist group by India, has not been formally designated as a terrorist organisation by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee.

Unequal Capacities: Developing nations lack financial and technological resources to meet obligations.

Emerging Threats: Cyber-terrorism, lone-wolf attacks, and digital radicalization outpace global responses.

Human Rights Concerns: Some counter-terror laws compromise due process and civil liberties.

Lack of consensus – as per T.S. Tirumurti, the world has gone back to the era of “my terrorist” and “your terrorist” and consensus reached after 9/11, to fight terror comprehensively, has run its course.

Way Forward

3C Approach: Collaborate, Coordinate, and Cooperate among nations.

UNSC Reforms: voice to Global South and democratization of decision-making.

Early finalization of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)

A comprehensive consensus-based approach on zero tolerance for corruption is needed to tackle the menace of terrorism.

“The UN was not created to take mankind to heaven, but to save humanity from hell.” – 2nd Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld. However, in the 21st century, the reform process-particularly of the Security Council-remains stalled, leading to a crisis of confidence in the UN.

Major reforms needed in the UN

Security Council expansion to reflect 21st-century realities

Veto-restraint or limitation – Eg- code of conduct.

Greater regional representation – Eg- African Union and Latin America.

Strengthening General Assembly role with clear mandate and resources.

Peacekeeping reform – mandates, rules of engagement, training and rapid deployment.

Financial autonomy for agencies like UNDP

Secretariat reform – streamline bureaucracy and merit-based senior appointments.

Transparency & accountability – stronger oversight and audit for agencies and peace operations.

Reasons the reform process remains unresolved

A. Delicate East-West imbalance

Historic institutional lock-in – UNSC P5 structure reflects 1945 power distribution.

The West (US, UK, France) advocates “value-based liberal multilateralism,” emphasizing democracy, human rights, and rule-based order.

The East (Russia, China) emphasizes “sovereign equality, non-interference, and multipolarity.” Eg- criticism of “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” as neo-interventionism

Regional rivalries – rival claims (Japan vs. China, India vs. Pakistan) block consensus on new permanent seats.

B. Entanglement: USA vs. Russo-Chinese alignment

P3 vs P2 divide over veto and reforms. Eg- Syria, Ukraine.

P5 members resist reforms that could reduce their leverage.

Security dilemmas and Great-power rivalry turns UN reform into a question of strategic advantage rather than institutional efficiency.

C. Other decisive factors

Charter rigidity – amendments need 2/3 members + P5 ratification.

Bloc fragmentation – G4, African Union (Ezulwini), Uniting for Consensus dilute consensus

Resource dependence – Eg- UN budget has been slashed by 15% in 2026 (from USD 3.7 billion to USD 3.2 billion) as the US, China, Russia failed to complete their payments.

Proliferation of parallel forums like BRICS, G20, SCO provide alternative platforms, reducing political pressure for UN reform.

Way Forward

Reforming the UN Security Council by increasing permanent membership and addressing the under-representation of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Adopt a “two-tier” membership model (permanent without veto) as an interim compromise (Kofi Annan’s proposal, 2005).

Empower the UNGA to act when the Security Council is paralyzed – via the Uniting for Peace Resolution (1950).

Rationalization of the Veto System

France-Mexico Initiative (2015): Voluntary veto restraint during mass atrocities.

Accountability Proposal by ACT Group (27 countries): P5 must justify veto use before the General Assembly.

Financial and Bureaucratic Reforms

Diversify funding base to reduce donor dominance.

Introduce independent audit mechanisms for UN agencies for transparency.

Rationalize overlapping agencies (UNDP, UNEP, WHO) to ensure resource efficiency.

Establish a UN Accountability Commission to monitor performance and corruption within UN bodies.

As UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres put it, we can’t create a future fit for our grandchildren with systems built for our grandparents. Thus, “reformed multilateralism” with the UN at its core is essential.