Eighty years after the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, the world’s foremost international body marks a historic milestone, one born from the ashes of global conflict and sustained by a collective vision for peace, progress, and cooperation.
Reflecting on the anniversary, Philemon Yang, President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, hailed the UN as the “fullest embodiment of our aspiration to end the scourge of war.” Despite persistent global strife, from Gaza and Sudan to Ukraine and the Middle East, Yang emphasized that the UN’s greatest achievement remains the prevention of a third world war in the nuclear age, a feat that must never be underestimated.
Founded in 1945 following the collapse of the League of Nations, the UN has weathered turbulent decades. Its survival and evolution into a unique platform for diplomacy and humanitarian action stands in stark contrast to its ill-fated predecessor. Quoting former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, Yang reminded the world: “The UN was not created to take humanity to heaven but to save us from hell.”
Among its many contributions, the UN spearheaded the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a global commitment that, by 2015, had halved extreme poverty and reduced child mortality by nearly 50 percent. Millions of children, especially girls, gained access to education. Today, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) carry that vision forward, focusing on ending poverty, combating climate change, and ensuring global well-being.
Yang also highlighted the UN’s role in decolonization, supporting over 80 former colonies in attaining independence. This transformation, he said, was a triumph of self-determination and a testament to the Charter’s principle of sovereign equality.
Yet challenges remain. Financial constraints, setbacks in gender equality, and mounting climate threats have strained the UN’s capacity. Still, Yang urged renewed determination, citing last year’s Summit of the Future, where Member States adopted the Pact for the Future and reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism.
Through the ongoing UN80 initiative launched by Secretary-General António Guterres, the organization is looking ahead, calling on nations to adapt, collaborate, and act decisively.
“The world has changed,” Yang wrote, “but the spirit of San Francisco endures, a belief that even amid division, we can choose cooperation over conflict.” As the UN turns 80, that spirit is needed more than ever.
Written By Rodney Mbua
