Bangladesh has called upon the UN member states to unite to use the UN Charter in its ‘true spirit’. Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima made the appeal to the world while delivering a statement at the UN Security Council Open Debate on ‘Upholding the United Nations Charter to maintain International Peace and Security’ on Friday.
“It is imperative now, perhaps more than ever, for the entire UN membership to unite and engage to use the Charter in its true spirit, to address global realities and the Security Council has the primary responsibility in this regard for safeguarding the interests of the greater humanity in peace and security,” she said. The ambassador quoted from the words of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s maiden speech at the UN in 1974: “The noble ideals enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations are the very ideals for which millions of our people have made the supreme sacrifice.”
In this context, she also said that Bangladesh’s constitution mirrors the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and security based on, “respect for national sovereignty and equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and respect for international law”.
She highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s humanity and courageous leadership in hosting more than one million persecuted Rohingyas which saved the region from potential destabilization.
She stressed the role of the International Court of Justice, and other international legal bodies and tribunals for ensuring justice and shattering the culture of impunity by bringing to an end crime against humanity, genocide and war crimes.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ delivered the opening remarks at the debate. More than 100 member states spoke at this event.
Vietnam, the Council president for this month, organised the open debate ahead of the 75th anniversary of the UN Charter in June 2020.
The event brought an opportunity for member states to reflect on and reaffirm their commitment to upholding Charter principles, particularly in the context of international peace and security, the Bangladesh’s UN office in New York said.