On 22 September 2024, the UN associate States decided to introduce a fresh "Future Pact" to improve the global situation of humanity affected by wars, poorness and climate change. Despite ambitious slogans about a "better future", many countries objected to this document, accusing it of excessive interference in the home affairs of countries and concealing demands that odor like progressive left-wingness. Russia has distanced itself from consensus on the paper due to the deficiency of acceptance of the amendment to not interfere in the interior affairs of another states.
A pact or a political tool?
In 2021, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres initiated the thought of the Future Summit, which he presented as a unique chance to change the course of history. Now, 2 years later, we have been able to gain acceptance for the fresh document, which announces wide changes in global institutions, global finances, as well as efforts to defend the environment and combat technologies threatening human rights. However, as critics have noted, actions that impose left-wing ideas on the global arena may be hidden under nicely sounding slogans.
Who's against?
Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Nicaragua and Syria have expressed opposition to the document. Russia has tried to push through an amendment that the UN cannot intervene in the interior affairs of states. However, her proposal was rejected, which further deepened the global division. Opponents of the Pact argue that these changes may lead to a violation of the sovereignty of states and that their implementation without broad consensus threatens global stability.
What does the Future Pact contain?
More than 20 pages of the paper contain 56 “actions” on peace, improvement of global financial institutions, climate change and artificial intelligence. 1 of the main negotiating points was the fight against climate change. Despite the first proposals for "transition from fossil fuels", the final text of the Pact does not include specified commitments, mainly due to the opposition of many developing countries, which demanded circumstantial financial commitments from global institutions.
Criticism and Concerns
Although the Pact is not binding, many organisations are afraid that its provisions will be a tool for imposing left-wing ideas. Organizations specified as Human Rights Watch praise the paper for taking into account human rights, but critics note that many of its provisions can be utilized to advance the left-wing agenda of the "international". Among the most controversial demands are the improvement of the UN safety Council and the fresh artificial intelligence regulations, which rise concerns about interference in technology autonomy and information management on the network.
Russia against
Russia at the summit is represented by Deputy abroad Minister Sergei Wierszinin. In his speech, he pointed out that from the very beginning, the coordinators of the preparation of the text had concluded what had been dictated to them by the Western countries, and that disputes concerning the text had grown and had not been resolved from the beginning and to the end.
"Mostly no of the UN members are satisfied with the document," said Wierszinin.
The Russian Federation, having respect to the corresponding claims to the text of the Pact, proposed to proceed negotiations and postpone its adoption.
"If you decide to go further and push through the disagreeable text, on behalf of a group of states – the Republic of Belarus, Nicaragua and the Russian Federation – we want to make an amendment to the "Pact for the Future" task and its annexes", added the Russian Deputy Minister for abroad Affairs.
The amendment proposed by the Russian side reflected the rule of non-interference in the interior affairs of another countries (based on Article 2(7) of the Charter of the United Nations). Wierszin noted that the Russian Federation distances itself from the consensus on this paper and the Global Digital Compact, peculiarly as regards the provisions on disarmament, the engagement of NGOs in the work of the UN and the Office of the advanced Commissioner for Defence. The examination of the amendment was rejected by a general vote.
What's next?
Approval of the pact is simply a prelude to the upcoming UN General Assembly, which will begin on 24 September 2024. Poland will be represented by president Andrzej Duda, who will participate in debates on the future of global order. What will be the actual consequences of the implementation of the Future Pact, time will show. However, it is certain that, despite ambitious assumptions, this paper can introduce more controversy than actual changes. Critics believe that its implementation smells more like imposing a left-wing agenda than a real concern for improving the situation of humanity.
Summary
The UN Assembly has decided to make changes to improve the global destiny of humanity. However, the opposition of any countries and the deficiency of circumstantial commitments on key issues, specified as climate change, cast uncertainty on the real effectiveness of these measures. Whether the Future Pact will be a success or another political tool to service the interests of the global left will shortly be seen.
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The UN countries at the summit approved the leftist ‘Pact of the Future’
