UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Security Council on Tuesday, warning of a global failure to uphold international law amid conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and other regions. He stressed the urgent need for all nations to prioritize diplomacy and recommit to peaceful means of settling disputes, highlighting the UN Charter's tools for conflict resolution, including negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Guterres cited the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where UN premises have been attacked despite notification, as a stark example of the consequences of failing to adhere to international law.

He emphasized that conflicts in various regions—including the Sahel, Sudan, Haiti, and Myanmar—are escalating, leading to record levels of hunger and displacement. Guterres urged Security Council members, particularly permanent members, to overcome divisions and utilize the UN Charter's provisions for peaceful dispute resolution. He commended Pakistan's initiative for a resolution encouraging the fuller use of these tools, adopted unanimously at the meeting. The Secretary-General also stressed the importance of cooperation with regional organizations and the need for more representative and accountable working methods within the Security Council.

Guterres pointed to the three-year anniversary of the Black Sea Initiative as an example of successful mediation during ongoing conflict. He concluded by calling for a renewed commitment to multilateral peace efforts, referencing the UN's 80th anniversary. The open debate, chaired by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, aimed to assess existing conflict resolution mechanisms and explore new strategies.

Impact Statement: Guterres's address underscores the critical need for international cooperation and a renewed commitment to peaceful conflict resolution to address escalating global conflicts and humanitarian crises.