Statement by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador João Genésio de Almeida Filho, on Effective multilateralism through the Defense of the Principles of the UN Charter - April 24th 2023

In these challenging times, we should reinforce our commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, to international law, and to multilateralism. As members of the Security Council, we have a particular responsibility in preserving the principles and values based on which the multilateral system has been collectively built over nearly eight decades. 

The conflict in Ukraine has added enormous stress to the multilateral system, which was already subject to new challenges, and growing dissent. The failure of this council to effectively deal with yet another war falls short of member states’ expectations on its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security and eventually ends up eroding its credibility. 

The international community has already proven to be able to adapt and evolve in several areas, except in peace and security. For example, back in 2008, after the global financial crisis, a group of countries decided to establish the G-20, which proved to be a valuable framework for addressing new economic and financial challenges. Besides its deficiencies, such as the limited representation of African countries, it has since come to be one of the most representative bodies in the international community.

The Brazilian position on Council reform is known to all: we believe that its current composition, which reflects the balance of power in 1945, is not compatible with current geopolitical realities. The African continent and our own region, Latin America and the Caribbean, are not represented in the category of permanent members. This results in the increasing lack of legitimacy of this body to take decisions on the peace and security agenda and underscores the sense of frustration with the shortcomings of the UN system as a whole. 

Mister President, 

This is not, however, the only cause of the situation in which we find ourselves. In addition to structural flaws of this Council, we cannot help but notice a lesser disposition to engage in dialogue and diplomacy in contradiction with the spirit of the San Francisco Conference. 

Since the beginning of our current mandate as an elected member of the Council, there have been many occasions when the demand for sanctions has been the knee-jerk reaction to crisis situations. In most cases, these initiatives were preceded by unilateral coercive measures, illegal under international law and ineffective. In our discussions, due consideration is rarely given to the spin-off effects on third countries, especially those which already face strong economic, social and institutional challenges and their most vulnerable population.

Brazil rejects the pursuit of hegemonies, old or new. In line with Article 2(4) of the Charter, we condemn the threat or use of force as a means of resolving disputes, as we have seen in the case of Ukraine. We also condemn more subtle attempts to impose the will of the few on the many, on the basis of concepts of dubious multilateral standing. We refute world conceptions based on simplistic divisions that fail to reflect the complexity of reality, an approach that does not benefit the vast majority of member states and only serves to sow division among nations.

We defend, in fact, a return to the principles on which this organization bases its very existence, enshrined in the UN Charter, with increased emphasis on peaceful means to end conflicts. As a founding member of this organization, we have never and we will never condone violations of member states’ territorial integrity. 

We should not give up on diplomacy and should rather seek solutions collectively to address the challenges of our times. Diplomacy and peace are the means and the purpose of the Security Council. We must not shy away from this responsibility. 

Mister President, 

The world is going through a moment of international order redesign. In our view, we are heading to some sort of multipolar order that should be welcomed and nurtured, since it will benefit the whole of the international community. We are aware of the many shortcomings of the UN system, but we continue to trust the centrality of the United Nations and its role in preserving peace and finding solutions to common challenges.

Brazil believes in the strength of the multilateral approach on issues such as the climate emergency and on development needs, respecting the diversity of points of view and national positions. It is essential, however, that we engage in an earnest debate about the need for a renewed multilateralism, in particular in the field of peace and security, setting aside practices that will only deepen divisions, instead of contributing to a more peaceful world. 

And I thank you.