Leaders of BRICS nations have reiterated their support for “comprehensive” reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, to make it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient.
In a joint declaration at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, China and Russia — as permanent members of the UN Security Council — reaffirmed their support for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including the Security Council.
“We reiterate our support for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s membership so that it can adequately respond to prevailing global challenges and support the legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including BRICS countries, to play a greater role in international affairs, in particular in the United Nations, including its Security Council. We recognise the legitimate aspirations of African countries, as reflected in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration,” the declaration said.
“We stress that United Nations Security Council reform must lead to an amplified voice for the Global South. China and Russia, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, reiterate their support for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the United Nations, including its Security Council,” it added.
India has long sought a permanent seat in the Security Council to better represent the interests of the developing world. The UNSC comprises 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
BRICS leaders also expressed serious concerns over the rise of unilateral tariffs and non-tariff measures that distort trade and violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. They reiterated their support for a rules-based, open, transparent, fair, inclusive, equitable, non-discriminatory, consensus-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, with special and differential treatment (S\&D T) for its developing members.
The bloc recalled commitments made at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference and reaffirmed at the 13th to work towards the necessary reform of the organisation to ensure its relevance and restore the credibility of the multilateral trading system.
They expressed commitment to restoring an accessible, effective, fully functioning, two-tier binding WTO dispute settlement system and extended support for Ethiopia and Iran’s bids to join the WTO. The group also welcomed the BRICS Declaration on WTO Reform and Strengthening of the Multilateral Trading System, adopted by trade ministers.
The leaders condemned the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that violate international law and reiterated that such measures — including unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions — have far-reaching negative impacts on human rights, including the rights to development, health and food security.
“We call for the elimination of such unlawful measures, which undermine international law and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. We reaffirm that BRICS member states do not impose or support non-UN Security Council authorised sanctions that are contrary to international law,” the declaration said.
BRICS leaders also voiced concern over ongoing conflicts in various regions and the current state of polarisation and fragmentation in the global order. They expressed alarm at the increasing global military spending, which they said comes at the cost of financing development in the Global South.
The BRICS Summit, hosted by Brazil, has brought together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia.
ANI
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