By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) ‘- United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has called on countries to uphold international law and their obligations under the United Nations Charter, amid continuing conflicts and humanitarian crises across the world.
Guterres made the call in a post on his X handle on Sunday, stressing the urgent need for peace in Gaza, the wider Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and other conflict-affected regions.
The UN chief said the scale of ongoing conflicts underscored the need for states to recommit themselves to the principles and obligations underpinning the international system.
“From Gaza to the broader crisis in the Middle East, to Ukraine, Sudan & beyond, our world needs peace,” he said.
Guterres emphasised that states must respect their obligations under the UN Charter and international law, regardless of the circumstances surrounding conflicts or disputes.
He identified sovereign equality among states as one of the fundamental principles that must be upheld, stressing that countries should be treated as equal members of the international community.
According to the UN Secretary-General, respect for the territorial integrity and political independence of states is also essential to maintaining international peace and stability.
He further called for the protection of international navigational rights and freedoms, particularly as disputes and conflicts continue to affect security and movement across strategic waterways.
Guterres also stressed the importance of resolving international disputes through peaceful means, rather than allowing disagreements to escalate into armed conflicts.
The U.N Scribe listed compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law among the obligations that states must respect.
The appeal comes against the backdrop of multiple protracted conflicts and humanitarian emergencies, including the war in Gaza, the wider instability in the Middle East, Russia’s war in Ukraine and the devastating conflict in Sudan.
Precise Post recalls that the UN Secretary-General has repeatedly warned that disregard for international law and multilateral institutions threatens global peace and undermines efforts to resolve conflicts through diplomacy.
His latest remarks therefore placed renewed emphasis on the responsibility of states to respect established international norms and pursue peaceful settlements of disputes in order to prevent further escalation and protect civilian populations.
Guterres’ call also reflects the United Nations’ longstanding position that respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, human rights and international humanitarian law remains central to building a more peaceful and stable international order.
