Cornerstone of peace needs reinforcing, not demolishing

In the aftermath of the immense catastrophe of the Anti-Fascist War, the international community joined hands to establish the United Nations and formulate the UN Charter, laying the cornerstones of the modern international order and the basic norms governing international relations.

However, it seems like the lessons of history are hard to learn for some. Eighty years on, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a UN General Assembly event to mark the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter on June 26, "Today, we see assaults on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter like never before".

These assaults include the threat or use of force against sovereign nations; the violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law; the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure; the weaponization of food and water; and the erosion of human rights, as the UN chief noted.