UN Secretary-General Antoniu Guteresre on Friday called for a more coordinated response to global crises, saying the “fragmented and chaotic” response to the coronavirus pandemic had once again convinced him that the Security Council needed reforms.
“Unfortunately, governments have not responded collectively to this global threat, (..) the response has been fragmented and chaotic, with countries, regions and even cities competing for essential supplies and staff,” Guteresre said. “We cannot allow the same to happen with access to the new Covid-19 vaccines, which must be in the global public interest.”
The UN chief said that one way to achieve a more effective multilateral response was to reform the composition and voting rights of the Security Council.
The Security Council currently has 15 members. Five of them are permanent members – the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom, which have a veto and have not shown a willingness to relinquish their privileged status.
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