UN chief stresses bringing the promise of UN charter to most vulnerable

UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Monday bringing the promise of the UN Charter to the most vulnerable must continue to be the goal of the United Nations.

Noting that "civil wars ravaged Syria and Yemen and violent extremism spread," Ban told a Security Council open debate on the respect for the Charter that "2015 was one of the most troubled and turbulent years in recent history."

The blatant disrespect for fundamental principles of international human rights and humanitarian law defies our common humanity and challenges the Security Council in fulfilling its duties under the Charter, he added.

For the millions living amidst war and extreme poverty, and for countless others whose rights are violated or neglected in other ways, the ideals and aspirations of the Charter remain elusive, he said.

"Bringing the promise of the Charter to the most vulnerable must continue to be our goal," he added.

The UN secretary-general also pointed out "a growing focus on prevention -- through both early warning and early action."

"We should all much prefer to assess early information than to wait for the warning signs of disaster. We should be open to modest steps that could address situations of concern before they grow more serious and complex," he said.

While addressing concerns that UN engagements are "a form of interference that undermines national sovereignty," Ban said, "it is violence and conflict - and not our attempt to help Member States prevent it - that threaten State sovereignty.

He further pointed out that "It is violations of human rights by the State that erode the legitimacy of the State."

"In its engagements, the United Nations seeks to reinforce sovereignty, not challenge or undermine it," he added.

Ban also underlined the importance of the unity of the Security Council.

"We have seen what (heights) are possible when unity is visible -- and we have seen the depths that are inevitable when unity has vanished," he said. Endit