The BRICS group of nations has called for sweeping reforms to the United Nations and other global institutions, demanding “equitable geographical representation” in the staffing of UN secretariats and senior leadership positions.
Meeting in New Delhi for their 18th summit at the weekend, leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa said the current governance structures of international organisations fail to reflect contemporary global realities, particularly the role of emerging markets and developing countries.
In a declaration issued after the summit, the bloc urged that recruitment and appointments at the UN be guided by transparency, inclusiveness, and adherence to Article 101 of the UN Charter, which requires staff to be recruited on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
“We also call for achieving equitable geographical representation in the Secretariat of the UN and other international organisations in a timely manner, particularly by addressing the persistent underrepresentation of developing countries, including at senior and decision-making levels,” the leaders said.
The BRICS leaders noted that no woman has ever served as UN Secretary-General and that only one national from Latin America and the Caribbean, and just two from Africa and Asia respectively, have held the post since the organisation’s founding more than 80 years ago.
They stressed that the monopoly of senior posts by nationals of a few states undermines the legitimacy of the UN system.
Beyond the UN, the declaration pressed for reforms to the Bretton Woods Institutions – the International Monetary Fund and World Bank – to make them more representative of the global economy.
The BRICS leaders reiterated their demand for quota and shareholding realignments that would give emerging markets and developing economies a stronger voice.
They also renewed calls for reform of the World Trade Organisation to restore credibility to the multilateral trading system.
The push reflects longstanding frustrations among developing nations over inequitable governance in global institutions.
Critics argue that decision-making power remains concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy countries while the Global South – despite accounting for the majority of the world’s population and a growing share of global output – remains underrepresented.
Marking the 20th anniversary of BRICS, the leaders said the bloc would continue to champion multipolarity and amplify the voice of the Global South in international affairs.
“We reiterate our commitment to reforming and improving global governance by promoting a more just, equitable, agile, effective, efficient, responsive, representative, legitimate, democratic and accountable international and multilateral system,” the declaration read.
JN/APA