North South University

INTERNATIONAL WEBINAR
ON
THE UN IN TIMES OF PEOPLE’S NEEDS
RETHINKING MULTILATERALISM

Jointly Organized by
Center for Peace Studies (CPS), North South University
and
United Nations in Bangladesh

September 16 and 17, 2020

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Email: cps@northsouth.edu
 Peace is an imperative for the
survival of humanity. It represents
the deepest aspirations of men
and women throughout the world.
Peace to sustain must be peace
based on justice.... In a world that
is marked by strife and human
misery, the United Nations remains
the focus of Man’s hope for the
future. Despite many difficulties
and obstacles placed in its way, the
United Nations, during more than a
quarter century of its existence, has
significantly contributed towards
human progress in the political,
economic, social and cultural fields.

Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
at the UNGA on 25th September, 1974 as UN’s 136th member (delivered in
Bangla)

The pandemic has demonstrated

the fragility of our world….an X-ray
revealing fractures in the fragile
skeleton of the societies…..The
pandemic has created a generational
opportunity to build a more equal
and sustainable world.

Antonio Guterres
Secretary General, United Nations
 INTERNATIONAL WEBINAR
ON
THE UN IN TIMES OF PEOPLE’S NEEDS:
RETHINKING MULTILATERALISM
The Center for Peace Studies (CPS), part
of the South Asian Institute of Policy
and Governance (SIPG), at North South
University (NSU) is organizing an event
for the 75th Anniversary of the United
Nations.
The United Nations is celebrating its 75th
anniversary on June 26, 2020. It has been
75 years since the signing of the United
Nations Charter in San Francisco, USA.
While just 50 countries initially signed
the United Nations Charter, today, the
United Nations has 193 member states.
The Charter of the United Nations
aimed to prevent war, to reaffirm faith in
fundamental human rights, and the dignity,
worth and equality of all, to establish
the conditions for upholding justice and
international law, and to promote social
progress and better standards of life.
Despite many notable achievements, some
of which were recognized by the 11 Nobel
prizes that the United Nations agencies
and individuals received, much remains
to be done to achieve the aspirations of
the Charter. There have been legitimate
concerns about the unequal power
of member states as reflected in the
composition of the Security Council, and
the decision-making process that has
resulted in instances of failure to respond
on time and in adequate degree to severe
crises. Despite its many shortcomings, the
evolving climate crisis and the COVID-19
pandemic have highlighted the importance
of multilateralism in addressing problems
of global commons as well as regional
cross-boundary problems. Reflecting
on its success and failure, the Second
Secretary General of United Nations
Dag Hammarskjöld said that the United
Nations “was not created to take mankind
to heaven but to save humanity from hell”.
The 75th anniversary of the United Nations
in 2020 carries a special significance not
only because it marks the continuity of
an international organization that was
built on the foundation of multilateralism
to secure global peace, security, human
rights and development, but also because
this is a time of an unprecedented global
health crisis with massive economic and
social consequences, which in turn will
(re)define the role of the United Nations
going forward. During the time of the
global Covid-19 pandemic, the United
Nations has a vital role to play in bringing
countries together in order to not only
respond to the pandemic, but also to
address climate change, racism, intra-
state conflict, and achievement of the
Sustainable Development Goals, among
others. Will we emerge stronger and
better equipped to work together? Or will
distrust and isolation grow further? 2020
must be a year of dialogue, when we come
together to discuss our priorities as a
human family, and the ways we can build a
better future for all. As the United Nations
battles these issues, it seeks to hear from
all stakeholders in its member states about
their aspirations for the future and their
expectations from the United Nations.
involved in the discussions on the reform
of the United Nations Development
System in 2017 and has made a financial
contribution to the reformed coordination
function of the United Nations. The voices
of Bangladesh’s people and leadership,
therefore, assume special significance
for the United Nations as they battle the
COVID-19 pandemic together.
In this context, the Center for Peace
Studies (CPS) is organizing a two-day
international webinar, co-hosted by
the United Nations in Bangladesh on
September 16-17, 2020 with a view to
recognize the intention and progress
of the United Nations and also to make
suggestions for its future.

The 75th anniversary of the United
Nations is of particular relevance to
Bangladesh which has a long history
of proactive engagement with the
organization. Bangladesh joined the
United Nations as a member state in
1974 and has been a vocal supporter of
multilateralism since. In the 74th Session
of the General Assembly the Honorable
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated
the importance of multilateralism in
tackling the most pressing challenges of
our times. For the last three decades, it
has been among the largest troop and
police contributing countries for the
United Nations’ peacekeeping operations.
It made impressive gains in the Millennium
Development Goals and was an active
contributor in the formulation of the
Sustainable Development Goals. As a
member state, Bangladesh was closely
The seminar will have six sessions covering
the four key areas of work of the United
Nations, namely peace building and
peacekeeping, human rights, humanitarian
operations and sustainable development.
Purpose: The purpose of the webinar is
primarily to reflect on the successes and
challenges of the United Nations over the
last 75 years, to draw lessons learned, and
to discuss the way forward. For the United
Nations in Bangladesh, this is an occasion
and another opportunity to listen to and
receive feedback from its stakeholders
on its direction and strategic priorities.
It will also attempt to ascertain what UN
has achieved in terms of contribution to
the well-being and rights of people. The
panelists will also focus into how UN can
add further value to lives and livelihood of
people and protection of planet.

Center for Peace Studies (CPS)

Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
Room: NAC 919
Phone: 880-8852000, Ext. 2102
Email: cps@northsouth.edu