UN Urged to Stop US–Israel Aggression Against Iran
Discussions ranged from Ramadan to geopolitical dynamics.
The President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, urged collective steps with the President of the UN General Assembly and the UN Secretary-General to address the crisis facing the UN. “The world is facing ever more complex upheavals. The geopolitical rivalry among major powers is sharpening, and unilateralism is strengthening, eroding the foundations of multilateral cooperation,” said Sidharto, the Indonesian permanent representative to the UN in Geneva.
That situation places the continuity of the UN under serious pressure, including on the UNHRC, Suryodipuro added in a statement issued by the Indonesian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, received in Jakarta on Friday (6 March).
The issue was the focus at the 61st High-Level Segment of the UNHRC on 23 February, where Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono participated alongside more than 120 leaders and foreign ministers from across regions.
In his speech, Sugiono specifically stated that the credibility of the UNHRC must be safeguarded by all countries. To date, the UNHRC has played a vital role as a forum for dialogue and cooperation among states in addressing human rights issues.
In the Palestine context, the UNHRC has two special mechanisms tasked with monitoring, investigating, and reporting the human rights situation and humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the West Bank. These mechanisms help ensure that international attention and accountability remain intact.
Unfortunately, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the organisation is currently facing the most serious financial crisis in its history. In a January letter, he warned that without adequate support, the UN risks major operational disruption starting July 2026. This comes amid rising conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Haiti, as well as tensions in Iran and the Middle East.
Therefore, Sidharto urged collective steps with the General Assembly and the UN Secretary-General to address the crisis facing the organisation. This year the international community will mark the 20th anniversary of the UNHRC, a moment to reflect on the needs and capacity of the international human rights architecture to remain adaptive in the face of evolving global challenges.
Indonesia, as a UN member state, will continue to contribute actively, from discussing issues that are a priority in its foreign policy to organising side events highlighting efforts to strengthen access for children to nutritious food.
President Prabowo Subianto expressed optimism that Indonesia can achieve net-zero emissions faster than the 2060 target. He noted that Indonesia is currently among the largest contributors of UN peacekeepers and reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening global food security. In his address, he spoke about humanitarian issues not only faced by Palestinians but also by Indonesia, which has endured colonisation for centuries. This marked the first time in a decade that the Indonesian president attended the UN General Assembly in person.