Namibia has renewed its commitment to the United Nations Charter.
Namibia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Penda Naanda, stated that the UN Charter, signed in 1945, established the foundation for a rules-based international order that fosters peace and security, sovereign equality, justice and cooperation among nations.
Approximately 81 years ago, between April and June 1945, delegations from 50 nations worldwide convened in San Francisco, US, to adopt the UN Charter as the Second World War came to an end.
At the time, former US President Harry Truman said, "There were many who doubted that agreement could be reached by these 50 countries, differing so much in race and religion, in language and culture, but these differences were all forgotten in one unshakeable unity of determination to find a way to end war."
Speaking at a meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York to mark the 2026 UN Charter Day, Ambassador Penda Naanda pointed out that Namibia honours the enduring vision and renews its commitment to the ideals that continue to unite the United Nations.
He explained that Namibia's own journey to independence is intertwined with the United Nations' history.
Namibians petitioned the UN for freedom from apartheid and colonial rule, and the organisation's efforts contributed greatly to Namibia's independence in 1990.
The UN General Assembly and the Security Council kept the question of Namibia firmly on their respective agendas until its successful conclusion.
Ambassador Naanda added that Namibia, therefore, reaffirms its commitment to upholding the UN Charter's principles, the promotion of multilateralism and reforming the UN, ensuring it becomes more representative and effective in addressing contemporary challenges.
In. As we look ahead, Namibia believes that the Pact for the Future, co-facilitated by Namibia and Germany, provides the necessary impetus to strengthen international cooperation, grounded on the UN Charter, to address today's realities and to equip future generations with the necessary tools to address tomorrow's challenges. Let us all renew our commitment to the UN Charter's vision: a world where nations cooperate for peace, dignity, and development for all."
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres lamented that the UN Charter's principles are tested to the limit in contemporary world affairs, where civilians are targeted, ceasefires are proclaimed one day and shattered the next and international law is invoked when convenient and ignored when not.
"A world where the law applies only to some is not a world of order; it is a world of uncertainty, injustice and impunity."