Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday (Sept 22) criticised the United Nations Security Council for failing to act on major global challenges, saying its inaction has left the world “held hostage”.&nbsp;“We are all held hostage by the inaction of the Security Council for failing to fulfil its role,” Lula said.&nbsp;Speaking at the opening of the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, Lula became the first world leader to address the annual gathering.&nbsp;Lula also spoke about Brazil’s upcoming elections, vowing to prevent foreign and domestic “enemies of democracy” from influencing the polls amid a continuing dispute with Washington over alleged election interference.&nbsp;He said Brazil has a strong electoral system supported by public oversight and a free press. He said the country would not allow forces inside or outside Brazil to undermine the electoral process.&nbsp;“We have a modern and robust election system under the watchful eye of a pluralistic citizenry and a free press,” Lula said at the UN. “We will not allow the enemies of democracy, whether domestic or foreign, to undermine the popular will.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shame-on-you-netanyahu-vows-to-tell-the-truth-about-mamdani-at-un-ahead-of-new-york-visit-1790082067569">‘Shame on you’: Netanyahu vows to ‘tell the truth’ about Mamdani at UN ahead of New York visit</a><h3>Guterres calls for Security Council reform</h3>UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also used the opening of the General Debate to call for reform of the Security Council.&nbsp;Addressing world leaders in New York, Guterres said the 15-member body must reflect today’s world and have the legitimacy and effectiveness needed to deal with current geopolitical challenges.&nbsp;“We must also reform the Security Council so that it reflects today’s world with the legitimacy and effectiveness that today’s challenges demand,” Guterres told world leaders.&nbsp;Guterres said the Council was created in the aftermath of World War II, but the world has changed significantly since then.&nbsp;“The world has fundamentally changed since then. A change that is far from reflected in the Security Council.”&nbsp;Guterres is serving his final year as UN Secretary-General, with his second five-year term ending in December 2026. This makes the current UN General Assembly week his final high-level UNGA appearance as Secretary-General.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticised UN Security Council inaction at the UN General Assembly, while Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for reforms to make the body reflect today’s world.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday (Sept 22) criticised the United Nations Security Council for failing to act on major global challenges, saying its inaction has left the world “held hostage”. “We are all held hostage by the inaction of the Security Council for failing to fulfil its role,” Lula said. Speaking at the opening of the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, Lula became the first world leader to address the annual gathering. Lula also spoke about Brazil’s upcoming elections, vowing to prevent foreign and domestic “enemies of democracy” from influencing the polls amid a continuing dispute with Washington over alleged election interference. He said Brazil has a strong electoral system supported by public oversight and a free press. He said the country would not allow forces inside or outside Brazil to undermine the electoral process. “We have a modern and robust election system under the watchful eye of a pluralistic citizenry and a free press,” Lula said at the UN. “We will not allow the enemies of democracy, whether domestic or foreign, to undermine the popular will.” Also Read: ‘Shame on you’: Netanyahu vows to ‘tell the truth’ about Mamdani at UN ahead of New York visit Guterres calls for Security Council reform UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also used the opening of the General Debate to call for reform of the Security Council. Addressing world leaders in New York, Guterres said the 15-member body must reflect today’s world and have the legitimacy and effectiveness needed to deal with current geopolitical challenges. “We must also reform the Security Council so that it reflects today’s world with the legitimacy and effectiveness that today’s challenges demand,” Guterres told world leaders. Guterres said the Council was created in the aftermath of World War II, but the world has changed significantly since then. “The world has fundamentally changed since then. A change that is far from reflected in the Security Council.” Guterres is serving his final year as UN Secretary-General, with his second five-year term ending in December 2026. This makes the current UN General Assembly week his final high-level UNGA appearance as Secretary-General.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised UN Security Council inaction at the UN General Assembly, while Secretary-General António Guterres called for reforms to make the body reflect today’s world.

‘We are all held hostage’: Brazil’s Lula attacks Security Council inaction, Guterres calls for reform

UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric has explicitly backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for comprehensive United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms. He stressed India's leadership in securing a unanimous joint consensus. PM Modi argued that the five-nation Security Council do not reflect the realities of the 21st century and the UN must adapt to the world of 2026. Dujarric confirmed that there was an urgent need to reform the Council and other international institutions.&nbsp;"I think if you listen to what the Secretary-General has been saying, since he got into office and, frankly, his predecessor as well, is that there is a fundamental need for reform of the Security Council. The heart of the peace and security architecture of the United Nations is the Security Council. The fact that you look at the way the Council is made up now, of the 5 permanent members, it is no longer a reflection of the 21st century. Whether it is the Security Council or the international financial institutions or all sorts of other international institutions, they need to reflect 2026, and no longer 1945. It is high time that we adapt this organisation to the realities of the world so it is truly representative and even more effective," said UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brics-rejects-eu-carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism-global-south-1789226513834">BRICS rejects EU carbon tax as ‘punitive’, ‘discriminatory’; warns of burden on Global South</a>Modi said He said the Global South was at the forefront of global crises but remained in the "back row" of decision-making, and proposed transforming the "pyramid of privilege" into a "platform of partnership" where every country has a voice and stake. The New Delhi declaration demands expanded representation for developing economies and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean; the declaration was unanimously adopted by all eleven member nations."I think the Secretary-General congratulated PM Modi when he met him yesterday for his presidency of the BRICS. I have read that there is a joint declaration, but we haven't seen it yet. But the fact that the group could come up with a joint declaration is something to the credit of India's presidency," &nbsp;said UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson Stéphane DujarricPrime Minister Modi had been pushing for a reform in the United Nations Security Council for years. In 2023, in Johannesburg, Modi called for defining timelines to change the UNSC reform; in 2025 in Rio, he called for changes to "governance structures, voting rights and leadership positions" in global institutions. In 2026, with India as Chair, Modi suggested 10 proposals could be developed into a “BRICS Reform Roadmap” by the next summit.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric backs Modi’s push for UNSC reform, saying the Council and global institutions must reflect the realities of 2026.

UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric has explicitly backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for comprehensive United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms. He stressed India's leadership in securing a unanimous joint consensus. PM Modi argued that the five-nation Security Council do not reflect the realities of the 21st century and the UN must adapt to the world of 2026. Dujarric confirmed that there was an urgent need to reform the Council and other international institutions. "I think if you listen to what the Secretary-General has been saying, since he got into office and, frankly, his predecessor as well, is that there is a fundamental need for reform of the Security Council. The heart of the peace and security architecture of the United Nations is the Security Council. The fact that you look at the way the Council is made up now, of the 5 permanent members, it is no longer a reflection of the 21st century. Whether it is the Security Council or the international financial institutions or all sorts of other international institutions, they need to reflect 2026, and no longer 1945. It is high time that we adapt this organisation to the realities of the world so it is truly representative and even more effective," said UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. Also Read: BRICS rejects EU carbon tax as ‘punitive’, ‘discriminatory’; warns of burden on Global South Modi said He said the Global South was at the forefront of global crises but remained in the "back row" of decision-making, and proposed transforming the "pyramid of privilege" into a "platform of partnership" where every country has a voice and stake. The New Delhi declaration demands expanded representation for developing economies and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean; the declaration was unanimously adopted by all eleven member nations. "I think the Secretary-General congratulated PM Modi when he met him yesterday for his presidency of the BRICS. I have read that there is a joint declaration, but we haven't seen it yet. But the fact that the group could come up with a joint declaration is something to the credit of India's presidency," said UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric Prime Minister Modi had been pushing for a reform in the United Nations Security Council for years. In 2023, in Johannesburg, Modi called for defining timelines to change the UNSC reform; in 2025 in Rio, he called for changes to "governance structures, voting rights and leadership positions" in global institutions. In 2026, with India as Chair, Modi suggested 10 proposals could be developed into a “BRICS Reform Roadmap” by the next summit.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric backs Modi’s push for UNSC reform, saying the Council and global institutions must reflect the realities of 2026.

UN backs Modi’s push for UNSC reform, end to ‘pyramid of privilege’

India on Tuesday said that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) had become an "impaired organ" as it "failed to act with credibility essentially due to its unrepresentative nature".

WION Dispatch: UNSC an impaired organ, failed to act with credibility; says India

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‘We are all held hostage’: Brazil’s Lula attacks Security Council inaction, Guterres calls for reform

UN backs Modi’s push for UNSC reform, end to ‘pyramid of privilege’

WION Dispatch: UNSC an impaired organ, failed to act with credibility; says India