The Choice Is Still Clear: Renewing the UN Charter at 80

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These remarks were delivered by Jordan Ryan on 26 June 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations.

Eighty years ago today, in San Francisco, delegates from across the globe gathered not simply to sign a document—but to make a promise.

The Charter of the United Nations, born from the ashes of the most destructive war in human history, embodied a commitment: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to uphold the dignity and worth of every human being, and to build peace through cooperation—not conquest.

Its opening words—”We the Peoples”—spoke not just to governments, but to all of humanity. They marked a shift toward something more ambitious and enduring.

As President Truman said when he presented the Charter to the U.S. Senate: “The choice was not between this Charter and something better. It was between this Charter—or no Charter at all.” That same choice confronts us today.

Truman’s closing speech at the San Francisco Conference offered a sobering truth. “If we had had this Charter a few years ago—and above all, the will to use it—millions now dead would be alive. If we should falter in the future in our will to use it, millions now living will surely die.” And he reminded the world that “All Fascism did not die with Mussolini. Hitler is finished—but the seeds spread by his disordered mind have firm root in too many fanatical brains.”

That was 1945. But the warning echoes still. Today, those seeds have taken new forms—not always in uniforms or on battlefields, but in digital systems that silence dissent, in economic exclusion that breeds resentment, and in ideologies that place power above truth. The faces have changed, but the danger remains the same.

A dear friend’s father-in-law, John Dreier, was there in San Francisco—not as a delegate, but as one of the young professionals working behind the scenes to bring the conference to life. At just 38, he served as Assistant Executive Secretary, helping organize the plenary sessions, manage the order of speeches, and oversee the logistical machinery that made the conference function.

In a letter to his wife, he described the final vote: “Halifax, who presided, called for a standing vote. The chairman stood up, and I counted them and gave the returns to Alger [Hiss]. When Halifax announced that the Charter of the United Nations had been unanimously approved, everyone stood up, clapped and cheered. It was truly a spontaneous and enthusiastic moment.”

He called it the best moment of the entire conference. And it reminds us that this Charter was never just negotiated text—it was a leap of faith. It was hope, made audible.

Today, as wars rage in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and the Sahel—and as aerial bombardments over Iran mark a dangerous new escalation in the Middle East—international law faces systematic disregard, civilians face targeting with impunity, and entire populations remain without protection or voice. From the targeting of hospitals to the use of cluster munitions, the laws of war aren’t just being violated—they’re being eroded. Meanwhile, great power rivalry paralyzes the Security Council, and the Charter’s most basic promises hang in the balance.

Let us be clear about what we face. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a direct assault on the UN Charter—a war of territorial conquest that violates every principle this organization was built to defend. The United States has withdrawn from multilateral institutions and agreements, weakening the very foundations of global cooperation. Authoritarian governments worldwide exploit these fractures, building parallel systems that prioritize control over rights, surveillance over freedom, and power over truth.

We must not let this vacuum be filled by authoritarian designs. We must reclaim the Charter’s vision—a vision not of perfect harmony, but of principled cooperation. Of peace not through uniformity, but through respect for diversity, sovereignty, and the rule of law.

That includes calling out aggression—plainly and universally. When territorial integrity is violated, when regimes are changed by force, when war crimes go unpunished—the entire structure weakens. The Charter’s guardrails aren’t optional. They’re what stand between us and the abyss.

And let us remember: peace requires more than ceasefires. As Truman said in that same San Francisco address, “A just and lasting peace cannot be attained by diplomatic agreement alone, or by military cooperation alone.” He called for removing “artificial and uneconomic trade barriers,” understanding that economic rivalry and social injustice plant “the seeds of war.” Peace demands justice, dignity, and a fair stake in the future for all. It depends on facts, transparency, and a global commitment to truth. “Nations,” Truman said, “must know the truth if they would be free.”

But here’s what gives me hope.

When the powerful falter, others step up. Kenya’s courageous stand at the Council in defense of borders. Ireland’s diplomacy on humanitarian access. Ghana and Brazil advancing regional peacebuilding. These aren’t marginal acts. They’re the centre holding.

The world cannot wait for consensus among the few. Middle powers, regional leaders, and the often-silent majority of nations carry a special responsibility. Their leadership—quiet, persistent, grounded in principle—is how global norms survive when the loudest actors choose impunity.

We must also protect the spaces where that leadership can flourish. Despite its flaws—from veto paralysis to bureaucracy—the UN remains indispensable. It feeds millions, vaccinates children, monitors rights, and rebuilds peace in fragile places every day.

But the Charter was never meant only to end war—it was meant to prevent it. That means reinvesting in diplomacy, defending civic space, countering disinformation, and ensuring that international law protects the vulnerable, not shields the powerful. It means building a future where “We the Peoples” still means something—whether in Khartoum or Kyiv, Gaza or Port-au-Prince.

Truman compared the Charter to the U.S. Constitution: “Not a final or perfect instrument,” he said, “but one that will expand and improve as time goes on.” That’s our task today—to expand and improve it. To ensure the Charter lives not only in our memory, but in our actions.

The Charter endures because its drafters had seen the cost of failure. They had buried their dead. They knew that without cooperation, there is no peace. And without peace, no future.

The choice, Truman said, was clear then. It remains no less clear now.

Let us choose peace. Let us choose the Charter. Let us make it live—again.

                                                                * * * * *

To mark the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter, the Peace Reflection Group—a network of former UN officials—has launched a global Call urging renewed commitment to the Charter’s founding principles.

The Call invites individuals from all nations to reaffirm the shared values of peace, dignity, and international cooperation.

Signatures are open to all members of the human family and can be added via this link: Sign the Call

See the original call in the Financial Times

Explore the full text and signatories in over 10 languages here: Read the Call

Related articles by this author:

From Democratic Leader to Autocratic Example: The Global Impact of U.S. Backsliding (3-minute read)

Countering Human Rights Regression to Safeguard Peace (10-minute read)

A Defining Moment for the United Nations: The Global Stakes of U.S. Disengagement (3-mionute read)

Jordan Ryan is a member of the Toda International Research Advisory Council (TIRAC) at the Toda Peace Institute, a Senior Consultant at the Folke Bernadotte Academy and former UN Assistant Secretary-General with extensive experience in international peacebuilding, human rights, and development policy. His work focuses on strengthening democratic institutions and international cooperation for peace and security. Ryan has led numerous initiatives to support civil society organisations and promote sustainable development across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He regularly advises international organisations and governments on crisis prevention and democratic governance.