UN Charter Review

At the CGS 2021 Annual Conference, Shahr-Yar Sharei presented a detailed case for reforming the United Nations through a formal review of its founding Charter. As Executive Director of the Center for United Nations Constitutional Research (CUNCR), a Brussels-based global governance think tank, Sharei brought deep expertise in international constitutional law to this important discussion.

Event Description

Sharei explored pathways toward a more democratic and effective United Nations through the constitutional transformation of the UN Charter. He discussed the legal basis for a Charter Review Conference under Article 109(3) and examined how the original vision articulated in the Charter’s preamble—speaking in the name of “we the peoples”—could be more fully realized through structural reform. His presentation addressed the gap between the Charter’s aspirations and the current functioning of the UN system.

Speakers

• Shahr-Yar Sharei, Executive Director, Center for United Nations Constitutional Research (CUNCR)

Policy Focus

• The legal framework for convening a UN Charter Review Conference under Article 109(3)
• Democratization of the Security Council and broader UN governance structures
• Constitutional transformation of the UN Charter to fulfill its founding ideals
• Strengthening the UN’s capacity to address contemporary global challenges through structural reform