UN Expert Urges Multipolarity Aligned with UN Charter

GENEVA - The Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, George Katrougalos, today warned that growing unilateral coercive measures and geopolitical fragmentation are undermining the foundations of the United Nations Charter. Katrougalos called for a renewed commitment to what he describes as an embedded multipolarity grounded in international law, multilateralism and human rights. Presenting his latest report to the Human Rights Council, Katrougalos argued that contemporary global realities can no longer be accurately understood through notions of unipolarity, bipolarity or competing civilizational blocs. "We live in a multipolar world. The challenge is not whether power is distributed among multiple actors, but whether that diversity of power operates within and remains accountable to the multilateral framework of the United Nations," the expert said. The report documents what the expert describes as a "pattern of coercive unilateralism" that threatens key principles of the UN Charter, including sovereign equality, non-intervention and the peaceful settlement of disputes. He expressed concern about the increasing use of tariffs and unilateral sanctions as instruments of political pressure and warned against measures that deprive States of their freedom of choice. Katrougalos also criticised sanctions imposed against officials of the International Criminal Court and against a fellow UN Special Rapporteur, stressing that such measures undermine the independence of international institutions and mechanisms established to uphold international justice and accountability. The report highlights examples of cooperative and non-hegemonic approaches to global governance, including initiatives promoting peaceful coexistence, regional integration and reform of international financial institutions. Katrougalos also introduced a proposed Global Regulatory Delivery Index, designed to assess States' implementation of human rights, environmental and social commitments while taking account of external constraints such as sanctions, debt burdens and economic conditionalities. "The diversity of power and the universality of human rights are not opposites. Properly embedded in the multilateral system, they can reinforce one another," Katrougalos said. The expert also presented findings from his country visit to Iceland. He commended the country's commitment to human rights, equality, democratic governance and international solidarity, including its decision to increase Official Development Assistance despite a broader trend of reductions worldwide. He welcomed the incorporation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into Icelandic law in November 2025 and the ratification of its Optional Protocol in May 2026. He also urged authorities to address remaining protection gaps affecting migrants, persons with disabilities and trans persons. "The future of a democratic and equitable international order depends on reaffirming sovereign equality, strengthening multilateral cooperation and ensuring that human rights remain at the centre of global governance," the expert said.