New UN Chief addresses efforts to build and sustain peace News
New UN Chief addresses efforts to build and sustain peace

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered his first formal briefing to the Security Council [transcript] on Tuesday. In the briefing [UN News Centre report], Guterres “underlined the need for new, strengthened efforts to build and sustain peace.” Guterres stressed that a new approach is needed to start preventing crises instead of responding to them. He advocated stronger emphasis on prevention, conflict resolution, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and sustainable development. Guterres also outlined the need for each member state to take cohesion and peace more seriously for the UN’s objectives to be achieved. Furthermore, he outlined that a dedication to prevention as well as trust in the system and other member states, was essential to success.

Guterres five-year term began on January 1, 2016. In an ppinion piece on Monday Guterres outlined his vision for the UN [UN News Centre report], including maintaining peace and security, promoting economic development, and combatting climate change In November Guterres, who was Secretary-General-elect at the time, urged [JURIST report] peacekeepers to respect human rights after numerous reports of violations. In October, the SG-elect was also called to eliminate [JURIST report] offshore tax havens for billionaires.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.