Dag Hammarskjöld and spirituality at the United Nations
The UN is a place of contrast between selfishness and sharing, and represents the major battle line for the future of humanity’s soul and collective wellbeing. It is the locus for the emergence of higher values concerning humanity as a whole, and the rebirth of the race as a Planetary Entity, writes Donald Key.
Written in the early 1970s, when Mr. Keys was a speechwriter for Secretary-General U Thant and Founder/President of Planetary Citizens. Printed and distributed by the Aquarian Age Community with the kind permission of Mr. Keys.
It is a challenge to discuss Spirituality at the United Nations. It is a challenge because most people will think that the UN is the antithesis of spirituality. I must report, however, that I regard the United Nations as the most spiritual place in the world today. The UN is the first planetary focus at the human level. It is the first place that the nerve endings of all humanity join. It is the first place where all the qualities, characteristics, attributes, and essences of all human groups merge and blend. It is truly, the first temple of humanity.
Of all the contention, of all the disputes, of all the struggles, I am fully aware-much more so than bystanders, since I am in the middle of them on a nearly daily basis. That is, of course, one level of reality-but it is not the most important one. We are on the verge of the meta-organization of the world-by that I mean the reorganization of the world on a level higher than that of the participating nation-states. We have been stumbling toward this development for half a century, and of course it is only commencing-it is not complete. We have also been moving toward it since the first day a human was born on earth, or perhaps since the earth itself was formed, 4 billion years ago.
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United Nations (UN)
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The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States. The mission and work of the United Nations are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter.
Due to the powers vested in its Charter and its unique international character, the United Nations can take action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21st century, such as peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, disarmament, terrorism, humanitarian and health emergencies, gender equality, governance, food production, and more. The UN also provides a forum for its members to express their views in the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and other bodies and committees. By enabling dialogue between its members, and by hosting negotiations, the Organization has become a mechanism for governments to find areas of agreement and solve problems together. The UN’s Chief Administrative Officer is the Secretary-General.
2015 marked the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.
United Nations
› un.org
The United Nations System: Cornerstone with Cracks
The United Nations stands as the most comprehensive global governance structure. Established in 1945 after World War II, the UN system encompasses multiple specialized agencies, funds, and programs addressing different aspects of development and security.
Structure and Key Development Bodies
The UN development architecture centers on several core institutions. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) operates in 170 countries, supporting governance, poverty reduction, and crisis recovery. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) focuses on child welfare and rights. UN Women addresses gender equality challenges. The World Food Programme combats hunger and food insecurity.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) coordinates these various development efforts. It brings together 54 member states to discuss economic, social, and environmental policies. ECOSOC oversees specialized agencies like the World Health Organization, International Labour Organization, and Food and Agriculture Organization.
Since 2015, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have guided UN development work. This comprehensive framework addresses poverty, health, education, gender equality, climate action, and institutional effectiveness. The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs tracks progress toward these ambitious targets.
UN Peacebuilding
The UN helps millions of people live in peace by making peace last through the UN Peacebuilding Fund & support the Peacebuilding Commission.
un.org/peacebuilding
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Architecture
The UN Security Council holds primary responsibility for international peace and security. Its five permanent members (United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, and France) maintain veto power over substantive resolutions. This structure reflects post-WWII power dynamics rather than current geopolitical realities.
UN peacekeeping operations deploy over 75,000 personnel to conflict zones worldwide. These missions have evolved from military observation to multidimensional mandates including civilian protection, disarmament, electoral support, and human rights monitoring.
The Peacebuilding Commission, established in 2005, addresses the gap between immediate peacekeeping and long-term development. This intergovernmental advisory body supports countries emerging from conflict through coordinated strategies and resource mobilization.
Critical Assessment
The United Nations faces substantial criticism despite its achievements. Decision-making processes often move at glacial speed due to bureaucratic procedures and political deadlocks. The Security Council’s structure particularly draws censure for its lack of representativeness and the veto power that allows permanent members to block action even in humanitarian crises.
Resource constraints severely limit effectiveness. The UN’s core budget remains modest compared to its expansive mandate. Member states frequently fail to fulfill financial commitments, creating chronic funding shortfalls. The United States alone owes billions in unpaid assessments.
Implementation gaps undermine credibility. The gap between ambitious declarations and on-the-ground results has grown increasingly apparent. The Millennium Development Goals achieved mixed success, and the SDGs face similar challenges translating global commitments into local impact.
Accountability mechanisms remain weak. UN agencies sometimes operate with limited transparency. When personnel commit wrongdoing—including sexual exploitation cases in peacekeeping missions—justice often proves elusive. The organization’s diplomatic immunity complicates accountability efforts.
Former UN official Anthony Banbury highlighted these shortcomings in a scathing 2016 New York Times op-ed: “The United Nations is failing. Its founders would be disappointed and alarmed by what has become of their grand experiment.” This internal critique reflects growing recognition of the need for institutional reform.
United Nations Information Centres
United Nations Information Centres (UNICs) are the principal sources of information about the United Nations system in the countries where they are located. UNICs are responsible for promoting greater public understanding of and support for the aims and activities of the United Nations by disseminating information on the work of the Organization to people everywhere, especially in developing countries.
› un.org/united-nations-information-centres
UN Secretary-General Guterres’ Biggest Challenge: A Culture Of Impunity
By Lori Handrahan
This time it was to be a woman’s turn. But no. Not yet. Still not yet. The United Nations (UN) rung in the New Year with another white man, António Guterres from Portugal, taking over the reigns as secretary-general. Guterres has promised he will focus his leadership on ending human suffering. “You can’t imagine what it is to see levels of suffering that are unimaginable,” he said speaking of his experience as high commissioner for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. If abating suffering is to be Guterres’ focus, Syria, of course, demands urgent attention, but Guterres must also tackle an entrenched UN culture of impunity for, largely, male employees who cause harm. Too many for too long have been silent about the patriarchy, misogyny and abuse within the UN where employees who attempt to protect people abused by staff are silenced, and female employees themselves are, all too often, abused.
> forbes.com/a-culture-of-impunity
Sexual violence and inequality: it’s time the UN got its own house in order
Recent stories about peacekeepers abusing children and failure to investigate rapes reveal how the UN is not following its own gender equality policies
By Gry Tina Tinde
How does a displaced boy being raped by an international civil servant in a war-torn country benefit from the UN resolution to end violence against children? Does a humanitarian worker who is sexually harassed or assaulted by a peacekeeper or contractor know where to turn for help? Who investigates and punishes the perpetrators? It’s high time for the UN to take action on how these matters are resolved in a way that respects the human rights of everyone affected.
> theguardian.com/sexual-violence-inequality