The New South Institute (NSI) has joined the Article 109 Coalition.

The coalition brings together civil society organisations, researchers, experts and advocates working to renew the United Nations Charter. Its central objective is to mobilise UN Member States to convene a General Conference to review the Charter, using the process established in Article 109.

Article 109 provides a mechanism through which UN Member States can review the organisation’s founding Charter and recommend changes. It distinguishes between convening a review conference and bringing any resulting amendments into force, which requires a separate ratification process.

The coalition advocates an inclusive review process rather than a single predetermined package of reforms. Its vision includes a UN better equipped to maintain peace and security, respond to emerging global challenges, distribute power more fairly, and strengthen respect for international law and human rights.

This institutional focus connects with NSI’s work on strengthening democracy through effective and accountable institutions. The Institute’s research and South–South dialogues examine how institutions are built and reformed, and how experiences from different societies can inform the choices facing policymakers.

Joining the coalition connects that work with an international discussion about the institutions needed for global cooperation. At its centre is a question that also informs institutional reform within countries: How can structures of authority become more representative, accountable and capable of responding to the people they serve?

Learn more about the Article 109 Coalition and UN Charter review.