When the UN Security Council is paralysed and multilateral norms erode, it is civilians who pay the highest price in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and beyond.
On 20 January, DanChurchAid, the Danish Red Cross and the Danish UN Association convened a discussion reflecting on Denmark’s first year on the UN Security Council, its commitment to international law and multilateralism, and the growing global challenges posed by instability and isolationism.
Taking stock of achievements, challenges and the state of multilateralism
Opening the discussion DCA’s Secretary-General Jonas Nøddekær reminded the audience that the erosion of international law affects not only the Global South but increasingly societies everywhere.
Representatives from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Louise Riis Andersen and Thea Yde Jensen outlined Denmark’s approach to its Council role. Despite political constraints, UN engagement continues to deliver tangible impact. Against the backdrop of a devastating protection crisis in Sudan, Denmark’s coordination of fragmented mediation efforts through the Informal Interactive Dialogue was highlighted as an example of principled leadership.
Denmark’s credibility contingent on defence of international law and development assistance
Background
Denmark was elected to the United Nations Security Council in June 2024 together with Somalia, Pakistan, Panama and Greece. Denmark assumed its seat in January 2025 for the 2025–2026 term. The first year of Denmark’s term has been marked by a Security Council struggling with internal division, as Denmark sought to promote international rule of law and to continue to advance key political and humanitarian agendas, under severe strain.
Yet, in the absence of agreement amongst Council Members or even where some Members appear to block advancements, membership of the Council still provides an international platform for advancing key agendas, political and humanitarian.
Membership offers opportunities to convene actors, foster dialogue, and defend international norms both publicly and behind the scenes.
Former Foreign Ministers Holger Nielsen and Mogens Lykketoft underlined the importance of multilateralism and a rules-based international system for small and mid-sized countries, which make up the majority of UN Member States. Denmark’s credibility, they argued, rests on the consistent defence of international law and development assistance, values it must continue to advance from the Council table.
Emanuela Gillard and Richard Gowan argued that the Security Council has endured difficult periods before, and that its effectiveness cannot be judged solely by formal resolutions. They cautioned, however, that this is a critical moment to defend international law, both during and beyond Council membership.
Voices from Sudan underscored what is at stake. A Sudanese civil society actor urged Council members to do far more to protect civilians amid hunger and gender-based violence used as weapons of war. John Aylieff of the World Food Programme reinforced that Council pressure matters, even when outcomes are limited, and that Sudanese-led initiatives need stronger international backing.
Anders Ladekarl, General Secretary of the Danish Red Cross, noted that the packed room reflected strong public support for multilateralism, while cautioning that a Security Council focused too narrowly on humanitarian issues risks falling short of its responsibility to maintain international peace and security.
The conversation was a reminder that the Security Council’s relevance cannot be taken for granted. Upholding international law in today’s fractured geopolitical landscape is difficult, imperfect, and often frustrating – but it is neither optional nor out of reach.
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