MULTILATERAL: UN’s Changes & more – 6th May 2025

Saluton from BA! This is the Rorshok Multilateral Update from the 6th of May twenty twenty-five. A summary of what's going down in the world's major multilateral institutions.

To kick things off this week, on Friday the 2nd, the Associated Press reported that the U.N. is looking at some major changes as it deals with shrinking budgets and overlapping responsibilities. It might have plans to simplify operations, merge agencies, and cut back on costs.

Specifically, the World Food Program, or WFP, is facing significant challenges due to substantial reductions in U.S. funding, according to the report. The WFP anticipates cutting up to a third of its staff, affecting operations globally. Similarly, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees plans to downsize its headquarters and regional offices, aiming for a similar cost reduction and halving senior-level positions. UNICEF projects a 20% budget decrease in twenty twenty-five, prompting further operational cuts.

According to UNAIDS, HIV services are also taking a hit due to recent U.S. funding cuts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country is bracing for shortages of essential supplies like antiretroviral meds and condoms in the coming months. Programs that support pregnant women, children, and young women are scaling back or shutting down, and community-led efforts are struggling with less funding and fewer staff.

These losses are a big deal, especially since the HIV crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo used to be one of the worst in all of Africa, and it’s come a long way. Years of conflict and weak health infrastructure contributed to the spread of the disease and limited access to testing and treatment. International organizations like UNAIDS played a huge role by funding therapy programs, improving prevention services, and supporting the strengthening of the health system.

In other news, The International Organization for Migration announced on Tuesday 29th that over 52,000 people have died while attempting to escape areas plagued by conflict and disasters since twenty fourteen. The majority of these deaths occurred within or near the troubled regions themselves.

The organization stressed that many of these migrants were driven by dire circumstances, lacking safe or viable options at home. It’s pushing for improved international collaboration to provide safer migration pathways and better support for those on the move.

Next up, Mark Rutte, the NATO Secretary General, proposed a new approach to defense spending on Friday the 2nd, addressing President Trump's demand for allies to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense. Rutte suggests a new plan: increasing direct military spending to 3.5% and dedicating an additional 1.5% to broader security-related areas, such as infrastructure improvements that support military operations.

A lot of the work that NATO’s leadership has done since Trump came back into power has been finding ways to satisfy him, as there are fears he may reduce the role of the U.S. in NATO. Some in his administration have even pushed for leaving NATO altogether, worrying many.

In legal news, on Tuesday the 29th, the EU’s biggest court ruled that Malta's golden passport program, which allowed individuals to obtain citizenship through significant financial investments, violates EU law. The court determined that granting citizenship in exchange for payment undermines the mutual trust and solidarity among member states.

Despite generating substantial revenue for Malta, the program faced criticism for enabling individuals with limited ties to the country to obtain EU citizenship. The ruling mandates that Malta terminate the scheme, aligning its practices with EU principles.

In more legal news, on Tuesday the 29th, through the International Court of Justice, South Africa accused Israel of intentionally blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, leading to widespread starvation. South African officials argued that Israel's actions are deliberate and amount to severe violations of international law. They highlighted statements from Israeli leaders indicating a refusal to allow aid into the region, suggesting a calculated effort to deprive civilians of essential resources.

Recall that South Africa started proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice back in December twenty twenty-three, and accused the country of committing genocide in Gaza during its military operations. The case was filed under the Genocide Convention, with South Africa arguing that Israel’s actions violated international obligations to prevent and punish genocide.

On Friday the 2nd, the Philippines and Malaysia, both members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, met to increase cooperation within the organization. They aim to strengthen their relations and the alliance as a whole to tackle ongoing security and trade challenges. This collaboration is particularly focused on addressing issues like the civil conflict in Myanmar and China’s aggressive posturing against neighboring countries in the South China Sea, as well as navigating economic uncertainties due to global trade dynamics.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday the 29th, Hungary’s parliament voted to leave the International Criminal Court, or ICC. The country’s foreign minister said that it favors leaving the court because it is neither impartial nor credible anymore. This announcement came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Budapest, despite an ICC arrest warrant issued against him for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Human rights organizations had urged Hungary to detain Netanyahu, but the government didn’t.

On Wednesday the 30th, the African Union decided to lift sanctions on Gabon. This move follows Gabon's suspension in August twenty twenty-three, when a general seized control of the country from the president in a coup. Since then, Gabon has adopted a new constitution and held elections in April twenty twenty-five, organized by the people who helped the general come to power. That same General won the elections.

The Union’s Peace and Security Council deemed the transition process generally successful, allowing Gabon to resume participation in the Union’s activities. However, some critics still believe the country is too authoritarian and not democratic enough.

Going back to health, on Thursday the 1st, Reuters reported that the World Health Organization or WHO is preparing to endorse the use of new weight loss drugs. These drugs have demonstrated significant weight loss results in clinical trials. However, they are very expensive, sometimes costing consumers over $1,000 US dollars per month, which makes it harder for people in low and middle-income countries to access them.

To address this, the WHO is considering strategies such as tiered pricing and pooled procurement. The organization also plans to update treatment guidelines and may include these drugs on its essential medicines list to promote broader availability.

On Wednesday the 30th, the Pan American Health Organization said that almost half of the countries in the Americas are grappling with significant shortages of healthcare professionals. Factors contributing to these shortages include limited training capacities, an aging workforce, and the migration of professionals.

These shortages are especially problematic since infectious disease outbreaks, poor healthcare infrastructure, and limited access to essential services are already issues in some of these countries. Luckily, the Pan American Health Organization does a lot to help, including supporting vaccination campaigns, strengthening disease surveillance systems, and providing technical assistance to improve primary healthcare delivery.

On another note, on Tuesday the 29th, during a World Trade Organization session in Geneva, tensions escalated as the U.S. and its allies criticized China for alleged overproduction and subsidies in industries like steel and electric vehicles. China dismissed these concerns, labeling them as distractions from what it perceives as protectionist policies by the U.S. The meeting became a flashpoint in the ongoing trade disputes, with both sides accusing each other of undermining fair trade practices.

The U.S. and China have both been hesitant to negotiate at all, and little progress has been made to resolve the economic conflict.

For our last story, also on Tuesday the 29th, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe finished a training session to reduce gender based violence. Participants learned about victim-centered approaches, evidence collection, and the importance of early intervention by first responders. This initiative is part of a broader project supported by several European countries to promote gender-sensitive responses to such violence across Southeastern Europe.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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