Historic opportunity for change to meet modern challenges

While the failures of the UN are often criticised, its many successes show that it should be improved through reforms not discarded, says Kofi Annan

As 2014 draws to a close, the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are under threat.

Around the world, personal liberty, human rights, and democracy are at risk — even in countries that have embraced democratic ideals. The international community is deeply divided, blocking progress on a host of global challenges, ranging from the crises in Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine to climate change and international trade.