As the United Nations celebrates its 80th anniversary, the need to adapt the multilateral system to today’s realities has never been more urgent. The current distribution of power reflects a past world order, while its architecture struggles to address the challenges of the 21st century: escalating conflicts, the threat of nuclear war, the unfolding climate emergency, the uncontained growth of artificial intelligence, and widening global inequalities.
Article 109: a forgotten pathway for reform
When the UN Charter was signed in 1945, it included a promise: within ten years, the “rules of the game” would be reviewed. Eight decades later, that commitment remains unfulfilled. Article 109 of the UN Charter provides a built-in mechanism to convene a General Conference to update the Charter, yet it has never been used.
The Article 109 Coalition – a network of organizations and experts – seeks to activate this mechanism to launch a long-overdue process of renewal. The aim is clear: to make the UN more representative, effective, and prepared to tackle today’s pressing global challenges.
Club de Madrid’s role
As the largest forum of democratic former Heads of State and Government, Club de Madrid has joined the Article 109 Coalition. Our participation aligns with our work on the Annual Policy Dialogue 2026 (APD26) on global public goods governance and democracy. Through this partnership, we provide political legitimacy to the Coalition’s call for reform while reinforcing our mission to strengthen multilateralism and democratic values.
Why now?
As the world hurtles from crisis to crisis and trust in multilateralism erodes, this is the moment to deliver on the promise made in 1945. It is time to collectively build a stronger, more equitable international system that reflects today’s world – and is fit to manage the challenges of tomorrow.
👉 Learn more about the Article 109 Coalition and its call to action here: Article 109 Official Launch
