<\/p>\n
As wars rage worldwide, with civilian casualties a daily occurrence, critics of the United Nations say the body is failing at its most basic job, while experts warn the organisation is being scapegoated for things that are beyond its control.<\/p>\n
Maintaining peace and international security is one of the UN\u2019s central missions, but its record has been badly tarnished as bloodshed intensifies in conflicts across the world, including in Gaza<\/a>, Ukraine<\/a> and Sudan<\/a>.<\/p>\n The UN\u2019s detractors point to those brutal conflicts, among others, as evidence that the global organisation \u2014 hosting its centrepiece gathering of world leaders in New York this week \u2014 has failed in its mission.<\/p>\n The UN\u2019s chief, however, has a different view.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s obvious that we are not having peace and security in the world, and it\u2019s obvious that it\u2019s not because of the UN as an institution that doesn\u2019t happen,\u201d UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told AFP<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s because of member states.\u201d<\/p>\n The Security Council, the UN body charged with securing and enforcing peace, is largely paralysed on the issues of Gaza and Ukraine because of the vetoes wielded by Washington and Moscow.<\/p>\n