Call to Mobilize for the Defense of a Democratic Multilateral System and International Law

Geneva, October 2025

We, the undersigned, social movements and civil society organizations, are deeply concerned by the attempts to dismantle of international law, in particular since the advent of the Trump administration and its subsequent attacks against the multilateral system. While several powerful States violate international law in various contexts, the United States is engaged in a uniquely abusive conduct that directly undermines the foundational principles of multilateralism and international law.

Not only has the United States withdrawn from key UN bodies and international agreements ‒ such as Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization, UNESCO ‒ and actively encouraged other States to abandon or undermine multilateral frameworks, but it has also ceased paying its assessed contributions, causing severe operational disruptions across the UN system. The U.S. government has further imposed sanctions on UN mandate holders, including Ms. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, severely impeding their ability to carry out their mandates independently and effectively. It has also targeted the International Criminal Court (ICC) through sanctions and political intimidation aimed at paralyzing its work.

The United States has repeatedly restricted movements or denied visas to duly accredited representatives of UN Member States ‒ including officials of the Palestinian Authority as well as representatives of civil society organizations and social movements ‒ thereby preventing their participation in sessions of the UN General Assembly in New York. This constitutes a direct obstruction of Member States’ right to access the world’s principal multilateral forum, a right explicitly guaranteed under international law and the 1947 Headquarters Agreement. The host country’s abuse of its privileged position to hinder participation in the United Nations itself is an intolerable violation of the principles upon which the UN was founded.

Furthermore, the U.S. President’s plan for Gaza (October 2025) is yet another demonstration of that country’s disregard for international law. While we fully support an immediate end to the massacres and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, as demanded by citizens around the world, this plan in fact seeks to perpetuate colonial domination in new forms and denies the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. By privileging the security of colonizers over justice, it effectively grants impunity to the perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity—even though international law categorically prohibits any amnesty for such crimes. Any genuine peace plan must therefore include mechanisms for transitional and restorative justice, accountability and uphold victims’ access to justice and reparation.

In this context, we call for the mobilization of peoples, social movements, and civil society organizations to defend international law grounded in the UN Charter and the inalienable rights of peoples. Together, we must strengthen a people-centered multilateralism capable of upholding justice and accountability. Our collective action will be essential to advance restorative justice for victims and to ensure that those responsible for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity are held fully accountable.

To this end, we also urge UN Member States to:

• fulfill their responsibilities and take concrete measures to counter the systematic erosion of international law, while upholding the multilateral system in pursuit of peace, human rights, social justice, and environmental protection;
• consider the immediate transfer of the UN headquarters from New York to Geneva, pending a collective decision on the future location of the UN’s principal seat, to end the arbitrary and illegal interference by the U.S. government in the functioning of the Organization.

In this spirit, we advocate for a multilateral system free from the omnipotent grip of powerful states and economic interests, thereby ensuring a democratic, inclusive, and participatory multilateralism. Defending and strengthening such a system requires resolute opposition to the law of the strongest and a firm commitment to upholding the equal rights of all peoples and states to be heard, represented, and protected under international law.

Link for associations to sign-up

First signatories (as of the 21st of October 2025)

•    International Association of Democratic Lawyers
• Emmaüs International
• Europe – Third World Centre (CETIM)
• La Vía Campesina (LVC)
• People’s Health Movement (PHM)
• Transnational institute (TNI)