Topic: 2025 – Responsibility of International Organizations
Country: Saudi Arabia
Delegate Name: Sophia Caron
International organizations play a bigger role than ever in peacekeeping, humanitarian work, and global governance. As their influence grows, questions about responsibility also increase, especially when wrongful acts happen, like human rights violations, financial misconduct, environmental damage, or failures in UN missions. While the International Law Commission created the Articles on the Responsibility of International Organizations (ARIO), there is no binding treaty, which leaves gaps in accountability—particularly when immunity prevents domestic prosecution or when host states don’t have the capacity to investigate. Saudi Arabia believes that accountability must be clear and fair. Immunity should protect the independence of international organizations, but it should never be a shield for wrongdoing. International organizations must be responsible for acts that violate international law, while accountability systems should remain compatible with organizational neutrality and effectiveness. Member States need to cooperate to close legal gaps that allow harm to go unaddressed. Saudi Arabia has actively participated in Sixth Committee debates on the ARIO, supported UN reforms to strengthen ethics offices and misconduct reporting, advocated for transparency in peacekeeping, and promoted stronger legal frameworks to prevent abuse and ensure justice for affected communities. To improve accountability, Saudi Arabia recommends using the ARIO as a foundation for clearer guidelines or a future treaty defining responsibility, compensation, and cooperation among states; strengthening oversight through audits, ethics offices, whistleblower protections, and independent investigations; clarifying immunity so that official acts are protected but serious misconduct can be prosecuted; enhancing cooperation with standardized evidence-sharing and communication between host states, member states, and organizations; and ensuring victims have access to justice through complaint procedures, reporting hotlines, and fair remedies. Saudi Arabia believes that by strengthening oversight, clarifying legal responsibilities, and ensuring justice for affected populations, the international community can maintain trust in international organizations and reinforce the legitimacy and integrity of global institutions.
