The United Nations was founded to prevent war by uniting the world around higher principles. Today, we must reaffirm that collective security depends on individual dignity and the rule of law.

Analysis

The opening address of the 70th UN General Assembly (15 Sept 2015) contains language about the UN’s purpose to prevent war and the link between collective security, human dignity, and the rule of law, but Ban Ki‑moon never used the exact phrasing presented. The statement is a paraphrase that captures the spirit of his remarks but misrepresents them as a direct quote.

Background

Ban Ki‑moon’s speech emphasized the UN’s founding principle of preventing war, the need for collective security, and the importance of human dignity and the rule of law. Reporters and official UN transcripts record slightly different wording, such as “collective security rests on respect for human dignity and the rule of law.”

Verdict summary

Ban Ki‑moon conveyed the ideas, but the quoted wording is not an exact verbatim of his 2015 speech.

Sources consulted