Panelists: H.E. Mr. Hamza Yahia Cherif, Ambassador of Algeria in India; Amb. C.R. Gharekhan, formerly India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and elected President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1990; and Prof. Jonathan Lal, Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad

Chair: Amb. K.P. Fabian

The United Nations was established in 1945, in the wake of World War II,  " to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nation." It is necessary to examine to what extent the goals envisaged in 1945 have been realized 75 years later. We also need to figure out the challenges facing humanity in our times and to what extent the world body can meet those challenges.  A key question is what way the U.N. can be reformed and strengthened.