United Nations, August 2, 2025 — A new internal report released by the United Nations has revealed that most UN-produced reports receive limited readership, prompting Secretary-General António Guterres to call for a streamlined approach to the organization’s meetings and documentation processes.
Speaking to member states on Friday, Guterres presented findings from the UN80 Taskforce — a reform body established earlier this year in preparation for the UN’s 80th anniversary. The taskforce was mandated to review how UN staff implement the thousands of directives issued by bodies such as the General Assembly and the Security Council.
Key Findings: High Volume, Low Engagement
According to the report, the UN system supported approximately 27,000 meetings in the past year across 240 different bodies. In addition, 1,100 formal reports were produced — representing a 20 percent increase since 1990. Despite the scale of this output, Guterres noted that the majority of these reports receive minimal attention.
“Many of these reports are not widely read,” Guterres said. “The top five percent are downloaded more than 5,500 times, while one in five reports receives fewer than 1,000 downloads — and downloading doesn’t necessarily mean reading.”
The Secretary-General warned that the growing volume of documents and meetings is placing unsustainable pressure on the organization’s limited resources — both human and financial.
Call for Streamlined Operations
In response, Guterres proposed a leaner and more targeted approach to the UN’s work.
“Fewer meetings. Fewer reports — but ones that can fully meet the requirements of all mandates,” he said.
The recommendations are part of broader reform efforts aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of UN operations. The report suggests that reducing redundancy and focusing on quality over quantity could improve engagement with key stakeholders and decision-makers.
Financial Strain Adds Urgency
The reform push comes as the United Nations faces a prolonged liquidity crisis, now entering its seventh year. Several member states continue to delay or underpay their assessed contributions, contributing to budgetary constraints and operational challenges across the system.
Looking Ahead: Summit of the Future
The UN80 Taskforce report is among several initiatives launched to modernize the organization as it approaches a major milestone in multilateral diplomacy. Secretary-General Guterres is expected to announce additional proposals in the lead-up to the upcoming Summit of the Future, scheduled for later this year.
These reforms are intended to ensure the UN remains effective and relevant in an increasingly complex global environment.
