Rio de Janeiro/New Delhi, July 7 (Reporter) BRICS countries reaffirmed commitment to multilateralism and upholding international law including the UN Charter and stressed the need for comprehensive reform of the UN and UNSC and increasing its membership to make it more responsive to global challenges. In a Joint Declaration adopted at the conclusion of their 17th Summit at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on Sunday, the BRICS countries reiterated support for increasing the representation of developing countries in UNSC and the aspirations of emerging and developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including BRICS countries. They said the UNSC reform is to lead to the "amplified voice’’ of the Global South. ’We emphasize the strong call for reforms of the principal organs of the United Nations with a view to achieving concrete progress. We recommit to instil new life in the discussions on reform of the UN Security Council and continue the work to revitalize the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council.’’ They also reaffirmed support to the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the United Nations and the UN Security Council. They reiterated commitment to reforming and improving global governance by promoting a more just, "equitable, agile, effective, efficient, responsive, representative, legitimate, democratic and accountable’’ international and multilateral system in the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the Joint Declaration said. "We reaffirm commitment to multilateralism and upholding the international law, including the Purposes and Principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN), in their entirety and inter-connectedness as its indispensable cornerstone and the central role of the UN in the international system, in which sovereign states cooperate to maintain international peace and security, advance sustainable development, ensure the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all as well as cooperation based on solidarity, mutual respect, justice and equality.’’ The BRICS countries also reiterated commitment to ensuring greater and more meaningful participation and representation of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs), as well as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), especially from Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, in global decision-making processes and structures and making them better attuned to contemporary realities. They called for achieving equitable geographical representation in the UN Secretariat and other international organizations as well as increasing the role and share of women, especially from EMDCs, at all levels of leadership and responsibilities in these organizations. They stressed the need for the selection and appointment process of UN executive heads and senior positions to be guided by the principles of transparency and inclusiveness and carried out in accordance with all the provisions of Article 101 of the UN Charter with regard for recruiting staff on a geographical basis as wide as possible and the increased participation of women. There should be no monopoly on senior posts in the UN system by nationals of any State or group of States, they said...////...