BS: Proposed reform of the UN

Subject: BS: Proposed reform of the UN
From: freda underhill
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 07:29 PM

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged governments to endorse sweeping reforms of the organisation. They include enlarging the Security Council, setting out rules on when it can authorise military force, and an agreed definition of terrorism. The proposals are designed to ensure the UN, which was shaken by the bitter debate over the war against Iraq, remains at the heart of world security.
On the use of force, the report seeks a Security Council resolution making clear on when force is necessary. The Bush administration has insisted on the right to act unilaterally. "In today's world, no state, however powerful, can protect itself on its own," Annan said.

Additional vetoes of the new permanent members of the Security Council will not be acceptable. It was believed that the expansion of veto power would not be acceptable to Member States, Annan stressed, adding "therefore, in general sense, we can have permanent members without a veto."

One of the major proposals calls for the creation of a Human Rights Council, possibly as a principal organ of the United Nations such as the Security Council or the General Assembly, to replace the Geneva- based Commission on Human Rights. It has long faced criticism for allowing the worst-offending countries to use their membership to protect one another from condemnation. The proposals face objections from Arab nations because of a call for a treaty that would define terrorism as any act intended "to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians." A treaty has been bogged down on arguments about resistance fighters, code for Palestinian suicide bombers.

Excerpts from the report:

Collective security today depends on accepting that the threats each region of the world perceives as most urgent are in fact equally so for all. States should commit to a comprehensive anti-terrorism strategy based on five pillars:
- dissuading people from resorting to terrorism or supporting it;
- denying terrorists access to funds and materials;
- deterring States from sponsoring terrorism;
- developing State capacity to defeat terrorism;
- defending human rights.

They should conclude a comprehensive convention on terrorism, based on a clear and agreed definition. They should also complete, without delay, the convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism. ..Currently, half the countries emerging from violent conflict revert to conflict within five years.

The Security Council should adopt a resolution setting out the principles to be applied in decisions relating to the use of force and express its intention to be guided by them when deciding whether to authorize or mandate the use of force.

The Commission on Human Rights suffers from declining credibility and professionalism, and is in need of major reform. It should be replaced by a smaller standing Human Rights Council, whose members would be elected directly by the General Assembly, by a two-thirds
majority of members present and voting.

The reforms proposed will be discussed by a meeting of world leaders attending a UN summit in September, and must then be endorsed by the General Assembly. The report comes two years after the US-led invasion of Iraq, which took place without explicit Security Council authorisation.

Mr Annan said current threats such as civil violence, organised crime, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, as well as poverty and disease, were interconnected. The secretary general called on UN members to agree on a definition of terrorism and to take urgent steps to prevent nuclear, chemical and biological weapons from getting into the hands of terrorists. The report suggests that "any action constitutes terrorism if it is intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international organisation to do or abstain from doing any act".

Annan's proposals include a recommendation to expand the 15-member Security Council to 24 to make it more representative of the whole world and the "geopolitical realities of today."

"If the United Nations is to meet the expectations of men and women everywhere -- and indeed, if the organization is to take the cause of human rights as seriously as those of security and development -- then member states should agree to replace the Commission on Human Rights with a small standing Human Rights Council."
The report also calls for:
# a comprehensive convention on terrorism;
# guidelines to halt nuclear proliferation;
# creation of a unit to help countries recover from war;
# recognizing the special needs of Africa;
# ensuring the establishment of timetables in the developing world for development assistance;
# generating global action "to mitigate climate change," and;
# pursuing the establishment of a worldwide early warning system for natural disasters.

If the proposals are accepted, the tight control of the United Nations by a few countries may be history.
The full report is on the United Nations Web site: http://www.un.org/largerfreedom/

Subject: RE: BS: Proposed reform of the UN
From: freda underhill
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 07:34 PM

Towards Development, Security and Human Rights For All

Subject: RE: BS: Proposed reform of the UN
From: Peace
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 08:15 PM

I can see this being a big hit in Washington.

Subject: RE: BS: Proposed reform of the UN
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 11:35 PM

An interesting conundrum would be the UK being forced off the Security Council along with Denmark and France to make way for a unified European approach, joking of course about the unified European approach! That would free up two more seats anyway.

As for China joining the Security Council that too would be an interesting one, it would rank squarely alongside Russia with its grand record on human rights and 'peacefull' cooperation with neighbouring countries. Last week China passed an internal law allowing themselves to invade Taiwan if they thought it needed.

That is not to say that the UN does not nead reforming it does. There is a greater need today to see aid given to the deserving countries and intervention to prevent slaughter when needed. Viz Ruanda, Congo plus incidents in the Balkans where hands were tied by the UN's seemingly exisisting policy of non intervention at all costs.

Maybe there will even be a move forward on the issue of North Korea as well as Iran's nuclear intentions. The Middle East might even make the agenda. But I am not holding my breath, maybe I am being too cynical.

Subject: RE: BS: Proposed reform of the UN
From: GUEST,Shanghaiceltic
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 11:44 PM

Oops I ballsed up! Russia and China are already permanent members.

Oh well lets just have Unified European representation, my vote for the two extra spare seats would be for the Isle of Man and Tonga. Let the smaller nations have a say.

Another thought it would be interesting to see Taiwan apply. That would certainly ruffle the feathers in Beijing.

Subject: RE: BS: Proposed reform of the UN
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 06:23 PM

UN reform? .....ROTFLMAO.....in which century would they actually agree on the reforms? How many years would it take to implement the changes? They are beaurocrats and very disfunctional ones too; the only way it would work will be when the UN becomes the world government. If that happens I would hope to be long dead and gone.

Yours, Aye. Dave