UN Reform - Background Resources For Members, Students And Media

Short Backgrounder - The Economist

A mechanism for Reform was provided for in the original UN charter, but the onset of the Cold War prevented any consensus or action. Recent events such as the nightmare of Rwanda and the invasion of Iraq have again underlined the weaknesses of the UN and brought the necessity for reform into the spotlight. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has commissioned a High Level Panel to report on recommendations and it is hoped a package of reforms can be adopted at the 'Millennium +5' Summit that will take place September, 2005 in New York.

WIKIPEDIA

An overview of UN Reform, from Wikipedia, the free-content encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Contents include Security Council reform, Bureaucracy, Enhancing its democratic nature, Financing reform, Committee reform, See also, and References.

Time For UN Reform?

WFM-C Commentary by Fergus Watt
Executive Director, World Federalist Movement - Canada
Plenary Panel on “The Future of Human Security and UN Reform”
Ottawa, January 19-20, 2005

Some of the significant reforms put forward by the High Level Panel that should be supported include:
- A "Peacebuilding Commission" to identify and assist countries that are under stress and risk sliding towards State collapse.
- Recommendations supporting the "responsibility to protect" proposal as an emerging international norm. The international community would have a duty to intervene for humanitarian purposes when governments are unable or unwilling to protect civilians threatened by genocide or crimes against humanity.
- Strengthening the UN’s Economic and Social Council in order that it become a "development cooperation forum," coordinating the disparate activities of a number of agencies and the Bretton Woods institutions.
- Reforms to the Commission on Human Rights that would universalize its membership and make it a more effective force for compliance with existing human rights standards.

UN Reform Official Site

This is the official site of Kofi Annan's report 'In Larger Freedom' but it also has links to other resources on UN Reform. The Secretary General:

- Embraces the emerging norm of the responsibility to protect and, when necessary, taking steps to act on it;
- Proposes the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission and a Peacebuilding Support Office in the Secretariat;
- Recommends several steps for strengthening regional organizations and peacekeeping operations.
- Encourages the General Assembly to act on the recommendations made by the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change on better engaging civil society.

WFM-C Comments On Annan Report

Canada should support UN reform efforts. Comments on recommendations for Security Council reform, Human Rights Commission, Peacebuilding, and Millennium Development Goals.

Agenda For Reform Of The UN (1995)

An overview of recommended restructuring prepared by World Federalists of Canada on the 50th anniversary of the UN. Though slightly dated (the International Criminal Court has become reality for which World Federalists can take some credit!), this is a good introduction to the major issues.