Priorities for UN Reform in 64th Session
New York, 23 November 2009 – United Nations Member States have indicated their priorities for the 64th Session of the General Assembly, including on several areas of UN reform. All 192 members spoke at the General Debate (23-29 September), commenting especially on development, revitalization of the GA, and Security Council reform.
In addition, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered his assessment of reform needs for the organization, both in his statement opening the 64th Session as well as in his annual report on the work of the UN (A/64/1).
Finally, General Assembly President Ali Abdussalam Treki has announced his areas of emphasis for the Session.
Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization
In his opening address to the 64th Session, on 24 September, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for renewal and change for the better both within the UN itself and in its work around the world. Ban addressed the challenges of climate change and said he looked forward to the Conference in Copenhagen. He stressed the issue of nuclear disarmament as a high priority on the global agenda: “Together, let us make this the year we agreed to banish the bomb.” Ban also spoke of the “fight against world poverty” and the impact of the global economic crisis on the poor and vulnerable. He noted the prevention of sexual violence against women as a “top priority” for the year and endorsed the newly agreed-upon women’s agency.
Ban reaffirmed the Responsibility to Protect and stressed the importance of the International Criminal Court.
The main problematic regions he emphasized were Darfur, Sri Lanka, Burma/Myanmar, Gaza, and Afghanistan.
Secretary-General Ban’s annual report, issued on 6 October, provided an overview of the general work of the United Nations in the past year, highlighting the organization’s successes and improvements, as well as its shortcomings. Notably, the report calls for an overall revitalization of the UN so that it becomes “the hub of new multilateralism.”
Ban’s report comments on several aspects of UN reform:
- Reforms currently in progress at the Secretariat include a “strategic workforce planning initiative” (to attract a more talented, upwardly mobile staff), simplification of employment contracts, and administrative reform. In addition, the Secretariat will become more transparent, as performance reviews of the previous year’s work will be published and assessed.
- System-wide coherence and gender reforms warrant support.
- Organizational reforms in the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support are under way, though “much work still remains to ensure that the UN can meet evolving demands.” Further reforms are called for in the realm of UN peacekeeping, including the extension of leadership to a “wider international community” and the need to “strengthen national capacity.”
- The Human Rights Council has “put additional emphasis on national implementation by creating a review mechanism with broad participation.”
- On the Responsibility to Protect, a report has been issued (A/63/677) regarding implementation of the norm, which inspired a general debate. Ban reaffirmed the Responsibility to Protect and stressed the importance of the International Criminal Court. He noted that continued debate and deliberation is necessary.
A full summary of Ban’s report is available on ReformtheUN.org.
On 6 October, the General Assembly discussed the report and decided to “take note” of it.
General Assembly’s 64th Session Debate
All 192 Member States of the UN attended the 64th general debate and addressed the General Assembly from 23-29 September.
A number of reform-related areas were discussed, including:
- Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism,
- Development and ECOSOC reform,
- Environmental governance,
- General Assembly revitalization,
- Human Rights Council,
- Management and Secretariat reform,
- Responsibility to Protect,
- Peacebuilding Commission,
- Security Council reform, and
- System-wide Coherence.
For a detailed overview of country statements related to UN reform, see ReformtheUN.org’s Chart of the 64th General Debate.
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)
Some States expressed support for the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), calling for its early ratification.
Comments by Member States:
- Guinea: Remains in favor of the CCIT.
- India: It is time that the CCIT finally is adopted.
- Pakistan: “Regional cooperation against terrorism and extremism” is needed.
- Tajikistan: Negotiations on the CCIT should be expedited. ”Double standards should be excluded … given the fact that terrorism does not have any religious or political affiliations.”
Statements of general support for these ideas were made by Bhutan, Montenegro, Oman, and Sri Lanka.
Development and ECOSOC Reform
Reform of the workings and composition of the Economic and Social Council, as well as the development initiatives and activities of the UN system, were topics of great interest to a number of Member States. Many countries spoke on the need for a complete overhaul of the ailing world financial system, the urgency of fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and the particular importance of aiding developing countries.
Comments by Member States:
- Australia: The global financial crisis has been a wake-up call to the international community, regarding the need for radical reform of the institutions of global economic governance.
- Barbados: There is a need for a committee of experts on tax matters to be transformed into an intergovernmental subsidiary body of ECOSOC, with the goal of giving developing countries “an effective voice.”
- China: Greater efforts should be made to increase representation of developing countries in reform of the international financial system.
- Dominican Republic: A Task Force should be created to undertake a high-quality research and advisory project on setting a tax for development on capital deposited in tax havens, offshore banks, and international financial centers.
- Egypt: There is a need for a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of MDGs so far.
- Mauritius: Pro-business development reforms would be better than aid/charity; there is a need for a Marshall Plan for developing countries.
- Poland: New regulations for bank sector supervision are needed.
- Ukraine: A UN Economic Security Council should be created.
Statements of general support for these ideas were made by the following States: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, India, Ireland, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Switzerland, Tunisia, United States, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
Environmental Governance
Some States expressed their support for reforming environmental governance mechanisms at the UN, including the potential creation of a unified environmental organization.
France called for the establishment of the World Environmental Organization.
Germany called for an inclusive process in which countries directly affected by climate change can play a part in decision-making; the UN is the only reliable framework for this.
General Assembly Revitalization
Many States described the General Assembly as the crucial democratic center of the UN. The need for enhanced transparency, as well as the improvement of the performance and efficiency of the GA, was emphasized.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea suggested that the Security Council submit decisions to the General Assembly for approval, in particular those related to sovereign equality.
Statements of general support for these reforms were made by the following States: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Eritrea, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar/Burma, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Human Rights Council
A number of countries expressed their support for the objectives of the Human Rights Council (HRC) and stressed the need for such a body. Also, Member States called for the reform and greater inclusiveness of the Council.
Comments by Member States:
- Belgium: Seeks an “active role” on HRC.
- Egypt: Is still “unsatisfied” with the HRC and the “politicization” of human rights issues.
- Ireland: Seeks the active engagement of the UN in monitoring human rights situations around the world. The HRC and other human rights mechanisms must be able to address the most difficult human rights situations in timely and effective manner.
- Solomon Islands: Universal Periodic Reviews should be the reference point when assessing countries’ human rights situations.
Statements of general support for such reforms were made by the following States: Albania, Angola, Latvia, Maldives, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Thailand, U.S., and Zambia.
Management and Secretariat Reform
Member States called for greater transparency, accountability, coherence and efficiency throughout the UN system.
General support statements were made by: Afghanistan, Armenia, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Cameroon, and Guatemala.
Peacebuilding Commission (PBC)
A number of Member States expressed support for the objectives of the PBC and emphasized the importance of the body. The need to reform the PBC was also stressed by some States.
Comments by Member States:
- Chile: ”We welcome the important work being done by the PBC to provide support from the outset to countries emerging from conflict, support that is comprehensive and not only military.”
- Jamaica: Jamaica is "pleased that new arrangements have been put in place to make the Peacebuilding Fund more flexible."
- Nepal: The scheduled 2010 review of the PBC “would provide the opportunity to assess PBC activities and explore ways to make peacebuilding a more effective and innovative mechanism.”
General support statements made by: Angola, Austria, Azerbaijan, Germany, Grenada, Guinea, Ireland, Morocco, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom, and Uruguay.
Responsibility to Protect
Many countries noted their support for the principle of the responsibility to protect (RtoP) and emphasized the need for wider support of the initiative. Some States, however, raised concerns over the notion of the RtoP and its implementation. They also called for a “better definition” of the norm.
Comments by Member States:
- Comoros: A better definition of the responsibility to protect is needed, as is “enough time for reflection with regard to its launching.”
- Democratic Republic of Congo: “Sovereignty is a national responsibility. The international community should focus on building national capacities.”
- Niger: RtoP “must be clearly defined and marked out, like the constitution of the African Union.”
Statements supporting these ideas were made by the following States: Andorra, Armenia, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Finland, Guatemala, Ireland, Latvia, Lesotho, Montenegro, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden on behalf of the European Union.
Security Council Reform
Many Member States called for greater representation on the Council in accordance with geographical distribution and the contemporary political landscape. Emphasis was placed on the inclusion of African countries and other developing countries and groupings for permanent and non-permanent membership on the Council.
Comments by Member States:
- Bolivia: Eliminate permanent seats with the right of veto. All UN Member States must have the same rights. “Through the democratization of the Council, democracy could be brought to the United Nations.”
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Security Council must be more transparent. Eastern European countries should be assigned an additional non-permanent seat.
- Bulgaria: The Council should be enlarged, including with a non-permanent seat for Eastern European states.
- France: Brazil, India, African states, Japan, and Germany must become permanent members.
- Iran: It is not acceptable that UN and Security Council “be dominated by a few governments and serve their interests…. Fundamental changes seem to be unavoidable. The Secretary-General and General Assembly can take the lead in restructuring the UN into an efficient and fully democratic organization, capable of playing an impartial, equitable and effective role [and] reforming the Security Council’s structure by abolishing the veto.”
- Japan: Seeks permanent membership on Council.
- Maldives: India and Japan should be included as permanent members of the Council.
- Mauritius: India, African states, and a Latin American/Caribbean country should have permanent seats. The Council needs a “revised set of working methods."
General support statements made by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, DPRK, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Holy See, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lichtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar/Burma, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Portugal, Korea, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
System-wide Coherence
A number of Member States emphasized women’s empowerment, gender equality, the swift creation of a new gender entity, and the “Delivering as One” initiative.
Comments by Member States:
- Bulgaria: System-wide Coherence should be achieved parallel to the "reduction of any unreasonable costs in the budget."
- Montenegro: Interested in and eligible for implementation of “Delivering as One”.
General support statements made by: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Denmark, Estonia, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Niger, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Sweden/EU, and Macedonia.
GA President Announces Priority Areas
Incoming President Ali Abdussalam Treki’s opening statement at the GA touched upon several issues, in particular the need to reform and revitalize the UN and the broader UN system, including the General Assembly and the Security Council, to make both bodies more representative and effective; and the review and improvement of Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council.
Following the General Debate, President Treki issued his “work plan” for the 64th Session. In a 9 October letter to Member States, Treki wrote that he planned to work closely with the entire membership in an open and transparent manner, and that he intended to enhance consultations with the Presidents of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. He suggested that “periodic meetings between the Presidents of these three principal organs, as well as with the Secretary-General, will strengthen the effectiveness of the Organization.”
On specific reform issues, the President said:
- General Assembly Revitalization – The best way to enhance multilateralism is to reemphasize the GA as the main deliberative, policy-making and decision-making organ of the UN. This was a priority expressed by a majority of States, which he will continue to promote, including through the Ad Hoc Working Group on the issue.
- Human Rights Council – The Council is close to its mandated five-year review, at which time the membership “will be called to build on the positive experience gained by the Council and to support development of this organ.”
- Peacebuilding Commission – The Resolution establishing the PBC provides for a review of this body, also, after five years. Treki will work with Member States and the relevant organs to facilitate inclusive and transparent processes for the reviews.
- Security Council Reform – This issue remains a crucial part of the overall efforts to reform the UN. It is “imperative to continue intergovernmental negotiations and build reform process on the previous positive developments.”
- System-Wide Coherence – Treki will work with the membership to support inter-governmental consultations on the issue, with a view to achieving further substantive action in all areas.
Furthermore, “particular attention will be devoted” during this Session to the following additional issues:
- Development, with a special focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including the preparation for the 2010 high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly to take place at the beginning of the 65th session;
- The world financial and economic crisis and its impact on development, i.e. follow-up to the June 2009 Conference;
- Climate change;
- Dialogue among civilizations; and
- Non-proliferation and disarmament.
President Treki’s letter also noted that high-level meetings on Food Security and South-South Cooperation would take place during this Session. (The Food Security Summit recently took place in Rome, while the UN Conference on South-South Cooperation is scheduled for December in Nairobi.)
