The United Nations

[Soldier4Christ]

Transformed UN proposed to create 'new world order'

Gordon Brown has begun secret talks with other world leaders on far-reaching reform of the United Nations Security Council as part of a drive to create a "new world order" and "global society".

The Prime Minister is drawing up plans to expand the number of permanent members in a move that will provoke fears that the veto enjoyed by Britain could be diluted eventually. The United States, France, Russia and China also have a veto but the number of members could be doubled to include India, Germany, Japan, Brazil and one or two African nations.

Mr Brown has discussed a shake-up of a structure created in 1945 to reflect the world's new challenges and power bases during his four-day trip to China and India. Last night, British sources revealed "intense discussions" on UN reform were under way and Mr Brown raised it whenever he met another world leader.

The Prime Minister believes the UN is punching below its weight. In 2003, it failed to agree on a fresh resolution giving explicit approval for military action in Iraq. George Bush then acted unilaterally, winning the support of Tony Blair.

UN reform is highly sensitive and Britain will not yet publish formal proposals for fear of uniting opponents against them. Mr Brown is trying to build a consensus for change first.

His aides are adamant that the British veto will not be negotiated away. One option is for the nations who join not to have a veto, at least initially. In a speech in Delhi today, the Prime Minister will say: "I support India's bid for a permanent place – with others – on an expanded UN Security Council." However, he is not backing Pakistan's demand for a seat if India wins one.

Mr Brown will unveil a proposal for the UN to spend £100m a year on setting up a "rapid reaction force" to stop "failed states" sliding back into chaos after a peace deal has been reached. Civilians such as police, administrators, judges and lawyers would work alongside military peace-keepers. "There is limited value in military action to end fighting if law and order does not follow," he will say. "So we must do more to ensure rapid reconstruction on the ground once conflicts are over – and combine traditional humanitarian aid and peace-keeping with stabilisation, recovery and development."

He will call for the World Bank to lead the fight against climate change as well as poverty in the developing world, and argue that the International Monetary Fund should prevent crises like the credit crunch rather than just resolve them.

Arriving in Delhi yesterday, Mr Brown said he wanted a "partnership of equals" between Britain and India as he called for closer trade links and co-operation against terrorism. He announced £825m of aid over the next three years – £500m of which will be spent on health and education.

Mr Brown is to bring back honorary knighthoods and other awards for cricketers from Commonwealth countries. He said: "Cricket is one of the great things that bind the Commonwealth together. It used to be that great cricketers from the Commonwealth would be recognised by the British nation I would like to see some of the great players in the modern era honoured."

Read Andrew Grice at independent.co.uk/todayinpolitics

Security Council membership

The UN Security Council's membership has remained virtually unchanged since it first met in 1946.

Great Britain, the United States, the then Soviet Union, China and France were designated permanent members of the UN's most powerful body.

Initially, six other countries were elected to serve two-year spells on the council – in 1946 they were Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, the Netherlands and Poland.

The number of elected members, who are chosen to cover all parts of the globe, was increased to 10 in 1965. They are currently Belgium, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, Indonesia, Italy, Libya, Panama, South Africa and Vietnam.

Decisions made by the council require nine "yes" votes out of 15. Each permanent member has a veto over resolutions.

The issue of UN reform has long been on the agenda. One suggestion is that permanent membership could be expanded to 10 with India, Japan, Germany, Brazil and South Africa taking places. Any reform requires 128 nations, two-thirds, to support it in the assembly.

[Shammu]

UN report calls Palestinian terrorism result of occupation
Israel dismisses analysis, details misfire in Gaza
By Bradley S. Klapper
Associated Press / February 27, 2008

GENEVA - A report commissioned by the United Nations says Palestinian terrorism is the inevitable result of Israeli occupation, an assertion that Israel rejected yesterday as inflammatory.

The report, posted on the UN Human Rights Council's website, says that while Palestinian terrorist acts are deplorable, "they must be understood as being a painful but inevitable consequence of colonialism, apartheid, or occupation."

The report accuses the Jewish state of acts and policies consistent with all three.

As long as there is occupation, there will be terrorism, says the author, John Dugard, an independent investigator on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a South African lawyer who campaigned against apartheid in the 1980s.

Dugard says in the report that "common sense . . . dictates that a distinction must be drawn between acts of mindless terror, such as acts committed by Al Qaeda, and acts committed in the course of a war of national liberation against colonialism, apartheid, or military occupation."

The report calls for Israeli occupation to end, citing the country's checkpoints and roadblocks restricting Palestinian movement, house demolitions, and the "Judaization" of Jerusalem.

Until the occupation is ended, "peace cannot be expected, and violence will continue," the report says.

Israel's UN ambassador in Geneva rejected Dugard's analysis and questioned his objectivity.

"Dugard will better serve the cause of peace by ceasing to inflame the hatred between Israelis and Palestinians, who have embarked on serious talks to solve this contentious situation," Itzhak Levanon said.

The 25-page report will be presented next month to the 47-nation rights council, which has been criticized - even by its founder, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan - for spending most of its time reproaching Israel over alleged abuses.

Dugard was appointed in 2001 as an unpaid analyst to investigate only violations by the Israeli side, prompting Israel and the United States to dismiss his reports as one-sided.

Also yesterday, the Israeli military said no one is to blame for the Israeli military shelling of two houses in November 2006 in which 21 sleeping Palestinian civilians were killed.

The shelling in Gaza was "not intentional and was directly due to a rare and severe failure in the artillery fire control system," the military said in releasing the findings of an internal inquiry. There will be no military police inquiry, the statement said.

The shelling, which occurred during a large-scale Israeli ground operation in northern Gaza against Palestinian rocket squads, provoked the wrath of international groups and human rights organizations. Since then, Israel has rarely used artillery against Gaza.

The shells crashed into houses in the town of Beit Hanoun, about four miles from Israel, after midnight on Nov. 8, 2006, killing mostly women and children.

The explosions left holes in the buildings and sent panicked residents scurrying outside.

The military said it was aiming at rocket squads firing from northern Gaza.

UN report calls Palestinian terrorism result of occupation

[Soldier4Christ]

The 25-page report will be presented next month to the 47-nation rights council, which has been criticized - even by its founder, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan - for spending most of its time reproaching Israel over alleged abuses.

Can we expect anything less from an organization that is controlled by islamists.

[Littleboy]

I Love the fact that Israel IS the Burdensum Stone
that our Lord said she would be in the End Times.
More Proof that the Bible speaks truth (for the UNbelievers)
True Believers know that ALL the Words in the Bible ARE inspired Words from God
given to men of God for our ears to hear today, While it is still called today...
I Pray & Keep her(Israel) in my heart daily, That they would call on the name of my/our/their Lord(weather they know it right now or not)
and Not reject Him as their ForeFathers Did in the day of his visitation, Because of that very act, NOT one stone of the Temple was left upon another by titus
and his armies in 70 AD.
Nero had blamed the burning of Rome on the Christians & then he Died and Vespaciun became Ceasrer & sent his son Titus to destroy Jerusalem
And bring back the Gold that the Temple held & Slaves & anialate them & scatter them abroad.
History & The Arch of titus in europe depicts this act & the Roman Collossium was built from the Gold that was taken from the Temple of God!
YLBD

[Soldier4Christ]

US: Muslim states, UN fuel anti-Semitism

There has been an upsurge in anti-Semitism over the past decade, much of it a new form whose "distinguishing feature" is criticism of Israel, according to a State Department report released over the weekend.

The 94-page report on 2007 criticizes many Muslim and Arab countries for encouraging anti-Semitism, and an entire chapter is devoted to anti-Semitism at the United Nations.

"Motives for criticizing Israel in the UN may stem from legitimate concerns over policy or from illegitimate prejudices," the report reads. "However, regardless of the intent, disproportionate criticism of Israel as barbaric and unprincipled, and corresponding discriminatory measures adopted in the UN against Israel, have the effect of causing audiences to associate negative attributes with Jews in general, thus fueling anti-Semitism."

The report lists forms of anti-Semitic crimes including terrorist attacks against Jews, desecration of synagogues and destruction of cemeteries. In addition, it cites anti-Semitic rhetoric, conspiracy theories, and other propaganda.

While the report notes that traditional forms of anti-Semitism continue to be found across the globe, "anti-Semitism has proven to be an adaptive phenomenon."

The new forms often incorporate elements of traditional anti-Semitism, but "the distinguishing feature of the new anti-Semitism is criticism of Zionism or Israeli policy that - whether intentionally or unintentionally - has the effect of promoting prejudice against all Jews by demonizing Israel and Israelis and attributing Israel's perceived faults to its Jewish character."

While this new anti-Semitism is "common throughout the Middle East and in Muslim communities in Europe," it is not confined to these populations, the report finds.

The document's introduction singles out Iran and Syria for their demonization of Jews, and adds, "Venezuela's government-sponsored mass media have become vehicles for anti-Semitic discourse, as have government news media in Saudi Arabia and Egypt."

It names Britain, France and Germany as European countries where "anti-Semitic violence remains a significant concern," but also lists other Western nations as experiencing recent increases, including Argentina, Australia and Canada.

The report, a follow-up on one issued in 2005, compiled data from government and NGO sources around the world.

This year's report was dedicated to the late Rep. Tom Lantos of California, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman who passed away last month. A Holocaust survivor, he co-sponsored the legislation creating the Office of the Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, which issued the report.

"Today's report provides evidence of a disturbing resurgence in anti-Semitism around the globe," the new House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Rep. Howard Berman, also of California, said in a statement issued Thursday.

"All too often, legitimate criticism of the State of Israel can veer into naked anti-Semitism characterized by vile hate speech," Berman said. "And all too often, it goes unchallenged. When hate speech arises, we should call it what it is - and do what can be done to stop it."

The report was welcomed by the Anti-Defamation League, whose national director, Abraham Foxman, said, "The report not only focuses attention on the problem, but sets important benchmarks and criteria for foreign governments as well as for US monitoring and diplomacy."

"We hope that this call to action by the United States government will encourage countries to do more to monitor and combat anti-Semitism," he said.

[Soldier4Christ]

The US State Department is reporting worldwide Antisemitism is on the rise

In a report prepared by the US State Department and recently released, it states that today, more than 60 years after the Holocaust, Antisemitism is very much an existing phenomenon rather than merely being a historical occurrence.

Without detailing exact statistics, the study concludes that US embassies around the world in the last ten years recorded a rise in attacks against Jews and their religious institutions along with new types of Antisemitism in addition to the traditional Antisemitic acts. The study singles out several world leaders and regimes who fan the flames of hatred against the Jews including Iranian President Ahmadinejad, Venezuelan President Chavez, the Syrian government and the Egyptian and Saudi Arabian state media.

With the rise of Antisemitism around the world, according to a recently released US State Department report, the End Times scenario from Bible prophecy is coming better into focus.

There are a number of Jewish organizations that report of the occurrences of Antisemitism in our world today. Now, there is a report recently released by the US State Department which says over the last decade, there is a rise in Antisemitic acts against the Jews worldwide. This report indicates that Iranian President Ahmadinejad and the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are leading the way for this increase in hatred for the Jews.

Ahmadinejad has called for the Jews to be wiped off the Earth and their name to be forgotten forever. The ancient Jewish prophets wrote years ago that Antisemitism would indeed increase to dramatic proportions in the Last Days. The Psalmist wrote that their would be a call to cut off the Jews from being a nation so that the name of Israel would be remembered no more, Psalm 83:4. Jeremiah wrote of a time referred to as the time of Jacob's Trouble, Jeremiah 30:7. Zechariah reveals that during that time of Jacob's Trouble, two out of every three Jews will be killed, Zechariah 13:8.

This reported rise in Antisemitism released by the US State Department is indeed evidence that Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.

[Shammu]

 Islam and UN are natural allies for conflict resolution, Ban says
Posted : Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:40:01 GMT
 
New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday a UN-Islam partnership can help ease conflicts around the world. "The UN and the OIC stand side-by-side in rejecting forcefully and wholeheartedly any linkages between terrorism and Islam," Ban said in an address to the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal. "You have spoken up against those who seek to justify violence in the name of religion."

Ban said he had condemned the Israel-Palestinian conflict because each side bears responsibility for the sufferings, as do the parties in other hotspots in Iraq, Lebanon and other countries like Sudan and Somalia.

Ban cited other instances in the Middle East, where the UN helped to promote solutions to protracted crises.

He said the UN group that promotes understanding and tolerance is the Alliance of Civilizations, which is composed of scholars and politicians from many countries who have been advocating increased UN-OIC collaboration.

Islam and UN are natural allies for conflict resolution, Ban says

[Shammu]

Ban Ki-Moon to Fight Violence Against Islam

Agence de Presse Sénégalaise (Dakar)

NEWS
13 March 2008
Posted to the web 14 March 2008
Dakar

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday promised in Dakar to "fight against those who want to justify violence against the religion."

"We will fight against those who want to justify violence against the religion and promote understanding among the Alliance of Civilisations. We will strengthen cooperation between the OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference) and the United Nations in this area (religion)," Ban said.

He delivered his speech at the opening of the two-day 11th Islamic Ummah summit in Dakar, Thursday.

The recently established Alliance of Civilisations (early January 2008) is a UN institution intended to promote dialogue between the "religions, civilisations and cultures in the world."

The UN secretary-general pronounced his address a few minutes after his OIC counterpart, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who dwelt on the first report on "Islamophobia" issued by the OIC in Dakar, Wednesday.

He said that the Islamic Ummah summit was held "at a difficult moment for the Islamic world" before adding : "We pay attention to the situation in Darfur" and other predominantly Muslim countries.

"Israel has to comply with the law and international legality and show restraint. We condemn the Israeli attacks on Palestinian peoples," he said, calling both parties to the conflict to make peace.

He lauded the progress made in the Iranian nuclear issue. Ban Ki-moon also invited Iran, whose President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had been attending the Dakar summit, to "comply with international legality" by honouring its commitments to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Ban Ki-Moon to Fight Violence Against Islam

[Shammu]

U.S. queries value of U.N. council's Mideast meetings

By Patrick Worsnip Tue Mar 25, 5:16 PM ET

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday questioned the value of monthly public meetings of the U.N. Security Council on the Middle East, saying the angry speeches delivered often made the problem worse.

"The polarization and divisions of the United Nations membership over the conflict all too often manifest themselves as heated political statements," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told this month's meeting of the 15-nation council.

These "do little to help advance the cause of peace or help the Palestinian people in any tangible way," he said.

The meetings have been held for the past six years and focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Lebanon. They typically consist of a briefing from a senior U.N. official followed by speeches from council members and other parties with a direct interest in the situation.

Khalilzad said the United States wanted to see a "difference on the ground" in the Middle East and an effort to negotiate creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

"If these types of meetings do not contribute to that effort, or worse, if they fuel the tensions that impede constructive engagement, then we need to ask ourselves whether the public format of debates in New York truly helps create the environment necessary" for a solution, he said.

Khalilzad told reporters later that some countries used the meetings "for posturing, for finger-pointing, for further polarizing, for scoring points."

The United States is a strong supporter of Israel and Khalilzad's comments appeared mainly aimed at Arab speakers. He stopped short of calling for the meetings to be stopped, urging countries to use them instead to promote peace.

CRITICAL SITUATION

The U.S. envoy's remarks appeared to have little effect, as the meeting ended like many previous ones, with an exchange of accusations pitting Israel against Syria, Sudan, representing Arab countries, and Cuba, representing non-aligned states.

Earlier, Palestinian representative Riyad Mansour lashed out at the "illegal and destructive policies of Israel" in the Palestinian territories.

Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman accused the Palestinian militant group Hamas of wreaking "havoc and daily terror" by firing rockets at Israel from Gaza, where it seized control last year. But he paid tribute to "the moderate, legitimate Palestinian Authority" based in the West Bank.

Both speakers called on the international community to do more to support peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, which have shown little progress since they were relaunched at a conference in the United States last November.

Mansour told journalists the peace process was in a "very critical situation."

Opening the meeting, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hoped the talks could achieve their goal of an agreement by the end of this year.

"This process is too important to be allowed to lose momentum through inaction or indifference, or to be overwhelmed by violence. It is essential that it receives the support of the international community, including this council," he said.

The council has been paralyzed this year in trying to make formal statements about violence between Israelis and Palestinians by disagreements between the United States and new member Libya. Such statements have to be unanimous.

Mansour expressed support for recent efforts by Russia to convene a new Middle East conference in Moscow and said he had heard it could take place in June.

U.S. queries value of U.N. council's Mideast meetings

[Shammu]

I not only question the Useless Nations Council's Mid East meetings, I question the Useless Nations as an organization.

[Shammu]

McCain Proposes League of Democracies

MONTEREY, Calif. -- In McCain’s first major policy address since locking up the GOP nomination this morning, his campaign did its best to make its candidate look presidential. Using two teleprompters on the wings of the podium, McCain delivered a 30-minute speech that showed how a potential McCain presidency would try to change the shape of U.S. foreign policy.
 
Two new ideas came out of McCain’s speech, both focusing on shoring up relations with the country’s democratic allies.
 
“We have to strengthen our global alliances as the core of a new global compact -- a League of Democracies -- that can harness the vast influence of the more than one hundred democratic nations around the world to advance our values and defend our shared interests,” McCain said, reading from prepared texts.

But during the question-and-answer portion of the event following his speech, McCain expanded on his “League of Democracies” proposal.

VIDEO: John McCain calls for the United States to work more respectfully with democratic allies and live up to its duties as a world leader.

“It’s not just [a commitment of] mine. President Sarkozy of France is talking about the same thing; Prime Minister Brown of England, Chancellor Merkel is another talking about the same thing,” McCain said in response to a question about containing an Iranian nuclear program, arguing that a coalition of democratic countries could be more effective in pressuring the Iranians to abandon their nuclear ambitions. 
 
McCain also floated the idea of a free trade agreement with the European Union, saying in response to an audience member’s question that such a proposal would be “very interesting.”
 
Speaking to reporters on his campaign plane following the event, McCain admitted that negotiations for such a proposal might be difficult.
 
“You notice that some of their environmental standards and labor standards are higher than ours, not lower,” McCain said. “So it would be very interesting to see how those negotiations went and how the opponents of free trade agreements in general react to that.”

McCain Proposes League of Democracies

[Shammu]

Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly

A Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations (UNPA) would serve to bring the voice of the citizens into the United Nations and international politics. Since the establishment of the Pan-African Parliament which is attached to the African Union, the United Nations by now is one of the last government organizations above the national level which does not have some sort of parliamentary representation.

Elected parliamentarians could act as direct representatives of civil society in global decision-making. The UNPA would be the body where these representatives gather and debate global issues. Initially the UNPA could consist of delegates of national and regional parliaments, reflecting their political composition. A UNPA therefore would include members of minority parties not included in government. At a later stage the UNPA could be directly elected. Thus, a UNPA would be a unique and legitimate body to represent the voice of citizens in international matters. The Campaign participants envisage that a UNPA, once established, would develop from a mere consultative body to a world parliament with genuine rights of information, participation and control.

As an institutional hinge between parliaments, civil society, the U.N. and governments, the UNPA could also become an important political catalyst for the further development of the international system and of international law. As such a UNPA could be critical for an in-depth reform of the U.N. system.

A UNPA would not touch upon, let alone replace, existing procedures of the U.N. and other international organizations to involve NGOs. It would be an additional means to integrate civil society at large more effectively into the shaping of globalization.

The "Appeal for the Establishment for a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations" promoted by the UNPA-Campaign reflects the consenus among like-minded parliamentarians, civil society representatives, activists and scholars regarding the proposal.

Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly

[Shammu]

UN rejects water as basic human right
Mike De Souza ,  Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, March 25, 2008

OTTAWA - The Harper government can declare victory after a United Nations meeting rejected calls for water to be recognized as a basic human right.

Instead, a special resolution proposed by Germany and Spain at the UN human rights council was stripped of references that recognized access to water as a human right. The countries also chose to scrap the idea of creating an international watchdog to investigate the issue, choosing instead to appoint a new consultant that would make recommendations over the next three years.

Federal officials in Canada said last week that the government wanted to ensure the meeting's outcome reflected the fact that access to water is not formally recognized as a human right in international law. But a social advocacy group said that the position was designed to protect the right to sell water under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"Clearly (the Harper government is) happy with the status quo: They're not going to be an agent for change, and they're not going to support the right to water," said Maude Barlow, chair of the Council of Canadians. "About every eight seconds, a child somewhere in the world is dying from dirty water, and it's just shocking that our government has taken this position."

The opposition Liberals supported the government's position last week, arguing that the original UN resolution could open the door to bulk water exports to the U.S. because of NAFTA. Liberal water critic Francis Scarpaleggia said he planned to introduce a private member's bill to restrict large transfers of water within Canada to ensure that bulk exports abroad would also be forbidden.

The UN's high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, said last week that the position doesn't reflect Canada's traditional role on the international stage.

"Canada is taking a position that is not the more classic perceived, Canada as the kind of the bridge builder, peacemaker, consensus maker," Arbour told the CBC.

Meantime, Barlow denied that the resolution would require Canada to make bulk water exports to the U.S.

"The requirement in the United States would be for them to conserve first," said Barlow. "There's no requirement as a human right for us to provide water for swimming pools and golf courses and fountains in Las Vegas."

A spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Department said in an e-mail that there was "no consensus among states regarding the existence, scope or content of such a right."

UN rejects water as basic human right

[Shammu]

INVESTING IN THE UNITED NATIONS
For a Stronger Organization Worldwide
Three landmark reviews propose fundamental changes

United Nations Headquarters BuildingWorld Leaders at the 2005 World Summit requested a number of landmark reports. The first of these was delivered in March of 2006: “Investing in the UN: For a Stronger Organization Worldwide”. It put forward a bold vision of Secretariat management reform for the next three to five years. In the second half of 2006, three further reports elaborate on this vision – namely: the “Comprehensive Review of Governance and Oversight”, the report of the “UN Redesign Panel on the UN Internal Justice System”, and the review by the “High-Level Panel on System Wide Coherence”. All three contain far-reaching recommendations on key management processes and structures which, if approved by Member States, could redefine the way the Organization works.

The Comprehensive Review of Governance and Oversight was delivered to the Secretary-General in July by the members of a Steering Committee of eminent experts in public administration. They had conducted an independent evaluation of governance and oversight within the United Nations, Funds, Programmes and Specialized Agencies. Their report recommends a series of improvements that affect both management and the governing structures in place for a number of years. Many of the recommendations – including the creation of a robust Independent Audit Advisory Committee and greater operational independence for the OIOS - are far-reaching and will need close consideration of the General Assembly in the 61st session.

Also in July 2006, a “Redesign Panel” of external judicial experts submitted its review of the UN Internal Justice System [PDF, 181KB]. It found that the current system was "outmoded, dysfunctional, ineffective and lacks independence", and in light of these findings, recommended "a completely new system of administration of justice" designed to be "professional, independent and decentralized". The Secretary-General welcomed the report, and will be submitting his response to the report to the General Assembly in the first resumed session of the GA in 2007, following close consultation with staff members and a full costing of the proposed new system.

Finally, the recommendations of the Panel on System-Wide Coherence, a panel co-chaired by the prime ministers of Mozambique, Norway and Pakistan, were presented to the Secretary-General in early November 2006. The report aims to help the UN fulfill its potential in supporting countries reach the Millennium Development Goals, by streamlining the currently large and diverse UN family. It says that the UN must be radically revamped to “deliver as one”, in particular at the country level, where the UN could have a much greater impact if it were less fragmented. The President of the General Assembly is expected to initiate a process of consultation and dialogue on the Panel's recommendations. It will be for the incoming Secretary-General and his team to follow-through on this vision.

All three reports, if they result in concrete, meaningful reform, have the potential to improve the effectiveness and responsiveness of the Organization. However, given the far-reaching organizational (and financial) implications, it is likely that the recommendations will take several years to implement.

In the meantime, the General Assembly in its 61st session is tackling the detailed human resources reform proposals that are outlined in “Investing in People [PDF, 429KB]” (addendum 1 [PDF, 71KB], and corrigendum to the addendum [PDF, 25KB]) – the detailed follow-up report on personnel reforms that was issued in August 2006. This integrated package proposes fundamental changes that will bring United Nations human resources management system into line best practices. This includes a more proactive, targeted and speedy recruitment system, an approach to mobility that integrates Headquarters with field staff, greater career development opportunities, simplifying and streamlining contractual arrangements and harmonizing conditions of service – particularly for our staff serving in hardship duty stations.

Secetary-General Ban Ki-Moon is committed to the continued modernization and reform of the organisation. As the reform initiatives proposed by his predecessor reach the General Assembly for decsion in the resumed 61st sessions of 2007, he will define his own reform priorities, in consultation and collaboration with the Member States.

INVESTING IN THE UNITED NATIONS

[Shammu]

About UN Reform

The pace of today's globalized world means that change is a constant. This is no different for the United Nations. Member States' demands of the UN and its Secretariat, agencies, funds and programmes have grown enormously. The UN is expected to deliver more services to more people in more places than ever before.

In the past nine years alone, the number of civilian and soldiers deployed on peacekeeping missions has increased from 20,000 to 80,000. Over the same period, the overall financial resources managed by the Secretariat have doubled to $18 billion. The number of humanitarian and human rights operations have also dramatically increased.

Such a volume of highly operational activity places a greater premium on the ability of the organization to discharge the increased and more complex mandates it is given, and to manage the funds entrusted to it, in an accountable and ethical manner. In the meantime, these demands and expectations have strained the Organization's existing structures and systems.

The principles of the Charter of the United Nations are today as relevant they were in 1946. But the way we deliver on these aims and objectives has to move with the times. Since the Secretary-General took office, reform has been a priority -- from more effective peace operations to closer partnerships with civil society and the private sector, from improved management structures and systems to security for staff in the field.

Last year, the Secretary-General set out his vision in his report In Larger Freedom which mapped out organizational priorities including poverty alleviation, development, the prevention of conflict and human rights.

The 2006 report, Investing in the UN: For A Stronger Organization Worldwide, deals with the management of the Secretariat and confirms that the UN needs a significant investment in how it recruits, develops and retains its people, how it procures goods and sources services, and how it manages and accounts for the taxpayer funds of all Member States in its overall pursuit of efficiency and results.

About UN Reform