Reform of the United Nations
The United Nations reform is discussed in the world community and befundene by the majority of states necessary restructuring of the UN. How has this reform, however, to look, is the subject of fierce controversy. Basically, is and has been repeatedly called, on the one hand to the new security situation, the Organization of the United Nations - particularly after the terrorist attacks of September 11 - adapt. On the other hand, a more effective safeguarding of human rights and the fight against poverty in the Third World has been demanded.
The then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan began in September 2003, a 16- person committee to draw up proposals for UN reform which the so-called "High -level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change ." On 2 December 2004, the report, which contains a total of 101 recommendations, was published.
- 4.1 UN Links
Annan's reform proposal
Kofi Annan presented on 21 March 2005 be surprising is broad 63 -page reform document In Larger Freedom: Towards before development, security and human rights for all. The main proposals:
Expansion of the Security
Main article: Reform of the UN Security
Annan calls, the number of members of the Security Council from the current 15 ( five permanent and ten non-permanent members ) to expand, so it " the international community as a whole and today's geopolitical reality represented to a greater extent ." The targeted number of members of the reformed Security Council should be at 24 or 25 states. To achieve Annan proposes two models, which take up the proposals of the High Level Panel.
This point is particularly controversial and has been decoupled from the general reform debate.
A new Human Rights Council
The Geneva Human Rights Commission is to be replaced by a new Human Rights with extended powers as a seventh major organ. In particular, this should be able to decide to send observers to monitor the human rights situation in a Member State with 2/3-majority. On 15 March 2006, the UN General Assembly with 170 approvals, 4 against and 3 abstentions decided - against the will of the United States - to establish the UN Human Rights Council as the successor to the UN Human Rights Commission. In June 2006 the new Human Rights Council at its inaugural meeting met for the first time. Germany was chosen from the group of western Member States with the highest number of votes in the Council.
More powers for the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations to get more decision-making powers in personnel and budgetary matters. Together with a tightening of UN administration should make this the management structures of the organization more efficient.
At the UN General Assembly on 28 April 2006, the group of developing and emerging countries refused this plan by 108 votes to 50 with three abstentions from. They fear a loss of influence, since the power would be too centralized in the organization. The United States, European Union and Japan were behind the Annan Plan.
More funds for development aid
Annan urges Member States to apply 0.7 % of GNP for development aid (which is not explicitly required by the resolution), including the " richer " countries actually had in 1970 agreed. This is also an element in the fight against terrorism.
More suggestions
In civil society, other proposals are discussed, such as:
- The establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations
- The establishment of a permanent UN rapid reaction force
- The establishment of a World Environment Organisation