Nations United by Empty Promise

By Stanford Matthews
Blog @ MoreWhat.com

In their own words from information on their own site, the United Nations once again proves their incompetence or arrogance that borders on criminal negligence. If an organization allows itself to be characterized as an international effort to which all member nations contribute on behalf of the world's citizens, why does it fail to accomplish goals of any substance in pursuit of world peace, human rights and the like?

It is because they have taken bureaucracy to a level never before seen in human history. The most common headlines in the world press regarding the UN feature phrases like, 'the UN calls for' or 'the UN urges' or 'the UN discusses' or other impotent and meaningless statements. All member nations are to some degree complicit in this sham organization's conspiracy to commit fraud. While there may be individuals at the UN with good intentions and impressive skill sets for such endeavors, blame can be shared by all if you subscribe to the notion if you are not part of the solution, your are part of the problem.

A brief trip through the UN's own chronology of progress on reforms in 2006 will help illustrate these points. The key problems and habitual UN responses to a needed action are in bold type.

November 9

The Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence in the areas of Development, Humanitarian Assistance and the Environment delivers its report “delivering as One” to the General Assembly with far-reaching proposals for a more unified, coherent UN structure at the country level.

October

The Secretariat issues the “United Nations Secretariat First Consolidated Report 2005”, covering both financial and programme information for the year 2005, and is a first step in improving Secretariat reporting to the Member States.

20 July

In resolution 59/283, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to form a panel of external, independent experts to review and redesign the United Nations administration of justice system. The “Justice Redesign Panel” subsequently submitted comprehensive and far-reaching proposals for a new model for resolving staff grievances.

10 July

The Steering Committee for the “Comprehensive Review of Governance and Oversight with the UN and its Funds, Programmes, and Specialized Agencies” submits its 2005 World Summit-mandated review to the Secretary-General.

7 July

The General Assembly, in response to the Secretary-General’s 7 March report, decided to approve a modest package of reforms granting the Secretary-General limited budgetary discretion, approving the creation of a Chief Information Technology Officer and endorsing, in principle, the development of a Enterprise Resource Planning system for the Organization.

2 May

The Secretary-General presented his report “Uniting Against Terrorism” (A/60/825). This report presents elements for a counter-terrorism strategy as presented in Madrid in March 2005.

May

The General Assembly elected the first 47 members of the new Human Rights Council. While the new membership has drawn criticism from some critics as “old wine in new bottles,” the reformed election procedures (GA vote and absolute majority) were effective in dissuading some countries from running and provided a greater degree of transparency.

10 April

More stringent guidelines on financial disclosure and declaration of interests issued, designed to include more senior managers, procurement officers, and those who invest the assets of the organization.

3 April

Human Rights Council established, designed to allow for a more rigorous implementation and monitoring of human rights, replacing the Human Rights Commission.

30 March

A report entitled “Mandating and delivering: analysis and recommendations to facilitate the review of mandates” is issued following the General Assembly’s request for a review of mandates older than five years.

22 March

A policy on the “Acceptance of Pro Bono Goods and Services” is introduced for the purpose of preventing conflicts of interests with service providers and contractors in the context of the organization accepting free offers of support to various humanitarian, peacekeeping, and other UN operations.

7 March

The Secretary-General, in response to the request contained in the Outcome Document from the member states, presents his management report “Investing in the United Nations: for a stronger Organisation worldwide” containing 22 far-reaching reform proposals.

1 January Ethics Office begins operations, responsible for managing and overseeing the new Whistleblower protection and revised financial disclosure policies, as well as the development of Ethics training programmes for staff.

As you can see, that is just great. Reports, panels, guidelines, elections, policies and more reports, panels, guidelines, elections and policies. Where is the performance? Where are the results? The Middle East is still as it was. Darfur is still in turmoil. Terrorist groups are still active. People are still starving. Africa still languishes in conflict and disaster. Where is their one success that can be attributed to the UN? If you know of one, kindly inform the rest of us as there appears to be little indication of reform at the UN changing anything or any evidence of a significant contribution by any action originating from the United Nations.

The United Nations is nothing more than a platform for member nations to, at best, feign concern and, at worst, conspire to manipulate common diplomatic tricks and international funds in pursuit of multinational agendas. Many look to governments to cure ills in the world with public funds. The UN maintains, supports and advances that fallacy. All the while enriching the lives of its participants and ignoring the 'global community' it claims to serve.