Daily News Editorial

The UN at 70

Monday 26th October 2015

 

Exactly 70 years ago, on October 24, 1945, the world witnessed the birth of the United Nations out of the dying embers of World War II and the failures of its predecessor, the League of Nations. The founders of the UN saw it as a global gathering of nations that would work collectively to prevent conflict, protect human rights and eliminate poverty and hunger. The signing of the UN Charter in 1945 was a landmark event that resonates to this day.

On Saturday, the entire world came together to celebrate the UN Day under the theme "Strong UN. Better World." (October 24 has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948). The UN has indeed made the world a much better place than it was in 1945. That October, the United Nations was officially established after 29 of its first 50 member states ratified the charter. Sri Lanka joined the UN in 1955. Today, there are 193 Member States.

As around 200 iconic monuments, buildings, museums, bridges and other landmarks in nearly 60 countries around the world lit up in blue - the official colour of the Organization - as part of a global campaign to commemorate its 70th anniversary on Saturday, the UN's importance in world affairs was once again brought to the fore. While the UN has indeed prevented World war III so far and engaged in many other noteworthy accomplishments, there is much the organisation could still do around the world. It has its plus points and negative points as well.

The UN and its agencies such as World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have made a huge impact worldwide over the last few decades.

To give one example, the WHO's untiring efforts in collaboration with national health agencies have resulted in the eradication of serious diseases such as Polio and Smallpox. The FAO and WFP together have reduced world hunger and malnutrition. The UNESCO, by designating World Heritage Sites, (Sri Lanka has eight) has helped preserve iconic buildings and nature reserves for posterity. UNICEF's efforts to spread universal school education have borne fruit in many impoverished countries. The ILO has effected many labour conventions that countries around the world are adhering to.

But one of the biggest, often unsung, achievements of the UN is its Peacekeeping Force, also known as the "Blue Helmets". The 11,000 UN Peacekeepers are on the frontiers of conflicts around the world and Sri Lanka too is contributing to the UN's peacekeeping efforts. They have managed to keep divisions at bay and conflicts from expanding. In the latest move they will be deployed to protect Syrian heritage sites from rampaging ISIS mobs. Apart from the peacekeepers, UN relief workers brave treacherous environments to deliver life-saving assistance.

Another singular achievement of the UN was the establishment of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, which expired this year, to be replaced by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which run until 2030. Globally the MDGs have reduced the numbers of people living in extreme poverty by more than half; 6.2 million deaths were averted from malaria; 2.6 billion people gained access to drinking water; close to gender parity in primary education was achieved by most developing countries. The 17 SDGs, approved by the UN General Assembly last month, are bigger in scope covering a gamut of issues including climate change, poverty, education, gender equality, clean energy, infrastructure, sustainable cities, work and economic growth, justice and peace and marine life.

But the UN is far from perfect. It must reflect the needs of the times. In other words, to stay relevant the U.N must evolve. Eight men have led the U.N. since 1945. Next year, a new Secretary-General will be elected. Many say it is time for a woman. There also are calls for organizational reform, particularly in the Security Council, where five countries (USA, UK, France, Russia and China) hold veto power. Indeed, there is a perception that the UN is virtually controlled by a few powerful countries. The Security Council, founded in 1945, no longer represents the power structure of the year 2015. Several emerging powers now want a permanent seat at the table.

The UN and some of its agencies such as the IMF/World Bank badly need structural reforms that will broad base the UN and give the emerging nations a bigger voice in its work. The UN should end waste, mismanagement and inefficiency. But even with its myriad of problems and challenges, it is difficult to imagine today's world without the United Nations and its multitude of agencies. As the UN enters its eighth decade, it is time to reaffirm its founders' guiding vision - a vision born of devastation that remains a source of universal hope for a better world.