wfn.org | WCC UPDATE: WCC advocacy week looks at UN reform

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches - Update
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

For immediate release - 19/11/2004

WCC ADVOCACY WEEK: REFORM SHOULD EMPOWER, STRENGTHEN AND DEMOCRATIZE THE
UNITED NATIONS

Photos available free of charge, see below
Cf. WCC press update PU-04-62 of 18 November 2004
Cf. WCC press update PU-04-61 of 17 November 2004
Cf. WCC press update PU-04-60 of 16 November 2004
Cf . WCC press release PR-04-56 of 11 November 2004

"Reform means different things to different actors," said Andreas Zumach,
Geneva-based international correspondent of the Berlin daily Tageszeitung who
has become known as an expert on international institutions, at a fourth
public seminar held in the framework of a 14-19 November World Council of
Churches (WCC) international advocacy week at the UN in New York. 

"Transnational corporations and powerful nations would want reform to
disempower and weaken the UN and its ability to take action,"he continued.
"The churches should advocate for reform that empowers, strengthens and
brings better representation to the UN so that we can successfully address
the global challenges that we face: wars, conflicts, environmental
degradation, AIDs and other diseases, under-development and extreme poverty."

"Reform is generally viewed as a positive move, but it can take us in the
wrong direction if powerful actors are able to push their agenda,"said James
Paul, executive director of the Global Policy Forum, a US-based think tank
that aims to "monitor policy-making at the United Nations and advocate on
vital issues of international peace and justice". While it is true that the
UN is in desperate need of additional funding, Paul warned against new and
pending agreements with transnational corporations, such as a recently
announced MicrosoftUNESCO agreement in order to "bridge the digital divide".

Zumach shared that in 2000, the average UN member state government gave $1.50
per capita to support the organisation, while the average spending per capita
on military and arms was $150. "If the members doubled this to $3.00 per
capita, it would be a vast improvement," he said.

UN reform was one issue highlighted at last years WCC advocacy week at the
UN for further discussion, and Thursdays public seminar follows the WCCs
strong commitment to multilateralism and the UN systems. This seminar comes
at a critical time, since a report providing suggestions for reforms,
commissioned by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan from a panel of eminent
persons, will be released on 2 December.

"Peace, human rights, rule of law and social and economic progress are the
original purposes of the UN according to the preamble of the UN charter, and
it is important to base our reform around this mandate," said John Langmore,
of the WCC Churches Commission on International Affairs (CCIA). 

"Streamlining the institutional structures of the UN is a necessary move,"
Zumach said, indicating that other specific areas for reform are currently in
discussion at various levels. "Certain agencies and programmes have fulfilled
their mandate and must be scaled back or closed, while others are in critical
need of additional resources," he reported. Zumach argued that streamlining
does not mean a "lawn-mower" approach of cutting 10% off everything, but that
the process should be informed by a detailed plan of prioritization. 

Energy was highlighted as an area that the UN is unable to cover at its
current capacity and in its current form, and Zumach suggested a new council
to address the crucial need for moving to sustainable energy on a massive
scale. "Reliance on fossil fuels is untenable, and is a cause of war,
environmental degradation and economic injustice. It is time to make a
compelling move towards sustainable energies in the North and in the South.
This is solely a matter of political will," he stressed. 

Security Council reforms have been the focus of most UN reform discussions,
but Zumach pointed to the need for widespread reforms in order to improve the
entire structure and power distribution. When these reforms are positively
achieved, those to the Security Council will become possible, he predicted. 

Pre-emptive military action is a major issue of contention since the US
attacks on Iraq. Zumach believes that accepting pre-emptive action as a
possible approved Security Council measure would be a disaster for world
peace.

Positive recent multilateral moves include the Kyoto Protocol, the
International Criminal Court and the ban on landmines. Although some powerful
states were against these agreements, they came into being, and are important
achievements that will shape future global policy.

Media contact person: Dr Laurence Konmla Bropleh, permanent representative,
WCC UN Liaison Office, tel: 1 212- 867 5891, Mobile: 1 202 258 4166 email:
lbr@wcc-coe.org 

Information on the 2004 WCC Advocacy Week is available at:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/advocweek04.html

More information on the work of the WCC UN Liaison Office (UNLO) in New York
is available at
http://www.wcc-un.org 

Photos from the 14-19 November International Advocacy Week are available on
our website at:
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/advocweek-photos.html

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org

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The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in more
than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian traditions.
The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works cooperatively with
the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which meets
approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in
Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary Samuel Kobia
from the Methodist church in Kenya.