STWR - Share The World's Resources

February 2006, China View

In a world increasingly divided along cultural, political and religious lines, would it matter if the United Nations ceased to exist?

The goals enshrined in the UN Charter, particularly those regarding international peace and security, have never been more significant.

The charter's words are as relevant today as they were 60 years ago. The organization is struggling to adapt its high ideals to a world now populated by almost four times as many nation-states as at the time of its creation.

To reach its ambitious targets, the United Nations needs reform and reinvigoration. Otherwise, it risks declining credibility.

The future of collective international efforts to deal with the challenges of the new century is at stake.

In September, world leaders accepted a document that commits them to an overhaul of the world body's efforts to fight poverty, terrorism and human rights abuses.

The original thrust of the UN summit was to take action to implement goals set by world leaders at their meeting in 2000. These include cutting poverty by half, ensuring universal primary education and stemming the AIDS pandemic by 2015.

Since the United Nations came into being, the possibility of the human race uniting and living in peace and prosperity has remained the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

The desire for peace and prosperity transcends every barrier. It is the glue that binds peoples of different religions, political systems and races in pursuit of stability and development.

Global co-operation still remains out of reach in many respects. Yet, the population of the global village has been seeking to make that hope a reality.

The world body has showed its strengths and weaknesses in the past 60 years.

It has largely been delivering on its promise to maintain peace and security, if not in every corner of the world.

The United Nations has made a significant difference in many regions. The good the United Nations does - especially in areas such as refugee aid, development and disease prevention - is essential for billions of poor people around the world.

Rich and poor nations have their own expectations of the world body and what it can do to realize their vision of the world.

Now more than ever, the United Nations is the organization that can address mounting tension between the developed and developing countries, to head off what some analysts have called a clash of civilizations.

The United Nations has fallen far short of attaining some of the goals its founders set. A deeply troubled institution, it is facing an uncertain future, with its effectiveness diminished by a disturbing array of mistakes, power politics, scandals and other shortcomings.

These problems could be a recipe for disaster if left unresolved.

The world body should be a channel through which the leading global powers work with the rest of the world rather than a diplomatic surrogate for US might.

The future United Nations we would like should be more active and responsive; not waiting until a situation explodes and then rushing in.

The United Nations is a forum where disparate members are expected to agree on aspirations and means.

Building a common approach for achieving common objectives is an inherently difficult and contentious undertaking.

The world organization must improve its accountability and efficiency, and become more responsive to the needs of the world.

This article appears courtesy of the China View

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