World churches urge vision and values for UN reform
-07/09/05
In the run-up to the 14-16 September 2005 United Nations World Summit, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has shared its views on a planned reform of the international body with the governments of the UK and China – the two nations which currently preside, respectively, over the G8, and the G77.
Pointing out that the “WCC and the UN have shared goals on justice and peace, eradication of poverty, and the promotion and defence of human rights and dignity”, a letter from WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia to the two governments calls on the UN to hold fast to its fundamental principles, and outlines the Council’s “orientations” in nine areas of UN work.
The letter calls for development and security concerns to be held together. A basis for moving towards a reformed United Nations can be found by seeking a ‘common and inclusive approach involving the global South and the global North’, it is suggested.
Reform is also called for that empowers and strengthens the UN and achieves better representation so that the world organization can successfully address the global challenges such as war, environmental degradation, extreme poverty and disease.
The letter urges that all countries honour the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in implementing Goal eight: to “develop a global partnership for development”. 100 per cent debt cancellation for poor countries and an increase of Official Development Assistance, ODA, to the UN recommended level of 0.7, is reiterated.
Full compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is also urged. It is suggested that a condition for any new permanent membership in the Security Council should be a clear and verified status as a non-nuclear-weapon state.
The WCC also reiterated the need to go beyond technical changes in areas of energy, transport and economic policy, for a ‘fundamental reorientation’ of the socio-economic structures ‘that are at the origins of the climate change.’
World churches urge vision and values for UN reform
-07/09/05
In the run-up to the 14-16 September 2005 United Nations World Summit, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has shared its views on a planned reform of the international body with the governments of the UK and China – the two nations which currently preside, respectively, over the G8, and the G77.
Pointing out that the “WCC and the UN have shared goals on justice and peace, eradication of poverty, and the promotion and defence of human rights and dignity”, a letter from WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia to the two governments calls on the UN to hold fast to its fundamental principles, and outlines the Council’s “orientations” in nine areas of UN work.
The letter calls for development and security concerns to be held together. A basis for moving towards a reformed United Nations can be found by seeking a ‘common and inclusive approach involving the global South and the global North’, it is suggested.
Reform is also called for that empowers and strengthens the UN and achieves better representation so that the world organization can successfully address the global challenges such as war, environmental degradation, extreme poverty and disease.
The letter urges that all countries honour the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in implementing Goal eight: to “develop a global partnership for development”. 100 per cent debt cancellation for poor countries and an increase of Official Development Assistance, ODA, to the UN recommended level of 0.7, is reiterated.
Full compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is also urged. It is suggested that a condition for any new permanent membership in the Security Council should be a clear and verified status as a non-nuclear-weapon state.
The WCC also reiterated the need to go beyond technical changes in areas of energy, transport and economic policy, for a ‘fundamental reorientation’ of the socio-economic structures ‘that are at the origins of the climate change.’