SECRETARY-GENERAL OFFERS VISION OF ORGANIZATION'S FUTURE AT UNITED NATIONS DAY OBSERVANCE
Press Release
SG/SM/6094
SECRETARY-GENERAL OFFERS VISION OF ORGANIZATION'S FUTURE AT UNITED NATIONS DAY OBSERVANCE
19961024 Following is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on the occasion of United Nations Day, 24 October:Allow me first to congratulate you, to congratulate the family of nations, the staff of the United Nations, and all men and women of good will, on the fifty-first United Nations Day. I am particularly gratified to have among us today, representatives of civil society, non-governmental organizations, as well as many student visitors to the United Nations. This United Nations Day is observed by children from all over the world. As we hear their voices, as we listen to their messages of hope, let us be inspired. Let us remember that the United Nations founded in 1945 was an unfinished edifice. For fifty-one years, men and women of good will have been building the United Nations, and we follow in their footsteps just as these children will follow in ours.
The United Nations is a work in progress. Just as our predecessors strove to give us a world organization capable of dealing with the challenges of the age, so our task is to prepare the United Nations of the twenty-first century. Allow me to share with you, on this occasion, a vision of the United Nations of the new millennium.
The United Nations of the future would be an efficient intergovernmental organization, in the service of its Member States and their peoples. At the same time, it would increasingly open its structures to non-State actors and other representatives of civil society. Reinforcing intergovernmental machinery would enable further streamlining of the United Nations. The principal organs of the United Nations would function in the balance contemplated by the Charter. The Organization's debts would be paid off. And steps would have been taken to ensure that conditions of service -- most urgently the safety of personnel -- are such that the United Nations can continue to attract and retain highly qualified personnel, men and women capable of advancing the United Nations towards more effective service of humanity.
The United Nations of the future would offer an effective system of collective security. Prevention would become the primary rule of action. The requisite mandates and resources would be provided to all peace operations in
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a consistent and reliable manner. An effective division of labour with regional organizations would be in place. Some form of limited United Nations-authorized rapid deployment force would be at the ready, following a Security Council mandate, to deal with violence that no single nation or group would consider it a matter of national interest to tackle.
In the human rights and humanitarian field, there would be near universal ratification of existing treaties and conventions. Human rights machinery would be strengthened and function effectively. Jurisdictional protection for international humanitarian law would continue to expand.
A strengthened system-wide capacity for early warning and prevention of disasters would be in place. All this would result in a lower incidence of humanitarian emergencies. The world would be much closer to the conditions in which human dignity can truly flourish.
Development would receive the attention and resources that it deserves. The relationship between developed and developing States would change, fundamentally, from assistance to cooperation. Social justice within and among States would ensure that material progress moves forward, without excluding those on the margins of survival.
Economic growth would be understood as essential not only to advance material progress, but to provide society with options in every important field. Nature would be allowed to renew itself. Investment in people would be understood as a prerequisite to progress. A strong civil society would participate in shaping and supporting the development effort. The Organization, and the specialized agencies of the system, would continue and reinforce their effective division of labour and coordination in the service of sustainable development.
All States would accept the general jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. A permanent International Criminal Court would be established.
Democratization within States would flourish as the process of democratization advances internationally. A society of States, and an enlarged international civil society, would emerge, committed to democratic principles and process.
In its essence, this vision of the United Nations is a simple vision. It is a vision of an organization that functions as the drafters of the Charter had intended. It is a vision of an organization which will not only adapt to changing international conditions, but contribute to the improvement of these conditions. It is a vision of the world that our children must inherit.
We have already started to build the United Nations of the twenty-first century. Let us recommit ourselves today to make this vision a reality.
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