UPDATE ON THE UN'S HIGH LEVEL PANEL ON THREATS, CHALLENGES AND CHANGE

Last year Secretary General Kofi Annan gave a speech before the UN's General Assembly that was covered in the US press as a rebuke of President Bush's unilateral policies. But it was more than that, for in his speech he acknowledged that the UN did not meet the needs of its members, including the United States.  He said that, "we have come to a fork in the road. This may be a moment no less decisive than 1945 itself, when the United Nations was founded. . I believe the time is ripe for a hard look at fundamental policy issues, and at the structural changes that may be needed in order to strengthen them." 

The Secretary General called for "radical reform" of the UN system and in doing so established a High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change made up of eminent persons from around the globe, including individuals like former national security advisor Brent Scowcroft and former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans. + READ MORE BACKGROUND

The panel has already met 3 times and will meet again in July and September. They are expected to send their report to Secretary General Annan on December 1, 2004.

The Panel's mission is to:

• Examine today's global threats and provide an analysis of future challenges to international peace and security

• Identify clearly the contribution that collective action can make in addressing these challenges

• Recommend the changes necessary to ensure effective collective action, including but not limited to a review of the principal organs of the United Nations.

The Panel has divided the issues they are working on into 6 "baskets" :

1. Civil Wars/Internal Violence (with a focus on prevention, mediation, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding)

2. Traditional international tensions and rivalries

3.  Social/Economic Threats such as poverty, hunger, and AIDS

4.  Weapons of Mass Destruction

5.  International Terrorism

6.  Organized Crime

They will also look at institutional or structural reform of the UN.

Unfortunately, because of it actions, US leadership at the UN is contentious.  However the panel is trying to keep in mind what the US would find worthy of supporting, such as proposals dealing with terrorism, WMD's, peacebuilding. However, although many member states are giving suggestions to the panel, engagements by the Bush administration are few and far between so that the panel is working in a vacuum in respect to US interests and desires.

Last Updated 02/07/2005

UN News Centre's coverage of announcement

United Nations and Global Security Website

UN Press Release regarding Panel

High Level Panel's terms of reference (in PDF format)  

Secretary General Annan's Address to the General Assembly, November 4, 2003

Speech by Panel Member Lord David Hannay

Comments by Secretary General Annan to the Council on Foreign Relations March 16, 2004

Stanley Foundation Report on the High Level Panel, "The Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Security Threats-Maximizing Prospects for Success"