Canadian & World Issues

Improving the World

The United Nations

United Nations Structure

• Six main “organs” of the UN– General Assembly– Security Council– Secretariat– International Court of Justice– Economic & Social Council– Trusteeship Council

• Many other agencies & organizations within the UN system

Secretariat (& Secretary-General)

• Secretariat is the “business”• Secretary-General acts as a

diplomat, advocate, civil servant, and CEO

• Spokesman for the interests of the world’s peoples, in particular the poor and vulnerable

• H.E. Ban Ki-moon of Korea (2007-)

Purpose of the UN

• Maintain international peace & security• Achieve international cooperation in solving

economic, social, cultural, & humanitarian problems

• Promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms

• Be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining common goals

UN Priorities:Conflict Resolution

• Peaceful Settlement of Differences• International Court of Justice• Economic Sanctions• Peacekeeping Force• Regular Military Force

– Must be made available by all member states on an individual basis

UN Priorities:Human Rights

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights• High Commission for Human Rights

– Will be replaced by the Human Rights Council on June 16th, 2006

• Refugees• High Commission for Refugees

UN Priorities:Sustainable Development

• “Programs that improve people’s quality of life without impairing future generations’ ability to improve their quality of life”

• UN Conference on Human Environment• The Earth Summit• United Nations Environment Program

UN Priorities:The Middle East

• Whereas many other conflicts were resolved in a relatively short time….

• Palestine & Israel Conflict dominated the Security Council agenda for decades

• Palestine to Israel; Palestine & Israel?!• Wars: 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973• Problems still exist today

UN Priorities:Other Major Issues

• Women• Child Labour• Colonies (success!)• Apartheid (success!)• Population• Development (including the HDI)• Health

UN Millennium Development Goals

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Develop a global partnership for development

Canada & the United Nations

The Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson

• Invented the concept of peacekeeping

• President of the General Assembly 1952-1953

• Won the Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to resolve the Suez Crisis of 1956

• Canadian Prime Minister 1963-1968

Ms. Louise Frechette

• Appointed first ever UN Deputy Secretary-General 1998-2006

• Helped manage Secretariat operations

• Canadian UN Ambassador 1992-1995

Mrs. Louise Arbour

• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 2004-Present

• Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada 1999-2004

• Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda 1996-1999

H.E. Stephen Lewis

• UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa 2001-2006

• Deputy Director of UNICEF 1995-1999

• Canadian UN Ambassador 1984-1988

• Leader of the Ontario NDP 1970-1978

H.E. John McNee

• Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations

• Veteran Ambassador, Advisor to Trudeau, staffer at PCO

LGen The Hon. Roméo Dallaire

• Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda 1994

• Author of Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda

• Canadian Senator

MGen Lewis Mackenzie

• Commander of the United Nations Protection Force in Yugoslavia 1994

• Author of Peacekeeper, Road to Sarajevo

Canada’s Financial Contributions to the UN

• 7th leading contributor to the UN – 2.5% of the UN’s budget (US $34.5 million)… more than China or Russia!

• Canada has a perfect payment record – always in full, on time, and without conditions

• In addition, Canada contributes $77 million annually for UN peacekeeping

Canada andInternational Development

• Canada spent US $2 billion in 2002 on Official Development Assistance (ODA)– .28% of our Gross National Income– $100 from every Canadian

• Canada plans to double ODA by 2010

Canada and Children

• Canada played a key role in creating the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of a Child

• Canada Co-Chaired the 1990 World Summit for Children

• Canada hosted the 2000 International Conference on War Affected Children

Canada and Development in Africa

• Canada dropped its tariffs and quotas on nearly all imports from least-developed countries in 2003

• Canada led the G8 Africa Action Plan that helped African nations launch the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)

• Canada added another $500 million in aid through the Canada Fund for Africa

Canadian Missions to the UN

• Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York (UNHQ)

• Geneva Mission, Vienna Mission• Delegation to UNESCO in Paris• Mission UN HABITAT in Nairobi• Mission to UNEP in Nairobi• Mission to FAO in Rome• Mission to ICAO in Montreal

Questions About the UN?

• www.un.org• www.un.int/canada

– Michael Kovrig – canada@un.int• www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada_un• www.unac.org • www.unicef.ca • www.canimun.org