United Nations in need of a shake-up
THE United Nations was formed in 1945, largely to prevent war. This has not worked, and the situation in Ukraine proves the urgent need to reform the only viable structure we have to stop war.
To begin with, the charter itself needs reform. We must bear in mind that the UN Charter does not cover war, but aggression. Also, currently there is no compulsion to take action against military conflict, although it does provide for arbitration and cooperation with any localised security system. These precedents need revision, the Security Council should require an immediate ceasefire, mediation at the UN, and pass the dispute on to the International Court of Justice.
The UN General Assembly also needs reform. That member states of tiny nations with populations of thousands have equal votes to nations of millions is a serious flaw. What is needed is a supplementary parliamentary assembly elected democratically and globally, reflecting the population. This would obviate the problem that current state ambassadors necessarily follow orders from their government.
In addition, the Security Council needs to be reformed. Currently there are 15 members and Latin America, Africa and Muslim nations are discriminated against and this is not democratic. It would be more realistic to have 27 seats and properly represent all regions. The veto system is also counterproductive and should either be abolished or changed to a veto of three countries rather than one.
Another change required for peace is adequate forecasting of war, facilitated by an expert agency to monitor potential conflicts; also mediation teams, in the event of conflict beginning, are immediately sent to the area the aggression is in.
The UN needs to engage with all localised non-violent movements, who are in a position to prevent conflict becoming war. Peacekeeping missions should be individually designed for each situation. Currently, when blue helmets (UN peacekeeping forces) are used, it takes several months to assemble. A standing rapid reaction force that can move in within days is totally essential. Unarmed civilian peace workers are required.
The United Nations is underfunded, currently its entire budget is under 1% of the US military expenditure. Taxing international financial transactions by 1% would raise 50 times more – $300bn. That would raise enough to deal with global water and food poverty, the central cause of global disease. At some point, our leaders must listen, and implement these reforms; then war and nuclear holocaust can be prevented.
Mr J Bucke
Cefn Glas, Bridgend