How to improve the working of the UN
Mahmood Elahi, Ottawa, Canada
Increasingly, the United Nations and its major apparatus, the Security Council, are becoming dysfunctional. The Security Council is little more than a forum, passing non-enforceable resolutions which can be vetoed by any on the five permanent members. Two of the permanent members are China and Russia -- ruled by most autocratic regimes who don't hesitate to violate the fundamental human rights of their own citizens. Yet, they both hold veto over all Security Council resolutions. Similarly, the UN General Assembly, is not an independent body. It is a place where official delegates from various countries can discuss and vote on issues as their governments direct. Most representatives to the General Assembly are officials from the Third World countries where governments are highly autocratic and hardly represent the views of ordinary citizens. In fact, the General Assembly is an assembly of elite, many of whom are career diplomats, from various countries. Only in the Western democracies, these elite are answerable to the elected governments and sovereign parliaments. This is not the case with most Third World countries. The greatest flaw of the UN is that it makes no distinction between dictatorial regimes and democratic governments. What is needed is a 'World Organisation of Democracies,' devoted to promoting the original values of the UN, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. There should be a graduated plan for UN membership. Members, whose human rights credentials are in doubt, should be placed on probation for at least a year without voting rights. They must conform their laws to the UN standards by guaranteeing basic human rights of their citizens. If any members are found continuing to violate human rights of their own citizens, they must be suspended as members.
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