Article shared by Kul Gautam
This IPS News article contains some of my thoughts on the perpetual funding crisis facing the UN.I hope the forthcoming UN Summit of the Future addresses this critical issue along with other important proposals for the reform of the UN and other multilateral institutions and frameworks.Two earlier articles elaborated my thoughts in further detail.
Kul
https://www.ipsnews.net/2024/08/un-ready-second-trump-presidency/
http://kulgautam.org/wanted-bold-leadership-by-antonio-guterres-on-sustainable-funding-of-united-nations-2/
https://www.ipsnews.net/2017/03/responding-to-us-budget-cuts-for-united-nations/#google_vignette
Excerpts:
"When Trump first walked onto the podium at the General Assembly hall, he looked at the hundreds of foreign delegates from 192 countries, and reportedly asked: “How the hell did you guys get into this country?”, according to a joke in circulation in the UN’s watering hole, the delegate’s lounge.
"Asked about a possible second Trump presidency, Kul Gautam, a former UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the UN children’s agency UNICEF told IPS: “Yes, there will be considerable potential danger and a great deal of unpredictability to the UN system in the unlikely event of a 2nd Trump Presidency”.
However, he pointed out, the extent of the danger will depend on what happens in the US Congress. If Trump wins and the US House of Representatives and the Senate are also captured by the Republicans, the UN could face a mortal risk."
If the future of the UN depends on who becomes president in one of its 192 member states, then there is something capitally wrong with the UN.
ReplyDeleteIdeally, that shouldn't be the case , but in reality resources in the UN system are largely from rich and high powered countries (leaders) that manipulate the operation. Member states have not been to the point to leverage the state of affairs.
DeleteDear Kul,
ReplyDeleteI am truly motivated by the just and wise positions you take on important issues that have global implications for all the world's people, particularly deprived families.
In the last few days I have been reflecting and working on a fund raising strategy to support co-peace. I hope to be able to enlist the collaboration of the rich funding bodies in the ME region such as Qatar Foundation.
However, as you have well noted depending on most of the funding support from leading rich countries, especially the US will not only create risky dependency on major donor decision makers, who at times undertake positions that are radically different and often damaging to international entities pursuing humanitarian causes.
As we plan to convert our initiative into a global mass movement, we can also reflect and share our experiences to help boost financial independence of UN agencies. As I have said before the UN, particularly UNICEF should actively seek more close affinity with people based entities. I recall a big annual donation came from the Italian labor unions who donated one day's income of their members" to support UNICEF's child protection programmes. They also used their leverage with the Government to prevent cuts in support to UNICEF,
The issue you raised is very significant and deserves attention by all of us and leading humanitarians
SO MY SUGGESTION THAT YOU USE YOUR HIGH CREDIBILITYH AND DEEP INFLUENCE TO ORGANIZE AN ALLIANCE OF WELL WISHERS TO COME UP WITH PRACTICAL AND DOABLE SOLUTIONS WHICH WILL GENERATE THE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE NEEDED CRUCIALLY.
I do not need to get into the ETHICAL aspects of this challenge. How many times we have sadly witnessed unprincipled decisions forced upon the UN system by BULLIES. Such compromises tends to seriously undermine the trust and faith of the masses in the international system.
What sayest thee my dear friend and guru
Baquer
Ps the broader fund raising initiative should be non confrontational so that the powers to be are not tempted to undermine it
My dear Baquer,
DeleteThank you for your kind words and encouragement which I always appreciate.
You are overly generous in praising my "...HIGH CREDIBILITY AND DEEP INFLUENCE...". I wish it were so, but alas my influence is miniscule and my credibility limited to a small circle of like-minded friends and colleagues.
As always, I share and admire your passion and commitment to peace, non-violence and the protection of children in difficult circumstances, including our shared advocacy of "children as a zone of peace". I fully share our collective vision for Co-Peace. But to be perfectly candid, I feel that our influence is limited largely to a small bubble of our like-minded friends and colleagues. That is why despite being very supportive of the vision and mission of Co-Peace, I have not been very actively engaged in it.
I do not say this to be pessimistic or discouraging, but to be realistic about our rather limited influence and impact. As you know, our own mother-UNICEF has never taken Co-Peace and its previous incarnations too seriously. Other well-established, large child-focused NGOs and UN entities too do not take our effort as seriously as we would like. Under the circumstances, I do not honestly see there being a significant breakthrough in fund-raising for Co-Peace.
It is a harsh, cold and cruel world of realpolitik out there. Thank goodness there still are many good-hearted and committed humanitarians and leaders with moral conscience out there, including The Elders. I count SG Antonio Guterres among them. We at Co-Peace should be supportive of them, as a matter of conscience and commitment. We must raise our voices for all good causes both individually and collectively at every possible opportunity – but cognizant of our very modest influence. Please count on me to be with you in this circumscribed circumstance.
In solidarity -