Clare Nolan, NGO representative, Congregation of Sisters of the Good Shepherd
E-mail:
Congregation of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
an NGO in special consultative status with ECOSOC, United Nations
"Our commitment to reconciliation
demands that we promote justice and peace…"
______
In response to the Secretary General's report, In Larger freedom, I would like to submit the following comments on the subject of the imperative of collective action, paragraphs 18-22.
I welcome the Secretary General's remarks on the issue of collective action. I agree that it is a critical element and that the understanding and nature of collective action should be highlighted, explicated, and accounted for. If States do not meet certain criteria of collective actions, they should also lose some privileges of voice or vote in the UN deliberations.
Too often national sovereignty and national interests take priority over a sense of global common good and collective security. There seems to be no mechanisms in the UN system to counter balance this. While active civil society has some influence and effective regional action has a part to play, without a change in structures and accountability within the UN itself, among the nations themselves, paragraphs 18-22 will be simply more ideal rhetoric.
It is to our detriment and the detriment of security when national sovereignty takes precedent over human rights. However, we have seen this priority sadly played out in places as diverse as Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, and Sudan. States such as U.S., China or Russia could also be disused in this regard.
In particular, I would like to take exception to the last sentences of paragraph 19 where it states that "… one of the great challenges of the new millennium is to ensure that all states are strong enough to meet the many challenges they face." While true, this sentiment is incomplete and gives a skewed, I believe unintended, sense of what is needed to meet the challenges. Indeed, strength is needed. Also need is an unflappable commitment to human rights, an ability to provide basic social necessities to the whole of a country's populace, an ability to listen to diverse viewpoints, a willingness to put aside gross and immediate national interest in favor of international security, and a motivation to self-evaluate and be evaluated according to criteria set forth by the international community.
I recommend:
The UN enact simple, clear, specific and pratical mechanism of accountability so that each State undergo a measure of its implementation to international covenants and human rights principles on an annual basis. This assessment should be available to all in civil society.
The accountability mechanism be open and transparent. Each country shall be reviewed annually by the general body (or committee that reports to the general body) of the United Nations.
Any State's party that fails to meet an agreed upon standard (the standard should be high) will lose certain privileges of speaking and/or voting in the UN community.
A measure of "past promises made" be taken. Where promises have failed to be kept, with no plan for rectification, that State party shall lose certain privileges of speaking and/or voting in the UN community.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Clare Nolan, NGO representative, Congregation of Sisters of the Good Shepherd 211 East 43rd St, Rm 302, New York, NY, 10017 USA