News and comment on the United Nations and UNA-UK Summer 2008 | £3.00 NE W WORLD
‘WE MUST DELIVER RESULTS ’
BAN KI-MOON’S SPEECH TO UNA-UK page 11
McCain: his Clusters: bin th e Ethiopia: facing new club bombs a food crisis
page 9 page 18 page 24
PLUS Karadzic on trial page 5 ‘Cash for Kim’ page 6 Iraqi refugees page 7 Maternal mortality and human rights page 10 Sexual abuse by peacekeepers page 16 Climate change conferences page 22 YPN interview: documenting Darfur page 32
UNA-UK UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF THE UK | 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL | www.una.org.uk YOUR MP should be actively holding the government to account in fulfilling the promises it has made on the world stage.
This September world leaders will convene to renew the push to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals by 2015. In December the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights will turn 60. The end of 2009 marks the deadline for the UN to broker a new global deal to rein in climate change. And between now and 2010 states will be prepar - ing for a major conference at the UN on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which commits states to the ultimate goal of complete nuclear disarmament.
LOBBY FOR THE UN 08-09 is a chance for you to tell your MP about these challenges, their solutions and their impact on the security and well-being of Britons.
LAUNCH EVENT : Foreign Press Association 4pm to 5.30pm on Thursday, 23 October The launch event will feature speakers and free resources. The Foreign Press Association is located a short walk away from Parliament. You are encouraged to book a meeting with your MP earlier that day to discuss these issues. Participants will be sent a lobby pack containing briefing papers and challenging questions you can put to your MP.
Find out more and sign up at www.una.org.uk/lobby0809
No internet? Call Mark Rusling on 020 7766 3459 or write to Lobby for the UN, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL. NEW WORLD Contents DIRECTORY 4
Letter from the Editor UN MISCELLANY 5 Darfur General Martin In June UNA-UK was thrilled to host the first major public DISPATCHES Luther Agwai appearance in the UK by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- ‘Cash for Kim’ 6 calls for urgent moon. In his speech, the Secretary-General commended David Morrison reinforcement of UNA-UK’s role as a mediator between the world body and Iraqi refugees need more help now 7 UNAMID the British public, saying that the Association had ‘explained Boudewijn J. van Eenennaam the UN to the UK while helping to convey the concerns of There is no peace for us to keep 8 British citizens to the UN’. Martin Luther Agwai In Dispatches David Morrison sets the record straight on al - p.8 legations made against the UN Development Programme when UPDATES he was its communications director. The chair of UNHCR’s League of democracies 9 Executive Committee, Ambassador van Eenennaam, argues for International Criminal Court 9 more help for Iraqi refugees. And Martin Luther Agwai, the Maternal mortality 10 force commander for the UN-AU mission in Darfur, describes how a shortage of helicopters is making UNAMID’s mission COVER STORY next to impossible. Ban Ki-moon’s speech to UNA-UK 11 Luis Alfonso The UN set up its first peacekeeping mission 60 years ago. de Alba Since then many men and women have risked – and lost – their BRIEFING The Human Rights lives to bring peace to war-torn societies. These sacrifices stand Tackling sexual exploitation and 16 Council’s first in marked contrast to abuses perpetrated by UN peacekeepers abuse by UN peacekeepers president speaks out against the populations they are sent to protect. This issue’s Tim Kellow Briefing outlines what steps the UN has taken to prevent these crimes and provide redress to victims. FEATURE UNA-UK’s role in banning 18 Veronica Lie, Editor cluster munitions p.20
INTERVIEW From the archive – 20 years ago Luis Alfonso de Alba 20 CONFERENCES UNA-UK climate change conferences 22 get underway in Birmingham Annual Conference PARLIAMENT 23 Returns to Scotland in 2009 DO SOMETHING JONATHAN DIMBLEBY argues that the West may hold the key to a diplomatic solu - Ethiopian food crisis 24 tion to the war in Ethiopia. RESOURCES 25
LETTERS 26 p.30
UNA-UK 27 UDHR60 by UNA Westminster 27 Listings 28 In other branch news . . . 29 UNA-UK Annual Conference 30 Showing the YPN 31 red card Football stars line Bringing Darfur to Londoners 31 up to denounce Gaza in the Spotlight 31 child labour The YPN interview: Phil Cox 32 A compact for change 33
UNYSA 34 From New World , May/June 1988 Birmingham University UNA 34 p.35 Show the red card to child labour! 35
Contents | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 3 UNA-UK Introducing Mipe Okunseinde
3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL This summer I am undertaking an intern - www.una.org.uk ship with UNA-UK. I am assisting with the EXECUTIVE OFFICE Association’s advocacy and awareness-rais - Executive Director ing about the UN’s role in international Sam Daws law and global governance, and have 020 7766 3457 [email protected] been producing briefings and website copy. I recently wrote a paper on the Executive Assistant ‘league of democracies’, John McCain’s Natalie Samarasinghe proposal for a new international body based on a democratic alliance – a 020 7766 3457 [email protected] concept many have criticised because it could undermine the UN. The paper canvasses responses to the proposal, and questions its practicality MEMBERSHIP & FINANCE and desirability. It is posted on the UNA-UK website. Finance Manager Ajay Vasa 020 7766 3454 My main interests lie in how countries can develop their own legal systems [email protected] through ‘cross-pollination’ with other states. I have worked with law firms and research organisations on three different continents: in South Africa Membership & Fundraising Officer on the right to housing; in Europe on international and European law; and Rich Nelmes 020 7766 3456 in North America on public interest law and governmental affairs. I hope [email protected] that my experience at UNA-UK will give me a ‘bigger-picture’ perspective of these issues. POLICY & ADVOCACY Deputy Executive Director (Head of Policy & Advocacy) Veronica Lie I have a BA in Psychology from Harvard University, an LLM in European 020 7766 3451 Law from Cambridge University, and will soon be receiving a JD from [email protected] Harvard Law School.
Campaigns & Education Officer Mark Rusling Mipe can be reached until the end of August on 020 7766 3448. 020 7766 3459 Please send any e-mail to Mipe via Mark Rusling on [email protected] [email protected]
John Bright Peace & Security Programme Officer Tim Kellow Join us . . . 020 7766 3446 [email protected] The United Nations Association of the UK (UNA-UK) is the UK's leading independent Contractor (Climate Change) policy authority on the UN and a UK-wide grassroots membership organisation cam - John Phillips paigning for a strong, credible and effective United Nations. 020 7766 3448 [email protected] Every member of UNA-UK receives a free subscription to New World, containing news and comment on the UN. By joining you will also be invited to take part in Intern (International Law) Mipe Okunseinde campaigns and to attend conferences, seminars and other events. 020 7766 3448 via [email protected] This issue of New World is printed using vegetable- based inks on 80 per cent recycled chlorine- and acid- UNA Wales | CCU Cymru free paper from sustainable sources.
The Temple of Peace/Y Deml Heddwch When you are done with the magazine, please Cathays Park/Parc Cathays, Cardiff/Caerdydd CF10 3AP recycle it or, better yet, pass it on to a friend. www.wcia.org.uk/unawales
OFFICERS/SWYDDOGION New World is published by To advertise please call Subscription: UNA-UK, 3 Whitehall Court Veronica Lie on 020 7766 3451 Copies of New World are Secretary/Ysgrifennydd London SW1A 2EL included in the membership Stephen Thomas www.una.org.uk The deadline for submission fee for UNA-UK of material for the next issue 02920 228 549 Editor: of New World is noon on The United Nations [email protected] Veronica Lie, [email protected] 3 September 2008 Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a Research, drafting The next issue will cover the company limited by Assistant Secretary/Ysgritennydd Cynorthwyol and copy-editing: period 1 October to guarantee (registered Tim Kellow 31 December 2008 no. 2885557) Ona Flindall Rich Nelmes 02920 228 549 Mipe Okunseinde All submissions should be typed Designed by John Phillips and sent by e-mail where possible SoapBox [email protected] Mark Rusling to [email protected]. Photos should www.soapboxcommunications.co.uk Natalie Samarasinghe ideally be 300 dpi resolution 020 7766 3462
4 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | UNA-UK 28 years she was barred from setting foot in European and other states’ group. France a judge’s chamber. In 1995, with the end of occupies the other seat. apartheid, Ms Pillay became the first non- Of the British re-election Foreign white woman to be appointed a South Secretary David Miliband said, ‘The UK African High Court judge. She then moved stood…because we want to continue to to the International Criminal Tribunal for build the Council into the strong and effec - Rwanda, where she served for eight years – tive body it needs to be.’ four as its president – before becoming an Sri Lanka, too, had put itself forward. International Criminal Court judge. However, despite mustering 101 votes, the Ms Pillay will take up her post at the UN country did not get elected, and the four on 1 September. Asian seats instead went to Japan, Bahrain, South Korea and Pakistan. Human rights Le Roy to succeed Guéhenno as campaigners welcomed Sri Lanka’s defeat as UN peacekeeping chief a potential deterrent to other human rights abusers contemplating a bid for election. After eight years at the helm of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Verdict on UN security Jean-Marie Guéhenno is stepping down. UN Miscellany During his tenure, Mr Guéhenno oversaw An independent panel established to review some 20 operations and a record expansion UN staff security procedures has released its in the presence and activities of UN peace - report. The panel, chaired by veteran diplo - keepers across the globe. mat Lakhdar Brahimi, was set up in the Karadzic appears before UN Mr Guéhenno will be succeeded by Alain wake of the terrorist attacks on UN offices in war crimes tribunal Le Roy, also a French national. Mr Le Roy, Algiers in December 2007. Seventeen UN an engineer, has held a range of positions staff members were killed. Described in recent headlines as ‘one of the across public administration, management Underpinning the report’s recommenda - world’s most wanted war crimes fugitives’, and international affairs. He has extensive tions was the need to recognise that views of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan experience of the Balkans, having served the UN were changing: people in many Karadzic has finally been caught and arrest - with the UN as Deputy Special Coordinator parts of the world perceive a bias in the or - ed. After over a decade on the run, Mr for Sarajevo and Regional Administrator in ganisation, making it a target for Al Qaeda Karadzic has been extradited to the Kosovo. and other extremist groups. The panel International Criminal Tribunal for the for - Le Roy will take up his new post later this therefore called for greater vigilance. mer Yugoslavia, where he faces a raft of summer. The panel was not mandated to identify charges, including 11 counts of genocide, individual negligence. However, finding that war crimes, crimes against humanity and Ban Ki-moon gets global vote UN officials ignored credible threats from other atrocities. Mr Karadzic, who made his of confidence the Al Qaeda affiliate in the Maghreb, the first appearance in front of the court on 31 group recommended that the Secretary- July, has said that he intends to conduct his Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon scored best General establish a second panel (now set own defence – like Slobodan Milosevic. out of a line-up of world leaders in a global up) to investigate whether any UN staff UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opinion poll which put this question to member should be held accountable for se - hailed the arrest as a ‘decisive step towards publics of 20 states: ‘How much confidence curity lapses. ending impunity’ for atrocities committed do you have in each leader to do the right Meanwhile, Sir David Veness, the UN’s during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s. thing regarding world affairs?’ head of security, resigned, stating that he Two other indicted war criminals – Bosnian The survey, initiated by the Program on would bear full responsibility for any errors. Serb military chief Ratko Mladic and the International Policy Attitudes at the Croatian politician Goran Hadzic – contin - University of Maryland, reached nearly Zimbabwe sanctions rejected ue to elude capture. 20,000 people from countries that make up 60 percent of the world’s population. On 11 July, China and Russia vetoed a draft New human rights Mr Ban was the only leader to get en - resolution that would have levied sanctions commissioner confirmed dorsement – ‘a lot or some confidence’ – in and an arms embargo on Zimbabwe, in ad - a plurality of countries. Iranians were dition to a travel ban and assets freeze on On 28 July the UN General Assembly con - among those to back the Secretary-General, President Mugabe and 13 other persons. firmed the appointment of South African notable given UN sanctions in place against The draft was an attempt to put pressure judge Navanethem Pillay as the next UN their country. on Mugabe to end the violence and unrest human rights chief. She will succeed Louise that have wracked Zimbabwe since the con - Arbour. UK re-elected to Human Rights troversial first round and run-off presidential Ms Pillay has said that she comes to the Council elections that took place earlier this year. The post ‘with a real understanding of what it’s resolution would have also called for a UN like to have your human rights violated’. Of In May the UN General Assembly voted special envoy for Zimbabwe. Tamil Indian descent, Ms Pillay studied from a pool of 19 candidates to elect 15 Sir John Sawers, the UK’s ambassador to human rights law at Harvard before starting states to the UN Human Rights Council. the UN, said that by failing to pass the reso - a law practice in apartheid era South Africa The UK beat Spain by one vote to become lution the Security Council had failed the in 1967. But her Tamil roots meant that for one of two representatives of the ‘Western people of Zimbabwe.
UN Miscellany | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 5 Dispatches
the standards and practices they used else - sides clearly were not where worldwide, and said that in some going to agree, after consultations cases they had violated their own rules (eg. with its Executive Board UNDP and by accepting local personnel sent by the the Board president decided to commis - North Korean government, rather than re - sion an ‘External Independent ‘Cash for Kim’: cruiting them competitively). UNDP’s re - Investigative Review Panel’. Led by for - sponse pointed out that its operational mer Hungarian Prime Minister Miklos the UN scandal practices were imposed on it by the North Nemeth, the ‘Nemeth panel’ was asked Korean government; dated back 27 years; to get to the bottom of all allegations, in - that wasn’t were known to its Executive Board; and cluding by establishing the facts around were similar or identical to those followed charges by a former UNDP employee by other UN agencies, international that he had been fired for ‘blowing the NGOs and foreign diplomatic missions, whistle’ on UNDP’s North Korea opera - David including those members of its Executive tions. Relevant parties, including the US Morrison Board with embassies in Pyongyang. It is mission, agreed to support the panel’s also interesting to note that many of these work. organisations continue to follow these Also in 2007, a sub-committee of the Readers of American newspapers practices today. US Senate decided to launch its own in - over the past 18 months could be forgiv - vestigation. Published in early 2008 in en for thinking that UNDP, the UN’s conjunction with a formal hearing, the flagship development agency, had been ‘UNDP refuted these sub-committee’s report charged UNDP up to no good in North Korea. charges, pointing out with exercising insufficient financial and Prominent coverage in the Wall Street administrative controls in North Korea, Journal , on Fox News and elsewhere that the sums being and with impeding reasonable oversight charged that up to $150 million in alleged were larger by failing to share internal audits. It UNDP funding may have been diverted found that the North Korean government in North Korea, perhaps, they suggested than its total had employed ‘deceptive financial prac - ominously, to the country’s nuclear resources in the tices’ in its use of one of its accounts as - weapons programme. In the view of country’ sociated with UNDP, but that the money some, ‘Oil for Food’ had been succeeded involved was its own, and that UNDP by ‘Cash for Kim’. was unaware of the deception. The In early June, however, the third in a Shortly afterward, the US mission Senate report did not find evidence of series of outside investigations set con - came forward with a new set of very se - funding diversion but remained largely ventional wisdom on its head by debunk - rious allegations, including detailed silent on many of the specific allegations ing almost all of the charges against charges that UNDP had underreported against UNDP. UNDP, including that it had retaliated its funding levels; that large amounts of This set the stage for the Nemeth against an employee for ‘blowing the UNDP funding had been diverted by panel report as the final word on the con - whistle’ on its North Korea programme. the North Korean authorities; that troversy. Released on 2 June 2008, the Here’s how it happened. UNDP had supplied North Korea with report found that UNDP made slightly In January 2007, amid allegations by potential ‘dual use’ technology; and that over $1 million in payments to ‘govern - the US Mission to the UN of irregulari - UNDP had engaged in illicit transac - ment-related entities’ each year in North ties in UNDP’s North Korea programme, tions with entities tied to the North Korea, that these payments were related UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Korean armaments programme. UNDP to UN programmes, and that there was called for a special audit by the UN’s ex - refuted these charges, pointing out that ‘no evidence of diversion of funds’. ternal Board of Auditors. At the same the sums being alleged were larger than Specific allegations of substantial UNDP time UNDP’s Executive Board mandated its total resources in the country, that payments to a company linked to the several changes to UNDP’s operations in there was not a single match between al - North Korean armaments programme the country. At the beginning of March leged payments and its own financial were dismissed, as was the central charge 2007, when it became clear that the records, and that the documents being that UNDP had retaliated against a North Korean authorities were not going used by the US to substantiate its ‘whistle-blower’ for taking the charges to to implement the mandated changes, charges contained incorrect UNDP fi - the US mission in the first place. The UNDP suspended its operations and nancial codes, suggesting that they had New York Times said the Nemeth report withdrew its staff from Pyongyang. been falsified. ‘appeared to concur with what [UNDP] In May 2007, the external audit found Accusations met rebuttals, triggering had maintained all along, that the that UNDP and other UN agencies did new accusations – all of which was cov - American allegations were baseless’. Even not operate in North Korea according to ered extensively in the press. As the two media usually critical of the UN declared
6 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | Dispatches that the Nemeth report had ‘vindicated’ tion and analysis on a UN-wide basis so doing an extraordinary job often in very UNDP. that the legal implications are clarified to difficult circumstances, UNDP, as a UNDP, of course, did not escape criti - all UN agencies’. complex organisation can and should cism. Overall, the report pointed to a On receiving the Nemeth report, improve further. need to tighten up or even establish alter - UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis In the end, however, there simply was native financial and administrative proce - said that while UNDP had been the no Cash for Kim. dures for challenging operational envi - target of serious allegations, some tak - ronments such as North Korea. More sys - ing ‘fantastic and irresponsible forms’, it David Morrison was UNDP’s Director of tematic procedures should also be estab - would always ‘remain open to construc - Communications throughout the ‘Cash for lished for the procurement of potential tive criticism’. Importantly, he stated Kim’ episode. He writes here in a personal dual use equipment, and overall, the ‘ex - that while it was clear that the men and capacity. port of dual use items require[s] examina - women of UNDP, on a whole, were
They have no legal status, and are not al - Jordanian economies are not easy to define, lowed to work. Most have depleted their but the cost is estimated in billions of dol - savings. People sell their meagre belong - lars. Both governments cooperate with hu - ings just to pay next month’s rent; women manitarian agencies like UNHCR. For the and girls sell their bodies; parents take first time, Syria has allowed international Iraqi refugees their children out of school to help earn non-governmental organisations to operate money. Sharp increases in oil and food within its borders. need more prices further aggravate their misery. All of The governments in Amman and this on top of the physical and psychologi - Damascus deserve to be acknowledged help now cal trauma they suffered fleeing Iraq. for their efforts in dealing with an almost We cannot allow this serious humani - impossible task. But this is not about Boudewijn tarian crisis to be politicised. Those who praise. They deserve real, tangible help argue that the United States caused the from an international community that J. van problem and should therefore fix it, or recognises an obligation to help share the Eenennaam who object to any assistance to the Syrian burden and alleviate human suffering. regime, totally miss the point. The point Despite the hospitality and generosity of is that human beings in such dire circum - both countries, the combination of massive Imagine if your country had to stances need our help. numbers of needy Iraqis, skyrocketing suddenly absorb an influx of refugees prices, huge pressure on social and eco - equal to 10 per cent of its total popula - nomic infrastructure and few immediate tion. In the United Kingdom, that would ‘UNHCR food prospects for return to Iraq all threaten to mean the arrival of nearly 6 million people. packages, which keep push this crisis to the breaking point. Non- That is exactly what has happened to governmental organisations have begun to Jordan and Syria, which are now struggling tens of thousands report cases of violence against Iraqi chil - to cope with huge numbers of increasingly alive for about $18 per dren at Jordanian schools. Fuel prices in desperate Iraqi refugees who have arrived Syria have increased by 357 per cent. since early 2006. These people are not in parcel per month, will UNHCR food packages, which keep tens refugee camps but are seeking safety in the soon cost twice that. of thousands alive for about $18 per parcel anonymity of sprawling urban centers such per month, will soon cost twice that. Do as Damascus and Amman. Difficult to cap - Do we put in less we put in less food? Or diminish the num - ture on camera, this crisis has largely un - food? Or diminish the ber of recipients? It does not take a pes - folded out of the media spotlight. number of recipients?’ simist to see the misery. And the risks. That is why I report what I saw on the The international community has to ground: that the plight of Iraqi refugees help defuse this silently ticking time bomb. and the host countries trying to help Citing continuing insecurity in Iraq, The sour fact today is that UNHCR is still them is much more serious than generally most refugees are fearful of return, saying facing a funding shortfall of more than perceived. And it is rapidly deteriorating. it could well result in death. Others say £50 million for its Iraqi programme this The generosity of both countries has going home is economically unfeasible, year. We need to step forward now or the placed enormous strains on them and it their houses having been confiscated and fragile humanitarian space that has been is now critical that the international com - unemployment high. Minorities are espe - created in the region will vanish and the munity come forward to help. If not, this cially fearful, noting that they have no trust placed in UNHCR and its partners humanitarian crisis may well have far- means of protecting themselves. The most seriously undermined. reaching consequences for stability in the vulnerable – in particular women and chil - region and beyond. dren – are being submitted for resettle - Ambassador Boudewijn J. van Eenennaam I left Amman and Damascus with bleak ment to the UK and 12 other countries. of the Netherlands is Chairman of the images of solitary refugees hiding in dark, Because so many refugees remain in hid - Executive Committee of the UN High dingy apartments, fearing detention and ing, exact figures on the impact of millions Commissioner for Refugees. deportation, desperate about their future. of Iraqi refugees on the Syrian and
Dispatches | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 7 that this was a report straight out of a war keeping force must be exclusively African. zone. Yet again I asked myself, where is the Given the understandable constraints peace for us to keep? The unpalatable truth among African contributing nations we is that there is no peace in Darfur. This is a should now be able to turn to those non- conflict that has now lasted almost as long African countries willing and able to assist as World War II, with the prospects of a our mission at short notice. Darfurians de - lasting settlement looking less likely than serve nothing less. There is no peace ever. Second, the rebel movements. When the How can we move forward from this Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) was signed for us to keep tragedy? In my mind the attack offers sever - in 2006 less than a handful of movements al compelling lessons: for the international were involved in the conflict. Today there community, the rebel movements and the are something like 30. As the movements government of Sudan. have splintered into new factions, the Martin Luther First, it is high time the international prospects for a settlement have diminished. Agwai community honoured its responsibilities to For too long these men have escaped cen - this force. We remain desperately under- sure, benefiting from the international com - manned and poorly equipped. I have about munity's almost exclusive focus on the gov - With the w orld fixated on recent a third of the forces I am supposed to have ernment in Khartoum to deliver peace. In events at the Internat ional Criminal Court deployed in Darfur and none of the tactical fact they have been positively emboldened and how they will affect the situation in helicopters that might have prevented the by it. Sudan, it is important to remember what is slaughter of our men. These men with guns do not represent happening in Darfur today. their peoples, the vast majority of whom As the force commander of what is des - yearn for peace. Only last month 38 of my tined to be the world's largest peacekeeping ‘We need to be peacekeepers were held hostage at gunpoint operation, I am deeply concerned about the reinforced urgently for more than five hours by armed men deteriorating security situation here. and given the proper from the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) Peacekeeping has become a deadly business Minni Minawi faction. This is the one sig - in Darfur. equipment to enable nificant rebel movement that signed the Late at night on 9 July my peacekeepers us to complete our DPA. The movements have had it too easy were given a task they should never have for too long. It is time for them to demon - had to perform. At the village of Dar as mission’ strate that they are serious about peace. Salam in North Darfur they collected the They must lay down their weapons and sit bodies of their fallen colleagues, which had Our long shopping list of missing equip - around the negotiating table with the gov - been extracted from nearby Um Hakibah. ment makes shameful reading. It should not ernment. In the harsh light of pick-up truck head - take the loss of innocent lives to understand Finally, the Sudanese government should lights they placed their colleagues in body what is at stake here. We need to be rein - understand that the attack at Um Hakibah bags for the helicopter flight to our head - forced urgently and given the proper equip - is in no one's best interests. Bringing UN - quarters in Al Fasher. ment to enable us to complete our mission. AMID into a conflict merely reduces the The despicable attack at Um Hakibah a There is an old adage that ‘if it ain't chances of a sustainable settlement. day earlier, in which we lost seven men from broke, don't fix it’. In Darfur things are bro - Allowing more peacekeepers in from more Rwanda, Uganda and Ghana, with 22 ken and they need fixing. In this context we countries, removing real or perceived bu - wounded, was a grim reminder of the reali - welcome the recent appointment of Djibril reaucratic obstacles to our mission and the ties of peacekeeping in Darfur for our joint Bassolé, Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso, humanitarian effort, engaging with the United Nations-African Union mission as the new joint mediator to be based along - movement, and reining in its reprehensible (UNAMID). side UNAMID in Al Fasher. This will cer - militia – these all send a powerful message The ambush occurred as one of our con - tainly help revitalise the ailing peace process. that the government is doing its utmost to voys was returning from a patrol to investi - Yet the international community still bring about peace in Darfur. It will find gate allegations made by one of the rebel needs to come up with new ideas. Some plenty of partners willing to assist it. movements that two of their soldiers had commentators have suggested, for example, Too many men, women and children been killed. that establishing a no-fly zone for Darfur have lost their lives in this ruinous war. The These brave men were engaged in a clas - could help stabilise the security situation. worst attack on this peacekeeping mission is sic peacekeeping operation. It was their fatal This is an extreme step. Some experts be - a tragic reminder of how this conflict is spi - misfortune to encounter a group of criminal lieve it would be counter-productive. That is ralling out of control. The international thugs with total disregard for human life not the point. The essential thing is: we community, the rebel movements and the and peace in Darfur. This was a highly or - need a debate. Will the international com - government of Sudan must act now to re - ganised assault by up to 200 gunmen on munity tolerate the assassination of store stability and the prospects for peace. I horseback and in 40 vehicles equipped with UNAMID peacekeepers indefinitely? am determined to ensure that my brave rifles, machine guns and an arsenal of We also need to look urgently at broad - peacekeepers killed at Um Hakibah did heavy-calibre weapons. ening the participation in this peacekeeping not die in vain. When I first listened to the details of this force. Security Council resolution 1769, tragic incident, when I heard of the which gives us our mandate in Darfur, weapons involved and was told the fire fight speaks of the ‘predominantly African charac - General Martin Luther Agwai is Force Commander of UNAMID. lasted more than two hours, it struck me ter’ of UNAMID. It does not say the peace -
8 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | Dispatches Updates current issues in the spotlight
League of Democracies A rival to the UN? The new club being floated by John McCain raises more questions than answers
agreement in the Security Council had world’s other great democracies’, such hamstrung the UN. as India, Brazil and South Africa. But / b _
k The concept raises a number of a quick look at the UN voting records of e r e d / questions which underscore the mis - these states reveals unmistakable anti-in - e l p o e match between the idea and the reali - terventionist leanings. The contention p / m o
c ties of today’s international system. that a collective of democracies would . r k c i l f
/ What criteria, for example, will deter - have been more likely to intervene in, say, / : p t t
h mine eligibility for membership? Burma or Darfur rests, therefore, on pret -
: a l o
N Who would be excluded? Presumably ty flimsy reasoning.
B S D
China and Russia, who are pivotal to Perhaps the most misguided argu - f o
y s
e international security and global eco - ment made by the league’s advocates is t r u o nomic stability. that an alliance of democracies would C In any case, eligibility to join such a enjoy international legitimacy. But the Given the strains which typified the coalition would not necessarily mean UN’s legitimacy derives from the uni - US-UN relationship under the Bush interest in joining. Democracies vary versality of its membership; it is not a administration, it is understandable widely in terms of social, economic product of the internal political that the world is paying attention to and national security priorities. They arrangements of its member states. the foreign policy visions of the two US may very well value relations with The league of democracies is not the presidential candidates. In John trading partners or regional neigh - answer to standstills at the UN. The solu - McCain’s case, one hint of what’s to bours over ties with other democratic tion, rather, is to strengthen the UN and come is his advocacy of a ‘league of countries. make it a more credible and effective in - democracies’, a new alliance of like- Proponents of the concept argue that strument for cooperative action. minded states which could mount a the league would encompass not just Hopefully the next US president will be common response to crises when dis - Western democracies but also ‘the committed to achieving this goal.
International Criminal Court Peace versus justice The ICC’s move against the Sudanese president sparks fears for peace in Darfur
Uganda, Central African Republic and opposition is the worry that the court’s Sudan), and the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber quest for justice could scupper chances has issued 12 warrants of arrest. On 14 for peace. July, the prosecutor made his most con - But the purported trade-off between troversial move yet, and presented evi - peace and justice may be overstated. dence against a sitting head of state. During the conflict in the Balkans, the Mr Moreno-Ocampo asked the Pre- International Criminal Tribunal for the Trial Chamber to issue an arrest war - former Yugoslavia issued indictments o t
o rant against Sudanese President Omar while fighting was ongoing; few believe h P k
c Al Bashir, arguing that there are reason - that this prolonged the conflict. Indeed, o t S i
© able grounds to believe that he bears many hope that the ICC action will in -
o t o
h criminal responsibility in relation to 10 tensify pressure on Khartoum to alter its P counts of genocide (the first time this behaviour. In principle, the government 17 July was the tenth anniversary indictment has been sought), crimes of Sudan is obliged to turn in its leader to of the adoption of the Rome Statute of against humanity and war crimes in the court, and signatories to the Rome the ICC. The statute – to which 106 Darfur. Mr Moreno-Ocampo argued, Statute are supposed to arrest Mr Bashir states, including the UK, are currently ‘His motives were largely political. His if he enters their territory. parties – established the independent, alibi was a “counterinsurgency”. His in - The UN Secretary-General has been permanent court to try individuals ac - tent was genocide.’ careful to emphasise the independence cused of the most serious atrocities. The prosecutor’s request for the ar - of the ICC, but he has also stated his The court has yet to convict any indi - rest warrant has sparked controversy. view that peace and justice are not in - vidual, though ICC Chief Prosecutor The Arab League and African Union trinsically conflicting. On the contrary: Luis Moreno-Ocampo has opened inves - have called on the UN Security ‘Justice can be part of the peace process, tigations into four situations (the Council to suspend the ICC’s consider - but peace without justice cannot be Democratic Republic of the Congo, ation of the claims. At the heart of this sustainable.’
Updates | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 9 Updates current issues in the spotlight
Maternal Mortality Dying in vain The failure to stem pregnancy-related deaths is holding back MDG progress and violating human rights
by several African countries. Yet most Like many maternal health problems, maternal deaths are preventable. Access fistula is entirely preventable and curable. to emergency care, contraceptives and The injury can be mended through re - skilled birth attendants can have a huge constructive surgery – for straightforward impact. In Bangladesh in 2005, just over cases, the procedure’s success rate is as 20 per cent of deliveries were overseen by high as 90 per cent. To ensure a success - skilled attendants: 570 women died per ful and sustainable outcome about two 100,000 live births. In Austria that same weeks of post-operative care are needed. o t
o year only four women died of pregnan cy- The cost of this, the surgery itself and h P k c
o re lated causes – trained attendants were post-operative counselling to help with t S i
©
present at 100 per cent of live births. social reintegration comes to about $300. o t o
h The state of maternal health in a coun - But it is through prevention rather than P try gives a good indication of women's treatment that this condition can be elimi - Lack of progress towards achieving overall position in society. Obstetric fis - nated. As with many maternal health prob - Millennium Development Goal 5 – im - tula, one of the most devastating preg - lems, the solution depends to a large extent proving maternal health – is a major drag nancy-related disabilities affecting over 2 on girls’ education and on guaranteeing the on the overall performance of sub- million women, is a telling example. right of women to choose themselves when Saharan Africa and South Asia. Maternal Sufferers – almost all of them in poor to have children. Ensuring basic access to mortality has always been a big divider in countries – tend to be illiterate and mal - family planning is therefore vital; this could development terms. In the developing nourished; many are young girls who reduce maternal deaths by a third and child world, one in 16 women die of pregnan cy- have been forced into marriage. And the deaths by as much as a fifth. related complications; in rich countries manifestations of this condition – incon - Paul Hunt, UN Special Rapporteur on just one in 3,800 does. tinence and, in some case, the inability to the right to health, has said that maternal A report produced in June 2008 for have more children – mean that the mortality is ‘one of the most serious the MDG Africa Steering Group, chaired women are often ostracised by their com - human rights issues that we face today’. by the UN Secretary-General, forecasts munities or abandoned by their hus - It is high time that it received the atten - that all goals except the fifth will be met bands. tion it needs.
Grounded the International Community’s Betrayal of UNAMID
A Joint NGO Report
As UNAMID, the beleaguered UN-AU peacekeeping force in Darfur, reaches its one-year anniversary, it is nowhere near its mandated size and is critically under-resourced. Particularly debilitating is its lack of helicopters, without which the force faces a huge gap in capacity: it cannot respond rapidly to events and its capacity for protecting civilians is severely constrained.
UNAMID has asked for 18 transport helicopters. So far not one country has stepped up. ‘Grounded: the International Community’s Betrayal of UNAMID’ assesses which countries have suitable helicopters To read more visit and how many are available for Darfur. The report, endorsed by UNA-UK and more than 30 other NGOs, identifies countries www.una.org.uk/r2p with surplus aircraft and calls on them to offer these to UNAMID.
10 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | Updates United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s speech to UNA-UK at the Royal Geographical Society, 13 June 2008
‘WE MUST DELIVER RESULTS ’
It is a pleasure to be I quickly discovered these doomsay - the people and government of the back in London and to ers were right – but also completely United Kingdom have proved reliable join so many distin - wrong. The office of the Secretary- advocates for the most pressing issues guished friends of the General does have few powers, but that on the UN’s agenda. United Nations in this magnificent hall. is more than made up for by an organ - For more than six decades, UNA-UK Lord Hannay, let me thank you for isation with many friends. has helped cultivate this support. your generous introduction. You began These friends – including all of you – Through outreach, volunteer efforts,
it by alluding to my baptism by fire. I exemplify the real power of my posi - educational initiatives, conferences and K U - A
know what you mean. tion: the ability to call on some of the seminars, your members have built a N U / s e
The 18 months I have held office have most extraordinary individuals in pub - grassroots support base for the UN. w a D
s
been even more eventful than usual for lic service or private enterprise to sup - You have explained the UN to the UK u c r a M
the UN. During this time, I have learned port the UN’s work. while helping to convey the concerns of ©
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why the first UN Secretary-General Nowhere is this more true than in the British citizens to the UN. i t c e s
dubbed this the most impossible job on United Kingdom, a country with a long So I am delighted for this opportuni - s i h t
n i
earth, why so many have quoted him and distinguished history of engage - ty to speak to all of you today about the s h p a
since, and why yet others have described ment with our organisation and its major issues on our agenda. r g o t
it as one with limited influence and un - mission. From debt relief to climate Owing to the alignment of a number o h p
l l
limited responsibility. change, human rights to UN reform, of developments, we have a unique A
Secretary-General’s speech | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 11 opportunity this year to enhance the cen - to Antarctica. What I found was a place that tral role of the United Nations in world affairs. would probably be unrecognisable to the We must de liver results for a more pros - likes of Robert Scott or Ernest Shackleton. perous and healthy world. Passing the mid - I saw a continent on the verge of a catas - point to the 2015 deadline for the trophe that could affect the entire world. Millennium Development Goals, we face a The glaciers on King George Island have development emergency. Millions of people shrunk by 10 per cent. Some in Admiralty are still trapped in structural poverty and go Bay have retreated by 25 kilometres. hungry every day. In sub-Saharan Africa, de - The tragedy of Antarctica is being repeat - spite pockets of progress, not a single coun - ed, a million times over, in every part of our try is on track to achieve the MDGs by world. We’re facing extended droughts, un - 2015. precedented cyclones and other effects that We must deliver results for a more secure are wreaking havoc across the planet. The world. This year will put us to new tests in bottom line is that our climate is changing peacekeeping, bringing it to an unprecedent - fast, and the world has been too slow in re - ed scale, complexity and risk level. Success sponse. depends first and foremost on how member Since taking over as Secretary-General, I states match the mandates they have set with have made it my priority to beat the drum political support and actual contributions – on this impending crisis. I am determined troops, police, vital capabilities and finance. to get the UN and our member states to We must deliver results for a more just step up action to meet this immense chal - world. A global awareness campaign is al - lenge. ready underway to mark the 60th anniver - My efforts received an unexpected boost sary of the Universal Declaration of Human with the award of last year’s Nobel Peace Rights. We must uphold the responsibility Prize to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on to protect, and ensure the Human Rights Climate Change. The panel’s research estab - Council lives up to the high expectations of lished that climate change was not only oc - the international community. curring, but accelerating, and that man- At the same time, the UN must work made emissions were largely responsible. overall to address the global threats which Also last year, the UN-sponsored climate spare no one in today’s world. They require talks in Bali produced an agreement by all us to advance the global common good by countries to launch negotiations on a new securing global public goods – in the areas of international climate change agreement by climate change, global health, counter- the end of 2009 and a roadmap for how to ter rorism and disarmament. The United get there. Nations is uniquely placed to lead this effort These welcome developments have placed – this is my central message to you today. the UN squarely at the forefront of the cli - I am convinced that if we do not collabo - mate change response. My colleagues and I rate on these four global challenges now, are determined to capitalise on the momen - they will escalate to global threats of irre - tum generated and push for decisive action versible proportions in the future. These is - supported by all our member states. sues differ qualitatively from all other mat - Indeed, as I tell world leaders, whatever ters of global concern because: they endan - the costs of tackling climate change – and ger all countries – rich and poor – and all they are not as much as you might think – people; they cross borders and are highly the cost of inaction is far, far greater. contagious; and they can only be resolved In that sense, acting now is not only the with action by all nations and all peoples. right thing to do: it is also the cheaper alter - For friends of the United Nations, the native. need for collective action represents the silver Global health is another pressing chal - lining to some very dark clouds: today’s lenge which we are poised to meet. complex and global challenges represent ex - Migration and rapid urbanisation have actly the environment in which our United changed the way we way we look at global Nations should thrive – because no country health. Diseases and pandemics spread can resolve these problems on its own. They across borders much faster than ever before. Top to bottom: Former UNA-UK Chair Sir Richard Jolly signal a world where the United Nations If they are not controlled effectively, the im - in conversation with Secretary-General can, and must, grow and take on new roles, pact will be devastating. The neglected dis - Ban Ki-moon develop and deliver on new fronts. eases of the world’s poor are one example. Amnesty International Secretary And that is exactly what our organisation So-called ‘neglected tropical diseases’ that af - General Irene Khan and Oxfam Chief Executive Barbara Stocking is doing. Take climate change, which I per - fect millions beyond tropical regions are an - Professor Sir Adam Roberts presents sonally consider the defining challenge of other. the Secretary-General with a copy of our age. The silver lining to this dark cloud is that his new book. Last December, in the best tradition of the world has the ability to treat and con - UNA-UK Vice-Chair Rod Fielding and the Royal Geographical Society, I journeyed trol many of these diseases. And we also former Vice-Chair Janet Blackman
12 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | Secretary-General’s Speech ‘FOR FRIENDS OF THE UNITED NATIONS, THE NEED FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION REPRESENTS THE SILVER LINING TO SOME VERY DARK CLOUDS ’ ‘THROUGH OUTREACH, VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS, YOUR MEMBERS HAVE BUILT A GRASSROOTS SUPPORT BASE FOR THE UN ’ have the know-how to build health systems Weapons of mass destruction, especially that serve all. nuclear weapons, are inherently indiscrimi- That is why the United Nations is push- nate. They make no distinction between cit- ing hard for sustainable action to cut mater- izen and soldier, man and woman, the old nal and child mortality, to combat and the young, plant and animal – indeed, HIV/AIDS, to defeat malaria, and to wipe no distinction among any living things. out tuberculosis and other diseases. We are They wreak wholesale havoc, not just spa- also working to build functioning and af- tially but also temporally, lingering into the fordable health systems, starting with in- future to rob new generations of life, securi- creased support to the people who staff ty and prosperity. And even when they are them. not used, these weapons remain a threat. But these efforts are hindered by the frag- There is always a risk that they can cause ac- mented nature of the global health land- cidents, or fall into the wrong hands, with scape. That is also why the welcome rise in deadly consequences. new actors and resources will not amount to There is now near universal recognition much unless we ensure coherent and decisive of the risks inherent in the very existence of action. weapons of mass destruction. There is also The United Nations is already working widespread understanding of the dangers on this front, as a convenor and advocate for accompanying unconstrained competition greater coordination and accountability in conventional weaponry. In fact, in delib- among health actors. A few weeks ago, I erations at the United Nations, the vast ma- called a meeting of United Nations and non- jority of states continue to cite zero as the UN leaders in the health sphere to discuss most desirable minimum number of nu- top global health priorities and what we can clear weapons. They also accept that veri- do about them. I told them then, and I say fied and irreversible disarmament remains to you now: too many lives hang in the bal- the safest, most reliable way to protect ance for us to wait. This is the time to be de- against the use of weapons of mass destruc- cisive and bold. tion. Terrorism can affect anyone, anywhere, at Building on these points of agreement, any time – as you know too well, here in the any realistic approach to security should in- United Kingdom, and we in the United volve the simultaneous pursuit of two essen- Nations know in our missions around the tial goals: the elimination of all weapons of world. mass destruction – namely, nuclear, biologi- In 2006 the UN General Assembly cal and chemical weapons – and the limita- adopted the Global Counter-Terrorism tion of other types of weapons to legitimate Strategy. This was a milestone – the first time defensive purposes. that all 192 member states came together to I intend to work with member states in formulate a comprehensive, collective, and pursuit of these ideals. My own experiences internationally approved plan to counter ter- in Korea taught me that there is simply no rorism. other way to safeguard our collective securi- It was also the first time all member states ty, and ensure a peaceful world. THROUGH OUTREACH, agreed that certain conditions can be con- The four challenges I have just outlined ‘ ducive to the spread of terrorism and that today are truly global. They affect all and our counter-terrorism efforts must target they require attention by all. these conditions. The adoption of this land- I have identified the issues, but I have not VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, mark strategy demonstrated, yet again, the proposed solutions. These require more than UN’s role in addressing key global chal- a 20-minute monologue from a Secretary- lenges. General, or, for that matter, even the most EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, The organisation is now working close- profound thinking at the local or national ly with member states to apply the meas- level. They require collective thinking and ures outlined in the strategy. Within the global approaches. In short, they require the CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS, UN system itself, departments, pro- United Nations. Not just the organisation, grammes, funds and agencies have been but also the ideal – all people working to- taking action in a number of areas, in both gether for the collective good. YOUR MEMBERS HAVE BUILT A their individual capacities as well as That is my challenge to you today. As sup- Top to bottom through joint efforts guided by the porters of the United Nations, as decision- UNA-UK Chair Lord Hannay welcomes Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task makers, as activists and as concerned citi- the Secretary-General at the podium Force. But we also look to our member zens, you can make crucial contributions. GRASSROOTS SUPPORT BASE UN Under-Secretary-General B. Lynn Pascoe and Deputy Chef de Cabinet states to rise to the occasion, and to follow The issues are already before us. But solu- Kim Won-soo through on this ambitious strategy. tions will come through joint and unprece- FOR THE UN Jumoké Fashola from the BBC In the same way, I look to member states dented effort. Together, we can tackle the Lady Shelley Sawers and Ambassador to step up to the challenge of disarmament looming challenges and make our world ’ Sir John Sawers and non-proliferation. healthier and safer for all people.
Secretary-General’s speech | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 15 Briefing Prepared by Tim Kellow, John Bright Peace & Security Programme Officer
alleged offenders. Zeid recommended the establishment of a permanent investiga - tive mechanism, with access to modern Tackling sexual exploitation and forensic methods, professionals with ex - pertise in investigating sex crimes and abuse by UN peacekeepers legal experts who could advise on the ev - identiary requirements and burden of proof in TCCs. Abuse in West Africa incites Zeid report pinpoints key problems UN action 3. Inadequate organisational, managerial In 2004 Secretary-General Kofi Annan ap - and command accountability On 15 October 2003 Secretary-General Kofi pointed Prince Zeid of Jordan – a key Zeid pointed to a ‘justified perception’ Annan issued a bulletin to all United Nations provider of troops for UN peacekeeping mis - that the UN’s civilian managers and personnel in which he announced standards sions – to serve as his SEA adviser. Prince military commanders were not being of conduct prohibiting sexual exploitation Zeid’s report, released in March 2005, cata - held professionally responsible for and abuse. He stated that sexual exploitation logued the potential risks of failing to elimi - combating SEA, and put forward a and abuse violated international legal norms nate SEA. range of measures for tightening organ - and told staff that such acts constituted seri - SEA, Zeid argued, damages the impartial - isational, managerial and command ac - ous misconduct. The standards listed in the ity of the mission in the eyes of the local pop - countability. bulletin drew from the recommendations of ulation; engenders ill-discipline among an interagency task force, set up rapidly in troops, so degrading the mission’s effective - 4. Weak individual criminal March 2002. ness; undercuts the legitimacy of the UN in accountability and ambiguous The impetus for the bulletin and the advising the host government about human jurisdiction task force was a series of hard-hitting al - rights standards and judicial reform; opens Zeid outlined two key challenges to legations, which grabbed headlines in up the possibility of blackmail and retalia - holding offenders accountable for their early 2002, that displaced women and tion; increases the incidence of medical prob - crimes: first, the failure of many TCCs to children in West Africa were being sexu - lems, including the risk of contracting pursue prosecution once repatriation had ally abused and exploited by UN peace - HIV/AIDS; and perpetuates the trauma of occurred; and, second, the difficulty in keepers and UN and non-UN humani - the beneficiary population, for instance by waiving UN staff immunity in unstable tarian workers. The UN’s Office for exposing rape victims and ‘peacekeeper ba - countries with shoddy judicial systems Internal Oversight Services investigated bies’ to stigmatisation. and poor compliance with minimum the claims, and submitted its findings to Zeid identified four fundamental chal - human rights standards. Zeid recom - the General Assembly later that year. The lenges which needed to be addressed if the mended that this jurisdictional gap be Assembly in turn called on the Secretary- UN was to form an effective response to SEA. closed by amending the model memo - General to initiate reforms to tackle the randum of understanding between the problem, and then report back regularly 1. Uneven rules, standards and training UN and the TCC to strengthen the lat - on any new cases and steps taken. for different categories of peacekeeping ter’s legal responsibilities. He also pro - A raft of measures has since been im - personnel posed a new treaty to clarify jurisdiction plemented, underpinned by a strict UN- Zeid noted the complexity of UN peace in cases involving non-military offenders. wide policy of zero tolerance for sexual operations, which may feature civilian, exploitation and abuse (SEA). Yet allega - military and police components. Each is tions have continued – in the governed by a different set of rules and UN follow-up to Zeid Democratic Republic of Congo (2003), disciplinary procedures, with troop-con - recommendations Burundi (2004), Sudan (2005), Haiti tributing countries (TCCs) retaining re - (2006) and Liberia (2006) – illustrating sponsibility for the conduct of their mil - The Zeid report was debated by the General that the UN Secretariat, UN agencies itary personnel. Zeid recommended that Assembly in April 2005. Its recommenda - and UN member states need to continue the standards set out in the Secretary- tions have spawned a package of reforms, still and intensify their efforts. General’s bulletin be applied across all ongoing, which aim to prevent SEA, This briefing outlines the develop - categories of peacekeeping personnel. strengthen accountability, and assist and sup - ment of the UN’s anti-SEA strategy and port victims. Some highlights are sum - takes stock of progress in implementing 2. Patchy investigation procedures marised below. reforms. Because the vast majority of Zeid noted that evidence gathered by SEA cases are perpetrated by peacekeep - UN mission investigators was sometimes Preventing SEA: widening adherence to ing personnel, the briefing focuses on the considered incompatible with national standards of conduct UN’s efforts to stamp out SEA in peace legal systems, undermining prospects for In November 2005, the UN’s Department operations . prosecution following the repatriation of of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) set up
16 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | Briefing Prepared by Tim Kellow, John Bright Peace & Security Programme Officer
a network of conduct and discipline units should have done when the allegations in strategies. It must continue to act with (CDU). The headquarters team, housed in 2002 emerged. But in recent years the UN transparency and make data on allegations DPKO in New York, exercises global over - has matched its zero-tolerance policy with readily available. It must increase the num - sight of discipline in UN peace operations; action, in some cases quite robust. Between bers of women serving on its missions and the field-based units advise heads of mission the beginning of 2004 and the end of 2006, appoint more of them to senior positions. on preventing and addressing misconduct by the UN investigated SEA allegations involv - It must inform local communities of ac - all categories of peacekeeping personnel. All ing 319 peacekeeping personnel, resulting in tion taken against offenders, and provide peacekeeping missions now feature CDUs. the summary dismissal of 18 civilians, and support to their victims. Training on SEA prevention has been, the repatriation of 17 police and 144 troops. A make-or-break challenge will be to en - since mid-2005, mandatory for all peace - In July 2007, the UN confined a 730-strong sure that SEA is not treated with impunity. keeping personnel upon arrival in their mis - battalion of Moroccan troops on mission in Here the UN’s scope for action is fundamen - sion. A range of supplementary educational Côte d’Ivoire to its barracks after uncovering tally restricted: of the nearly 110,000 peace - resources have also been rolled out, by both allegations of widespread SEA. And in keeping personnel deployed around the DPKO and missions. Other preventive steps November that same year, the UN repatriat - world, over 80 per cent fall beyond its disci - taken include higher-quality recreation facil - ed 108 Sri Lankan peacekeepers serving in plinary jurisdiction, a legal reality typically ities for mission staff, the idea being to keep Haiti, after a preliminary investigation found disregarded in the media. If member states them busy when off duty. that they had paid for prostitutes, some of do not step up to punish troops guilty of whom may have been underage. such misconduct, trust in UN peacekeeping Strengthening accountability: preventing In the Secretary-General’s most recent re - could erode. impunity port to the General Assembly on SEA, Ban In July 2007, the General Assembly ap - Ki-moon stated that the UN had made ‘cru - UNA-UK is grateful to Kate Grady for her ex - proved a revised model memorandum of cial progress in establishing a sustainable pert advice and feedback. understanding for troop (and police) con - framework within which to address sexual tributors to UN peace operations. The new exploitation and abuse’. He also noted a 5 Addressing underreporting memorandum assigns responsibility to per cent increase between 2005 and 2006 in TCCs for investigating abuses by members the number of claims made against peace - key to addressing SEA of their contingents and reaffirms their ex - keeping personnel – the target of the over - In May, Save the Children UK released a re - clusive jurisdiction over offences committed. whelming bulk of allegations. One reason port entitled ‘No One to Turn To’. Based on Non-military personnel, too, may soon be for the increase is that the number of peace - research from three case studies – Côte subject to greater criminal accountability. A keeping personnel grew by 14 per cent in d’Ivoire, Haiti and southern Sudan – the re - panel of legal experts appointed by the UN 2006; another important explanation is that port identified chronic underreporting of has backed the international convention pro - reporting mechanisms improved during the abuse as a major challenge for eliminating posed by Zeid. The treaty, currently in draft period in question. Mr Ban pointed to a dis - the sexual abuse of children by aid workers form, obligates states to exercise jurisdiction tinct downward trend in allegations over the and peacekeepers. over crimes committed by their nationals course of 2006 as evidence that DPKO’s The study found that abuses went unre - while serving on UN missions, in the event anti-SEA efforts were taking hold: between ported often out of fear of reprisals and a that the host state is unable to prosecute the January and December allegations declined belief that nothing would come of doing so. alleged offender. from 97 to 12 per month. The report emphasised the need for effec - Another success story may be playing out tive local complaints mechanisms, and called Assisting and supporting victims: in Liberia, once one of the worst-affected for a new global SEA watchdog. It also remedial action countries: allegations fell from nine in 2006 urged that more resources be marshalled to - In March 2008 the General Assembly to just two in 2007. Notably, both its peace - wards tackling the underlying drivers of adopted a UN-wide strategy for assisting and keeping force and peacebuilding process fea - abuse. supporting victims of SEA by UN person - ture a high level of female participation – as Some media coverage of the report sug - nel. The strategy states that all complainants advocated by Security Council resolution gested that it singled out the UN for partic - should receive medical and psychological 1325 on women, peace and security. ular censure. This is not the case: the re - care and access to legal services, as well as port’s remit includes UN as well as non-UN food, clothing and shelter as necessary. The No grounds for complacency personnel, and the UN is furthermore strategy also mandates the UN to work with praised for its transparency. member states to facilitate the pursuit of pa - Despite these gains, allegations – some On the publication of the report Secretary- ternity claims and child support. substantiated – continue. As Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon said, ‘The abuse of General Ban Ki-moon said recently, ‘even children by those sent to help is a significant Impacts beginning to show one incident is one too many’. The UN and painful issue and one that UN peace - must meet its system-wide commitment to keeping has and will continue to address The UN has been criticised, legitimately, for zero tolerance and hold managers account - candidly, comprehensively and robustly.’ not confronting SEA as forcefully as it able for results in implementing SEA
Briefing | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 17 The history of a success: UNA-UK’s role in securing a cluster munitions ban
1943 Early forms of cluster bombs are first used, by the Soviet Union against Germany and by Germany against Britain during World War II.
1964-1973 UNA-UK condemns the first large-scale use of the weapon, by the US in Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
1970s and 1980s The US restricts sales of cluster munitions to Israel in the 1970s, following large-scale civil - ian casualties in fighting against Syria and Lebanon.
In 1974-1976 states meeting to assess the laws of armed conflict conclude that cluster mu - nitions are ‘on the very border-line of humanitarian acceptability’. Sweden proposes a ban and is backed by 12 other states. Negotiations lead to the adoption in 1980 of the UN Convention on Conventional Weapons.
In 1982 the US terminates sales to Israel after attacks on Lebanon. The British use the weapon in the 1980s in the Falklands conflict, as does the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, and Morocco in Western Sahara.
1990s Cluster munitions users proliferate. The US and its allies deploy the weapon in the Gulf War. Cluster munitions are used by Yugoslav and other forces during the Bosnian conflict, and also in Tajikistan, southern Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Sierra Leone and Chechnya.
1997 The landmine convention is signed by 122 states (158 as of 2008) but cluster munitions are not included.
1999 NATO’s deployment of cluster munitions during the Kosovo conflict causes more civilian casual - ties than any other weapon. President Clinton suspends their use by US forces after a particular - ly devastating attack.
2001-03 The US deploys the weapon in Afghanistan in 2001-2002. US and UK forces use cluster bombs during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, where they kill and maim more civilians than any other weapon.
2006 July-August The UN's humanitarian chief calls Israel’s use of the weapon in southern Lebanon ‘com - pletely immoral’, with 90 per cent of strikes taking place after the ceasefire had been agreed. The conflict draws attention to the weapon’s horrific post-conflict impacts and catalyses states to seek an international ban.
December The Norwegian government announces that it will host a meeting in Oslo in early 2007 aimed at launching diplomatic negotiations towards a treaty banning cluster munitions.
18 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | Feature 2007 2008 16 January 1 January UNA-UK Chair Lord Hannay writes to Foreign Secretary Margaret New World features an article outlining challenges for negotiations on the Beckett urging the government to give its full support to the so- ban and encourages members to write to their MPs to urge them to sign called ‘Oslo process’. UNA-UK members follow this up with letters to EDM 602. MPs. 18-22 February 23 January New Zealand hosts the fourth Oslo process meeting in Wellington. Over UNA-UK receives a reply from the Foreign Secretary. She says the 100 states sign the Wellington Declaration, committing them to participate government shares UNA-UK’s concern about the weapon’s humanitar - in the final negotiations at a key conference in Dublin in May. Delegates ian impacts and confirms the UK’s attendance at the Oslo conference. also agree a framework text for the treaty.
22 February 28-30 March The inaugural conference of the Oslo process takes place. Attended UNA-UK Annual Conference agrees a policy resolution urging the UK to by 49 states and many NGOs and UN bodies, the meeting concludes work in good faith towards a treaty ‘with no distinctions or reservations with 46 countries, including the UK, endorsing the Oslo Declaration – between different categories of cluster munitions’. UNA-UK members sign a commitment to conclude by 2008 a new legally binding instrument a CMC petition calling on the UK to support such a ban. that prohibits ‘the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians’. 2 April Lord Hannay writes to Foreign Secretary David Miliband to relay the 24 February Annual Conference resolution. UNA-UK members write to their MPs, urg - The UK government’s decision to sign the Oslo Declaration is labelled ing them to call on the government to ensure that the treaty is not wa - a ‘U-turn’ by the Independent . tered down.
26 February 19 April UNA-UK joins the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) – a global net - UNA-UK holds the UK’s headline event to mark the CMC’s global day of ac - work of around 300 NGOs campaigning for a comprehensive ban. tion to ban cluster munitions. Hosted by Central Region UNA in Birmingham, the meeting features presentations from Tim Kellow and 20 March Landmine Action’s Richard Moyes. More signatures are collected for the Defence Secretary Des Browne announces that the UK will immedi - CMC petition. ately cease all use of so-called ‘dumb’ cluster munitions. 28 April 1 April Lord Hannay and other leading UK CMC members hand over the petition New World features a briefing note outlining UNA-UK’s concern over to the Foreign Secretary. It boasts more than 30,000 signatures, many from the misleading distinction between different models of the weapon, UNA-UK members. and calls attention to the humanitarian risks of so-called ‘smart’ bombs. 16 May The Foreign Secretary responds to Lord Hannay’s 2 April letter, reaffirming 13-15 April the UK’s commitment to achieving an international ban at the Dublin con - UNA-UK Annual Conference agrees a policy resolution objecting to ference. the government’s retention of ‘smart’ cluster munitions. 19 May 23-25 May As delegates gather in Dublin for the final Oslo Process meeting, The Times 28 new states join the Oslo process at the second meeting, hosted by publishes a letter by nine former British commanders warning the govern - Peru in Lima. ment that ‘to choose a course that seeks to exempt the UK’s remaining stocks from a ban risks creating loopholes that others will inevitably ex - 5 November ploit. Most importantly it will not achieve the stigmatisation of cluster mu - UNA-UK staff and members participate in the CMC’s UK day of action nitions, which must be our objective if we are to prevent the proliferation against cluster munitions and add their names to a giant signature of these weapons’. UNA-UK’s Tim Kellow attends the conference as part of board. the CMC delegation.
5-7 December 30 May Diplomatic momentum towards a ban picks up at the third Oslo 107 states agree the new treaty. The ban is categorical, with no transition process meeting, hosted by Austria in Vienna. On the eve of the con - periods or exceptions allowed. Prime Minister Gordon Brown plays a key ference Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voices UN backing for the role with a last-minute intervention announcing the UK’s support for a treaty, noting the ‘high humanitarian, human rights and developmen - total ban. tal stakes’ involved. Tim Kellow attends the conference as a member of the CMC’s delegation, and lobbies many developing country dele - Lord Hannay writes to the Foreign Secretary, copying in the Secretaries of gates to sign up to the treaty. State for Defence and International Development, to congratulate the UK for helping to secure the treaty. The letter also urges the government now 17 December to ‘throw its full weight behind efforts to achieve the maximum support An early day motion authored by UNA-UK is tabled by Martin Caton for the convention by other governments and the largest possible number MP and receives 75 signatures. EDM 602 expresses concern that the of signatories to the convention’. A UNA-UK press statement is also issued. UK and other stockpiler countries ‘are seeking to water down the treaty by introducing an exemption for cluster munitions that have 26 June self-destruct mechanisms’. The Foreign Secretary responds, praising UNA-UK’s advocacy for the ban and stating the government’s intention to encourage other states to sup - port the new convention.
3 December The convention opens for signature in Oslo. It will enter into force once it has been ratified by 30 countries.
Feature | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 19 Some of the challenges which may need to be addressed are: preserving the cooper - ative spirit of the mechanism while at the same time maintaining results-oriented discussions; supporting developing coun - tries undertaking the review; enhancing the participation of civil society and NHRIs; and promoting international co - operation. Another important challenge will be the follow-up phase. The implementation of UNA-UK Interview recommendations and voluntary commit - ments stemming from the review will be His Excellency Luis Alfonso de Alba the most palpable contribution of the mechanism. States will need to take con - crete steps at the national level to ensure The Human Rights Council forms a central part of the UN’s machinery progress. But civil society, NHRIs and the for promoting and protecting the rights and values set out in the international community as a whole also have a key role to play in supporting these Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which turns 60 later this year. efforts and helping to enhance states’ ca - The Council is a relatively new body, set up in 2006 to replace the UN pacities. Commission on Human Rights. In its last years the Commission came under heavy fire for the selectivity and politicisation of its decisions, The Council has been criticised, including a criticism which is now also being levelled at the Council. by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, for focusing too much on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Do you believe that Luis Alfonso de Alba is Mexico’s ambassador to the UN and its repre - there is a problem with selectivity in the sentative on the Council, of which he was also the first president. In country situations addressed by the this interview with UNA-UK, Ambassador de Alba parries criticisms of Council? If so, are there any obvious the Council, updates us on institutional reforms in the Council and ar - remedies? gues for greater US engagement with the body. I am aware of such criticisms, which are neither new nor exclusive to the Council. It is necessary to clarify some issues in order to give a more accurate picture of the Council. The Council has an agenda item on In your view, does the Human Rights While not free of politicisation, the the human rights situation in Palestine Council represent an improvement over its Council now has better tools for the universal and other occupied Arab territories, predecessor, the Commission on Human promotion and protection of human rights, which is broader in scope than the com - Rights? as well as for the prevention of human rights parable item on the Commission’s agen - With the establishment of the Council, violations. It is also better equipped to reduce da. It remains a standing item because human rights were accorded a higher insti - the confrontation and selectivity that under - the situation in the territories is unique. tutional level at the UN. This in itself mined the Commission. It is the responsibil - The approach taken by the Council al - makes me certain that the Council repre - ity of members and observers of the Council, lows for the discussion of human rights sents a significant improvement over the as well as civil society, to deploy these tools to in the region, regardless of the nationali - Commission. The Council also benefits preserve and enhance the body’s strengths. ties of the victims or the perpetrators. In from the following features: addition, under the item ‘Human rights First, its working culture is oriented to - Will the introduction of the new Universal situations that require the Council’s at - wards addressing all human rights more Periodic Review mechanism strengthen the tention’, any country situation may be effectively and on an equal footing, with Council’s credibility? What challenges face considered. an emphasis on dialogue, cooperation and its implementation? The Council also has a Special stronger participation by different stake - UPR does strengthen the credibility of the Rapporteur on the situation of human holders, including NGOs and National Council in as much as it provides for the rights in the Palestinian territories, as well Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). review of the fulfillment of human rights as eight other country-specific Special Second, the Council has an enhanced ca - obligations by all countries, without dis - Procedures: for four African countries, pacity to address urgent human rights sit - tinction, under the same rules and on the three Asian, and one Caribbean. All of uations, both thematic and country-spe - basis of universal standards. The reviews them report regularly to the Council and cific, through Special Sessions. Third, a are based on information submitted by the participate in interactive dialogue with new mechanism – the Universal Periodic country in question as well as by the UN delegations. Review (UPR) – acts to counter politicisa - system and civil society. I believe that the The Special Sessions of the Council tion and selectivity, and to make all states first 32 reviews have demonstrated that have attracted particular attention. Four more accountable vis-à-vis their human states and civil society are seriously com - have focused on the Middle East, includ - rights obligations. mitted to the exercise. ing the conflict between Israel and
20 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | Interview ‘While not free of politicisation, the Council now has better tools for the universal promotion and protection of human rights, as well as for the prevention of human rights violations. It is also is better equipped to reduce the confrontation and selectivity that undermined the Commission’ I P D / N U
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o t o h P
Lebanon, while three others have dealt As former President of the Council and dates, the Council retains the capacity to with Darfur, Myanmar and the world as Mexico’s representative on the Council, create new ones. In fact, two new inde - food crisis. Given conditions on the I have worked closely with the US delega - pendent experts have been established – ground and the responsibilities of the tion on many Council-related issues – for on access to safe drinking water and san - Council, all of these situations clearly example during the consultations held on itation and on contemporary forms of merited the Council’s attention. the Council’s institution-building process, slavery. The persistent challenge is to ensure the in which the US participated actively and The process of mandate renewal aims implementation of the Council’s deci - constructively. to preserve the coherence of the system. sions. For that purpose, enhanced dia - I trust that the US will eventually come It also allows for the improvement of logue, a consensual approach and more on board and start focusing more on the mandates, taking into account their his - balanced resolutions are necessary. substantive issues, rather than on mem - torical evolution, the development of bership or other institutional matters, and the human rights issues they are con - The United States voted against the do so from a less ideological standpoint. It cerned with, the international human establishment of the Council and has not is also important to recognise the benefits rights framework, and the need to ad - yet stood for election. How important is it of a new culture in which all countries ac - dress all human rights issues equitably. for the Council to secure American knowledge their own challenges on The new selection and appointment engagement, and what steps have you human rights issues. process for the Special Procedures allows taken to achieve this? for more transparency and objectivity. I believe it is very important for the inter - What are the prospects for strengthening The elaboration and publication of a list national community that the US – as a key the Council’s system of independent of vacancies and candidates, and the player and a major stakeholder in most of experts (‘Special Procedures’)? thorough examination of candidates un - the issues with which the Council is con - Let me start by highlighting the impor - dertaken by a consultative group and the cerned – participates fully in the Council’s tance of the Council’s consensual deci - Council President in consultation with work. Surely, both the Council and the US sion to renew almost all of the former delegations and civil society, undoubted - have much to gain from more substantive Commission’s Special Procedures man - ly elevates the legitimacy of the process American engagement in advancing the in - dates: this was crucial to avoid a ‘protec - and the quality of the Special Procedures ternational human rights agenda. tion gap’. In addition to renewing man - system.
Interview | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 21 UPCOMING CONFERENCES
NORTHERN IRELAND Thursday, 6 November 2008 Grosvenor House, Belfast
SCOTLAND Saturday, 13 December 2008 Hampden Park, Glasgow
WALES UNA-UK climate change conference Friday, 13 March 2009 Brangwyn Hall, Swansea series gets underway in Birmingham To request a place visit www.una.org.uk/climate, Birmingham was the ideal place to call 020 7766 3448 or write to kick off ‘The Climate Challenge: A call to Climate Change, UNA-UK, action’ – the UK-wide climate change con - 3 Whitehall Court, London ference series being organised by UNA-UK SW1A 2EL and sponsored by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Attended by 120 people, the Birmingham conference drew a diverse audience: UNA- TAKE ACTION! UK members from the region were joined by local government officials, environmental Visit the UNA-UK climate NGOs and faith groups. Opened by UNA- change website for ideas on UK Chair Lord Hannay, the event featured actions you can take to help incisive presentations by climate experts Alex Paul Hilder of Avaaz.org, and Ziana Kotadia, DEFRA'S fight climate change: West Midlands Climate Change Champion, during the Evans and Paul Hilder. A highlight for many www.una.org.uk/climate interactive question-and-answer time was the impassioned speech by 14-year-old Ziana Kotadia, DEFRA’s Youth Climate No internet? Call 020 7766 3459 or Champion for the West Midlands. write to Climate Change, UNA-UK, The afternoon saw attendees participating 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL. in a wide range of workshops. One particu - larly popular session, led by an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scientist, equipped participants with UNA-UK’s conference was run as part the essential facts about climate science; an - of Birmingham’s Climate Change Festival other explored the potential of personal car - – billed as the world’s first! During the fes - bon trading; still another showcased schemes tival 1,500 people signed pledges to reduce to cut CO 2 emissions in Birmingham. their carbon footprints by 100kg over the The importance of environmental edu - next 12 months. cation was also covered, as was the utility of faith in combating climate change. Report by Waverley Parsons Alex Evans, Fellow at NYU’s Center on International There was even a session with a ukulele! Birmingham conference organiser Cooperation
Resources Audio recordings and presentation transcripts from the Birmingham conference can be down - loaded at www.una.org.uk/climate/birmingham
Also posted here is a series of briefing papers on climate change. Written by climate change s n expert Alex Evans, the briefings cover these topics: o s r a P
Climate change: an introduction t c i d e n International climate change architecture e B /
K UK climate change policy U - A
N How climate change links to other issues U
© s What individuals can do o
t o h P Gillian Briggs, of Central Region UNA, puts a ques - To order a hard copy set of these briefings, call 020 7766 3448 or e-mail [email protected] tion to the panel
22 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | Conferences Parliament
UNA-UK and BASIC join forces the UN. The group now numbers 54 MPs progress so far and to promote multilateral and peers. prospects for the future’. The expert disarmament To find out if your MP is a member, visit panel featured Carolyn McAskie, UN www.una.org.uk/parliament or contact Mark Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding UNA-UK and BASIC have launched an Rusling on 020 7766 3459. Support; Paul Collier, Professor of early day motion (EDM) to promote the Economics at Oxford University; and Lord Nuclear Security Project, a multilateral dis - Lord Hannay joins Tony Hannay, Chair of UNA-UK. armament initiative fronted by US foreign Lloyd MP at the helm of To read a summary of this event visit policy heavyweights Henry Kissinger, Sam non-proliferation group www.saferworld.org.uk Nunn, William Perry and George Shultz. The objectives of the project are to encour - UNA-UK Chair Lord Hannay is now, David Hannay keeps up the age global action to minimise nuclear dan - alongside Labour MP Tony Lloyd, Joint pressure in the House of gers, reduce reliance on nuclear weapons Convenor of the All-Party Parliamentary Lords and ultimately end them as a threat to the Group on Global Security and Non- world. Proliferation. The aim of the group is to en - Lord Hannay continues to raise UN issues UNA-UK and BASIC wrote to all MPs courage debate on countering the prolifera - in the House of Lords. In recent months before the summer recess, inviting them to tion of nuclear, chemical and biological he has asked the government about IAEA sign the EDM. Already 75 MPs from across weapons. inspections of a potential nuclear site in the political spectrum have signed up. If For more information about this all-party group Syria; highlighted the need to reinvigorate your MP is not one of them, you are urged and others visit www.parliament.uk efforts to achieve the Millennium to ask her or him to do so. Development Goals; questioned the gov - The autumn issue of New World will feature more UNA-UK and Saferworld ernment about the applicability of the re - information about EDM 2053. In the meantime, collaborate on Peacebuilding sponsibility to protect in Burma; and any questions about this campaign should be Commission event asked the government about its position directed to Tim Kellow on [email protected] or on John McCain’s proposal for a so-called 020 7766 3446. In June UNA-UK teamed up with ‘league of democracies’. Saferworld to hold an event in Parliament on To read the official record of Lord Hannay’s inter - Lords committee calls for UN ‘The UN Peacebuilding Commission: ventions visit www.una.org.uk/parliament leadership in global disease control
The House of Lords Ad Hoc Committee on UNA-UK’s Parliament website Intergovernmental Organisations has released the report of its six-month inquiry into the effectiveness of intergovernmental efforts to control the global spread of infectious dis - eases. In keeping with evidence submitted by UNA-UK, the report calls for better or - ganisation and resources for the World Health Organization, to equip it to exercise leadership within the ‘crowded and poorly coordinated’ landscape of international dis - ease control. To download a copy of Diseases Know No Frontiers, visit www.parliament.uk
UN parliamentary group expands
UNA-UK has invited all members of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs, Defence and International Development The Parliament section of UNA-UK’s website now features a regular Select Committees, the House of Lords round-up of UN issues being considered by MPs and peers – through Intergovernmental Organisations Committee debates, oral and written questions, and select committee hearings and the Joint Committee on Human Rights and publications. www.una.org.uk/parliament/News to join the All-Party Parliamentary Group on
Parliament | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 23 Ethiopia is facing a critical food shortage, its people hit by drought and soaring food prices. 4.5 million of them need emergency food assistance. 75,000 children are already severely malnourished. UN humanitarian agencies are working with the Ethiopian government to provide emergency relief. Do something.
Visit www.una.org.uk/dosomething to find out how you can support the work of UN agencies s e g a m I y t t e G
© o t o h P Resources
The UN Online Books money, the international community has failed in its attempts to stabilise these Against All Odds is an online interactive game that raises awareness about The Human countries. Drawing upon their experi - refugees by allowing players to assume Dimension of ences in failed states ranging from the character of a refugee fleeing perse - International Law Afghanistan to Nepal, the authors argue cution. From flight to new life, you are Antonio Cassese that the international community needs forced to make the same life-and-death Oxford University Press to develop new strategies which reflect the decisions that refugees face in their strug - June 2008 realities of the state system in a fully glob - gle to find their way to safety. This collection brings alised world. www.playagainstallodds.com together the most im - www.oup.com portant papers of Antonio Cassese, the To commemorate the 60th anniversary of first president of the International The United Nations the first p eacekeeping operation, the UN Criminal Tribunal for the former Security Council and has launched a multimedia website to ho - nour the history and ongoing importance Yugoslavia and one of the leading figures War: The Evolution of one of the most vital aspects of the in international criminal justice. Spanning of Thought and world body’s activities. a period of over 25 years, the papers track Practice Since 1945 www.un.org/events/peacekeeping60 the development of Cassese’s thinking on Vaughan Lowe, key issues of modern international law Adam Roberts, Watch webcasts, stream audio, and pe - and provide one-of-a-kind insight into Jennifer Welsh and ruse pictures from the High-level how this area of the legal field has evolved Dominik Zaum Conference on World Food Security host - over the last quarter of a century. Oxford University Press ed by the UN Food and Agriculture www.oup.com June 2008 Organisation in June. The first major assessment of the Security www.fao.org/foodclimate Peace as Council’s role in confronting civil and in - Governance: Power- ternational war since 1945, the book ex - In early June, the UN hosted a high-level meeting to review progress towards Sharing, Armed amines how much, if at all, the Council reaching the goal of universal access to Groups and has supplanted traditional power politics HIV prevention, treatment, care and sup - Contemporary Peace and changed the use of force. The authors port by the year 2010. Footage from all Negotiations chart the evolution of the Council’s re - three days of this important conference is Chandra Lekha Sriram sponsibilities and illustrate how it has now available online. Palgrave Macmillan helped reduce the incidence of interna - www.un.org/ga/aidsmeeting2008 April 2008 tional war – by providing opportunities This book asks whether including armed for consultation and military collabora - groups in structures of power is a viable tion, and for developing legal and norma - Now available from UNA-UK way of ending conflict and building tive frameworks. peace. Using case studies from Sri Lanka, www.oup.com CLIMATE CHANGE BRIEFING SERIES Sudan, and Colombia, the book explores by Alex Evans the limitations and dangers of this con - Preventive flict resolution strategy. Diplomacy at the UN DOCUMENTING THE UN’S SUCCESSES www.palgrave.com Bertrand G. by Veronica Lie with research by Tim Kellow, Ramcharan Cynthia Park, John Phillips, Matt Ripley, Mark Fixing Failed States: Indiana University Press Rusling and Natalie Samarasinghe A Framework for August 2008 THE UN SYSTEM AND EXTRAORDINARY Rebuilding a In this book, Bertrand RENDITION Fractured World Ramcharan, a human rights scholar and by Natalie Samarasinghe Ashraf Ghani and former UN civil servant, maps out the Clare Lockhart evolution of preventive diplomacy, a con - GLOBAL REACTION TO THE PROPOSED Oxford University Press cept first articulated by UN Secretary- ‘LEAGUE OF DEMOCRACIES’ May 2008 General Dag Hammarskjöld in the 1950s. by Mipe Okunseinde One billion people are housed in the Ramcharan traces key successes and fail - world’s 40-60 failed states, where govern - ures in the practice of preventive diploma - The above resources are all available on ments have all but collapsed, lawlessness cy and considers its application in an era the UNA-UK website. Hard copies can reigns and basic services are not provided. marked by genocide and terrorism. be requested by contacting Rich Nelmes Despite spending huge amounts of www.iupress.indiana.edu on 020 7766 3456 or [email protected]
Resources | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 25 send your letters to : Veronica Lie , UNA-UK, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL Letters e-mail: [email protected]
Better off united, not divided to UNA-UK members and others commit - Some have gone so far as to argue that ted to the goal of nuclear disarmament. In the obstructionism of the Burmese Shirley Williams’s essay (‘Resurrecting a letter I received in May from FCO regime in the aftermath of the cyclone Reykjavik’, spring 2008) about the efforts Minister Kim Howells, who has responsi - justified coercive intervention under the of the so-called 'Hoover Group' to revive bility for international security, he stated ‘responsibility to protect’ (R2P), en - multilateral nuclear disarmament is to be the government’s commitment to the ‘three dorsed by the 2005 UN World Summit. welcomed. People of my generation re - pillars of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Yet the Burmese case did not fall easily member the tensions of the Cold War era, Treaty (NPT) – zero tolerance of prolifera - into any of the four categories of human most notably the Cuban Missile Crisis of tion; safe, secure and peaceful use of nu - rights crises R2P was set up to address: 1962, which brought the world to the clear technology; and a re-invigorated com - genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing brink of a nuclear war. During that peri - mitment to a world free from nuclear and crimes against humanity. od the UN served as a forum for dialogue weapons’. He also wrote, ‘We are already and so helped stave off catastrophe. looking towards and planning for the 2010 ‘The UN needs to Today, preventing nuclear disaster re - Review Conference on the NPT.’ mains a world priority, but there are This reference to the 2010 Review measure and publish other disasters which require equally ur - Conference reminds us of the total failure the human rights gent attention – climate change, food of its predecessor in 2005. It failed to en - shortages, and population pressures dorse the 13 steps to nuclear disarmament record of all regimes, among them, as well as current global fi - agreed by consensus at the 2000 conference so that we can nancial and economic instability. and proposed no alternatives. The many Overcoming these complex and inter - campaigns against nuclear weapons all identify those whose related challenges will require strong lead - counted for nothing. actions are drifting ership at the UN. Leadership is about There is a cautionary tale here. Despite towards the being able to inspire people to come to - all these efforts, men in power ignored gether to face common problems. I be - their publics. If we want to redeem the unacceptable’ lieve that Secretary-General Ban Ki- failure of 2005 we need to build a new moon has the necessary qualities, and public opinion which governments will The Iraq invasion has demonstrated in governments should give him the support have to take account of. any case that military intervention is not he needs to do his job. At UNA-UK Annual Conference the way to bring down odious regimes. The UN itself will also need to become 2008, nuclear disarmament was named a In the UN the international community more truly united if it is to help deliver a campaigning priority for the Association. has other tools at its disposal, short of more secure, prosperous and just world. UNA-UK members should therefore take military force. ‘Smart’ sanctions are one Allowing Cold War-like divisions to re- up the challenge, and direct their energy such tool, though they can be controver - emerge and entrench themselves will and expertise towards making a real im - sial. The problem is that each case of mean failure, and a future too grim to pact in the run-up to 2010. abuse is addressed on an ad hoc basis, and contemplate. action in the UN takes place at the end of Betty Scharf a long and uncertain political process. David J. Thomas Golders Green We need to move to a framework of Porthcawl Mid Glamorgan international rules of governance. The UN needs to measure and publish the Regime change without tears human rights record of all regimes, so We can’t afford to fail in 2010 that we can identify those whose actions The military regime in Burma keeps its are drifting towards the unacceptable. In Shirley Williams’s article was realistic people in a state of cowed silence, uses the case of severely abusive regimes like and informative, and backed up her ar - rape and torture as instruments of coer - Burma and Zimbabwe, specified forms of gument for the ‘imperative for action’ cion, persecutes its minorities, and sup - misconduct should be matched with a on multilateral disarmament. As signs presses peaceful demonstrators with vio - tariff of penalties which are applied in a of progress Williams points to the lence. It has ignored a democratic vote measured, stepwise and consistent basis, Hoover Group and the Nuclear Threat and recently behaved with outrageous in order to avoid the protection that they Initiative, both of which originate in carelessness in the face of a natural dis - often obtain from allies in the UN the US and aim to alert American and aster, by continuing with a rigged refer - Security Ccouncil. world opinion to the dangers of contin - endum and stalling efforts to move aid ued reliance on nuclear weapons, in - in to help the victims of cyclone Nargis. Dr Richard Lawson cluding their proliferation. In short, the Burmese authorities are Member of the International Committee of Our own government has itself been not exercising their responsibility to the Green Party in England and Wales, making noises which will be encouraging protect their population. writing in a personal capacity
26 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | Letters A quick perusal of these pages shows that If you are a UNA-UK member UNA-UK members are working intensely to ensure this copy of New World that the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration should include the following of Human Rights is given the attention it merits, with UNA-UK publications: UNA London & South-East Region leading the way. Documenting the UN’s If you have not done so already, I urge you to enter Successes UNA-UK’s UDHR60 competition and promote it in Climate change: an introduction International climate change UDHR60 initiatives your communities (see back page). architecture UNA-UK has been working hard to produce cam - UK climate change policy continue apace paign and education materials for our members and How climate links to other supporters. If you are a member, this issue of New issues What individuals can do to help World should contain a range of resources to help beat climate change your campaigning efforts (see adjacent box). Sam Daws Missing anything? Contact UNA-UK Executive In other news, UNA-UK Annual Conference is re - Rich Nelmes on 020 7766 3456 Director turning to Scotland after a long hiatus (see page 30). or [email protected] I am delighted with the Procedure Committee’s choice!
UNA Westminster Branch David Wardrop recounts how the branch’s UDHR60 play made history
To mark the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UNA Westminster branch held a concert at St John’s, Smith Square featuring Czech-born pianist Libor Novacek n r e K t
and acapella ensemble Voces8. S
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The concert was followed by the 20-minute play a H
© ‘How the Universal Declaration Was Won’, which con - o t o h
cludes with a re-enactment of the historic UN General P Assembly vote that adopted the declaration on 10 Actors playing UDHR drafters
K December 1948. René Cassin, John Peters Humphrey and Eleanor Roosevelt U
U We had invited diplomats from the embassies of those
e states that had participated in the vote to play out the roles UNA Westminster invites fellow h of their predecessors. This they did with evident enjoyment. branches to stage their own per - t
formances of ‘How the Universal
f The El Salvador ambassador’s daughter, born on Human
- Declaration Was Won’, which o
Rights Day, waved a voting card on behalf of her country; features a six-person cast of char -
n and a Thai diplomat blinked when he saw that his card read acters (one female and five male). The script, synopsis, o
i ‘Siam’. The Lebanese delegate had actually known Charles director’s guide and audio track t are available for £12. You can
a Malik – one of the declaration’s founding fathers and a char -
i order by e-mail or post:
c acter in the play. And representatives of Poland and the for - write to David Wardrop on
o mer Czechoslovakia changed history, by brandishing their [email protected] s or 61 Sedlescombe Road, A s voting cards theatrically despite their countries’ refusal to London SW6 1RE. A
vote for the declaration in 1948. s n o s n
i NEW UDHR60 WEBSITE o s r t a P
t a c i UNA London & South-East d e n N e
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n declaration as well as N U
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o t o e h region’s programme of P h Scenes from UNA Westminster branch’s fifth annual conference UDHR60 activities. T U to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. The keynote speech was delivered by General Patrick Cammaert, the former force commander of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As per tradition, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Cenotaph to pay solemn tribute to peacekeepers killed while serving on UN missions. UNA-UK staff member Tim Kellow once again served as the flag-bearer and led the procession down Whitehall. human rights2008.org.uk UNA-UK
UNA-UK | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 27 Listings
19 September 6 November UNA-UK branches, regions and UNA WALES UNA-UK AND UNA NORTHERN nations wishing to publicise UNA Wales will have a stall at IRELAND events in New World should Cardiff University’s freshers’ fair. The second event in the UNA-UK ensure that the information UNA events, Students interested in the work of conference series on climate submitted is accurate, clear UNA Wales are urged to drop by. change is being held at Grosvenor and complete. Events listings campaigns & Contact: Ona Flindall House in Belfast. To register or must include the following on 02920 228 549 or find out more visit the UNA-UK points of information: initiatives [email protected] website. Alternatively call or write to John Phillips at UNA-UK. • Title/purpose of the event 23 October Contact: John Phillips • Start and end times 6-7 September UNA-UK on 020 7766 3448 or • Venue details UNA SOUTHERN The annual parliamentary lobby – [email protected] • Contact point (full name, COUNTIES REGION Lobby for the UN – will be telephone number, e-mail The region is holding its annual launched at the Foreign Press 24-30 November address and, where applica - conference over this weekend. Association (11 Carlton House UNA WESTMINSTER ble, web address) With the theme of ‘Human Terrace, London SW1Y 5AJ). The The branch’s third annual We the Rights: 60 years on from the event, to run from 4pm to 5.30pm, Peoples film festival will be held Events listings should be sent Universal Declaration’, the event will feature speakers and free infor - at selected London venues during to [email protected] or programme features the follow - mation resources. See page 2 of the final week of November. The UNA-UK, 3 Whitehall Court ing speakers: Natalie this issue of New World. You can theme of this year’s series will be London SW1A 2EL. Samarasinghe, UNA-UK’s human register at www.una.org.uk or by the three pillars of freedom rights specialist; Gill Swain, of calling UNA-UK Campaigns & which form the basis of former UNA-UK takes no responsibility the World Council of Churches; Education Officer Mark Rusling. UN Secretary-General Kofi for the events and/or Deirdre McConnell, of the Tamil Contact: Mark Rusling Annan’s landmark report In campaigns organised by Centre for Human Rights; and on 020 7766 3459 or Larger Freedom: freedom from UNA-UK branches, regions Dr Harold Hillman, a founder [email protected] want; freedom from fear; and or nations. member of Amnesty freedom to live in dignity. The International. The conference is 25 October 2008 festival will also see the being held at Chichester UNA BIRMINGHAM launch of ‘Young Film-Makers for 13 December University (Bishop Otter Campus) At 7.30pm the branch is putting on Development’, a new initiative to UNA-UK AND UNA SCOTLAND and opens at 11am on Saturday, a concert for UNICEF and UNHCR showcase the work of directors The third conference of the UNA- 6 September. The conference at St Columba’s United Reformed from around the world under the UK climate change series will be fee is £125, which covers the Church (Chantry Road, Moseley, age of nineteen. held at Hampden Park in cost of all sessions, all meals, Birmingham B13 8DD). Performers To find out more about the film Glasgow. To register or find out and bed and breakfast for the will include Moseley Voices and festival and Young Film-Makers for more visit the UNA-UK website. night of 6 September. Magenta – both acapella choirs – Development, visit Alternatively call or write to John Contact: Nagalingamudaly as well as mezzo soprano Stella www.wethepeoples.org.uk Phillips at UNA-UK. Sidamparappillai (aka ‘Sid’) Sims and pianist Mick Perrier. Contact: David Wardrop Contact: John Phillips on 01189 429 467 or Contact: Gillian Briggs on 020 7385 6738 or on 020 7766 3448 or [email protected] on 01214 496 032 [email protected] [email protected]
We the Peoples film festival 2007 compilation DVD now available UNA-UK member Bill Say has written an article about This DVD features 11 films from last year’s festival, which focused on the challenges facing the his experiences on a recent Millennium Development Goals. Why not present one of these DVDs to your local school, together with visit to North and South the informative teacher’s guide, or screen the DVD at a meeting of your local UNA-UK group? The DVD Korea and about the UN’s costs just £5 and the teacher’s notes cost £2 (P&P included). role in the region. To ob - tain a copy contact the Please send cheques, payable to ‘UNA Westminster branch’, to UNA-W, 61 Sedlescombe Road, London SW6 1RE. editor, Veronica Lie, on 020 7766 3451 or For more information, contact David Wardrop on 020 7385 6738 or [email protected] [email protected]
28 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | UNA-UK Deaths UNA-UK delegation to attend UN conference on ‘Reaffirming Human Rights’
Nicholas Gillett: 1914 to 2008 Over 2,000 NGO representatives – including a five-strong delegation from UNA-UK – will descend on Paris on 3 September for the 61st Nicholas Gillett, a Quaker who spent his life working for UN Department of Public Information/NGO Annual Conference. This peace, died on 24 June. Among many other forms of serv - year’s theme is ‘Reaffirming Human Rights: the Universal Declaration ice, he worked as a social worker in 1930s work camps for at 60’. The conference will take place at the UNESCO headquarters refugees who had fled Hitler’s Germany, in education for in Paris, the city in which the declaration was signed in 1948. The UNESCO in Iran, the Philippines and Thailand, and as a aim is to discuss effective ways that civil society can promote human peace worker in Belfast. In recent years he helped his rights at the international, national and local levels. wife, Mehr Fardoonji, run her organic farm in Cheshire. UNA-UK will be represented by Natalie Samarasinghe (UNA-UK staff) and Suzanne Long (UNA-UK member and UNA-UK Policy UNA-UK owes a huge debt of gratitude to Nicholas. His Committee human rights expert). They will be joined by YPN repre - family helped lay the foundations for both the League of sentative Kate Grady and UNYSA members Rasha Albazaz and Nations Union and UNA-UK (as well as Oxfam), and Mohamed Tarraf, all of whom were selected from a large pool of ap - Nicholas himself passionately supported UNA-UK through - plicants with human rights expertise. out his life, including by serving on our Executive Board and as a trustee of the UNA Trust. The great-grandson of the Quaker social reformer and anti-Crimean War activist John Bright MP, Nicholas Gillett established a UNA Trust en - IN OTHER BRANCH NEWS . . . dowment in Bright's name to fund UNA-UK's peace and security staff position. Nicholas's contribution to UNA-UK is continued by his son Bevis, who currently serves as a West of Scotland trustee on the UNA Trust. Model UN General Assembly : Over 100 In the foreword to Nicholas Gillett’s memoirs, written delegates took part in the in 2005 and entitled Abolishing War: One Man’s debates, which covered Attempt , Sir Brian Urquhart (former UN Under- the global food crisis; Secretary-General) writes, ‘Gillett believes that we GM crops; landmines; shall only transform the world through changing how and the rights of children. people think and by thus building a culture of peace.’ Leamington Peace Festival : Warwick & District Nicholas Gillett devoted his life to this cause. UNA ran a stall at this event, spreading the word about the UN’s 63 years of achievements. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oxfordshire Model UN : Former UNA-UK Director 6 September at Redlands Friends Meeting House, Malcolm Harper chaired the event, which was described Hampton Road, Bristol BS6. by participating schools as ‘an excellent opportunity for sixth formers to experience international relations at first hand’. UNA-UK is also saddened by the deaths of John Chitty Nuclear weapons lecture : UNA Church Stretton – tireless mainstay of the Purley with Sutton branch – hosted a presentation about the Nuclear Non- and David Stafford, much-valued member of South- Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Tristan Price, a PhD candi - East Berkshire UNA. Olwen Fordham, South-East date at Aberystwyth University, spoke with enthusiasm Berkshire’s secretary, has written an obituary for about the need to strengthen the NPT, arguing that its David Stafford – to obtain a copy contact Rich Nelmes problems were ‘vast but not insurmountable’. s m on 020 7766 3456 or [email protected] Tribute to local a
d A
n
stalwarts : Two mem - a m r o
bers of the branch in N / l i c n
Aberdeen have been hon - u o C y t oured for giving between i
ACTION FOR UN RENEWAL C
n e
them nearly 90 years of e d r e b
UNA-UK Chair Lord Hannay will deliver the annual service to UNA-UK. A
©
o
Erskine Childers lecture hosted by Action for UN Renewal. Laurence and Sheila Reid t o h The speech – 'Who rules the world? Global challenges and – who served respectively P the role of the UN in peacekeeping, human rights and as treasurer and secretary of the branch for nearly 30 years international law' – will take place at 7pm at Friends – were presented with a certificate of UNA-UK life mem - House (173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ). bership, signed by the Association’s chair, Lord Hannay of This event is free and open to all. Chiswick. The presentation was made by the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, comedian Buff Hardie and former local MP For more information and to register, please contact Vijay Malcolm Savidge – also a Vice-President of UNA-UK and Mehta on 020 7377 2111 or [email protected] President of UNA Scotland.
UNA-UK | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 29 o t o h P k c o t S i
© o t o h P
Timetable
6 April UNA-UK Annual Conference 2009 Deadline for submission of policy issues and domestic Edinburgh University motions 5–7 June 2009 21 April Preliminary agenda to be sent out Information note from the Chair of Annual Conference: 5 May I am delighted to announce that UNA-UK Annual Conference 2009 will be held at Edinburgh Deadline for submission of University. Nearly three decades have passed since this important yearly meeting was last staged comments/amendments in Scotland, and I hope that holding Conference here will help with the ongoing rejuvenation of UNA Scotland. 15 May Please note that the Procedure Committee has decided, with the support of the UNA-UK Deadline for notification of Board of Directors, to hold Conference in early summer rather than in the spring, the principal the formal AGM, which reason being Edinburgh University’s academic timetable. must be held no later than The Procedure Committee identified three advantages to holding Annual Conference in June: 27 June 2009
1. The most prominent criticism of Conference in the past has been the distance between the 26 May accommodation and the conference facilities. I visited Edinburgh in June, with UNA-UK Deadline for final agenda to Membership Officer Rich Nelmes, to review our options. The only venue that meets our be sent out, though this will budget and which features accommodation very close to the meeting rooms is available in likely be sent out June and not in March or April. considerably earlier 2. The weather – we hope! – will be more pleasant. 3. The later date will allow members more time to formulate motions. (See box on this page 5-7 June for the revised timetable.) Annual Conference 2009 at Andrew Boakes Edinburgh University
30 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | UNA-UK 20 June was World Refugee Day. Gaza, where another conflict is taking For the third year running YPN mem - its toll on civilians, was the focus of our bers joined UNHCR, the UN’s refugee latest film screening. The event, organ - agency, to mark this important occasion. ised by the YPN Working for Peace This year, UNHCR staged a thought- group, was hosted by Channel 4 at its provoking exhibition in Trafalgar London studios. See below for more in - Square, recreating a refugee camp on the formation about the film. Chad-Sudan border. For more about After a well-earned break the network this event, read on. will swing into action again in the autumn. From the frontline This issue’s YPN interview is with A key focus will be on how UK business Phil Cox, who has done his bit to get can support the UN’s fight against poverty people thinking about conditions in and its drive to meet the Millennium Sudan. An award-winning film-maker Development Goals by 2015. These pages Tim Kellow (and a YPN member!), Phil was the first contain further details about these plans. YPN Coordinator cameraman to film the conflict in If you have any comments or sugges - Darfur. tions, e-mail me on [email protected]
Bringing Darfur to Londoners s e i v a D . J . H / R C H N U
©
World Refugee Day is celebrated each year compellingly illustrated some of the chal - on 20 June to focus global attention on the lenges faced by UNHCR in delivering aid challenges faced by the world’s refugees. to those forced to flee their homes. Each of The numbers of those driven from their the four tents set up in Trafalgar Square own country and into the care of UNHCR dealt with key strands of UNHCR's work: grew for the second year running, from just shelter, food, education, and rebuilding. under 10 million in 2006 to almost 11.5 Thank you to those YPN members who
k million in 2007. volunteered at the event! If you would like r
o This year, UNHCR marked World to get involved in the work of UNHCR,
w Refugee Day in the UK with a unique ex - visit www.unhcr.org/getinvolved. We also t hibition to raise awareness of the 250,000 recommend you visit UNHCR’s profiles on e Darfuri refugees in Chad. ‘Experience Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace and N
s Darfur’ – a simulation of a refugee camp – Flickr. N l a n o i d l s r o s Gaza in the spotlight W
d e e t P r f o p e r o
On 15 July YPN’s Working for Peace group held a n U r / s t t
P screening of 'Gaza: Reign of the Rockets' at Channel a
W
d r
g 4’s London studios. The film, part of Channel 4’s ac - a w d n E
claimed Unreported World series, focuses on the con - © u flict in the Gaza Strip. Travelling across Israel, Gaza and o Y Y the West Bank, the film-makers focus on the Hamas government, and the effects of the siege on Gaza, international isolation and virtual civil war. The screening was followed by a discussion with the film's director, Ed Watts; Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow of the Middle East Programme at Chatham House and Head of International Relations at Regent's College; Darrin Waller, former Executive Director of Medical Aid for Palestinians; and Tim Llewellyn, former Middle East correspondent for the BBC.
YPN | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 31 What do you do? I am the director of Native Voice Films, a collective of independent film-makers. I am also a trustee of REACT – Refugee Education Across Conflict Trust – a not-for-profit organisation which aims to provide young people displaced by conflict with the educational tools to equip them to re-enter their societies as equals.
What do you most enjoy about your job? Coming into the heart of extreme human experience and having an excuse to be there! Today, with the technology available, one person with a small cam - era can bring to a wide audience fascinating and unseen experiences THE YPN INTERVIEW from people's lives. From the shoe maker to the dustman to the rebel fighter to the refugee – you can enter these lives and bring them to people around the world. Working as I do in reportage, I am often in Name: PHIL COX areas where people are facing extreme choices. One sees a lot of Place of work: EVERYWHERE tragedy, but one also sees people rise to face adversity with great courage and bravery. I also enjoy working alone: just me and the subjects creating a film that can best represent their experience. Working in REACT is fantas - Phil Cox is a film-maker. He has worked for leading broadcasters such tic too. It is a rewarding thing to deliver concrete needs and see imme - as the BBC, Channel 4 and Al-Jazeera, as well as Amnesty International diate results for Darfuri children. and Human Rights Watch. In 2004 he was awarded the Rory Peck Award for his coverage of the Darfur conflict. Phil is a member of the What is the greatest challenge that you face in your role? Young Professionals Network. I think ethical and moral dilemmas are part and parcel of the job – when to be respectful; when not to film; and when it is essential to do so. I have worked in the desert war of Darfur a lot – as well as in Iraq and Colombia – so there is the physical danger, which is momentari - ly scary. But trickier is filming grief, death and other sensitive mo - ments. I remember filming massacre sites and the emotional aftermath of relatives and wondering if the footage would eventually be shown between commercials and evening entertainment. As film-makers today, whatever we do, we need to question how we represent our subjects – especially when there is so much censorship and distortion from editors and broadcasters.
What inspires you to do what you do? Sometimes films can make a difference. Always creatively frustrated, I am as a rule sceptical about my work. But my films about Darfur and indigenous people in Argentina have been used by activists and the International Criminal Court – which makes better use of them than just evening TV. Something else that was pretty inspiring was seeing the effect of REACT's book delivery to Darfuri refugees. Entirely on their own ini - tiative, children from one refugee camp picked up their new REACT text books and marched all day to give them to fellow students in an - other camp.
How did you get to where you are today? I studied literature and languages at Edinburgh University, where I wrote my Master’s dissertation about the Latin American poet Pablo Neruda. I think I wanted to be a writer but suffered from a lack of pa - tience. While in Cuba, finishing some work on a writer, I met some Swiss film-makers. They asked me to help them with their documentary. I was hooked. Tired of the academic world, I felt that making docu - mentaries was both theoretical and very physical. And I loved sto ry - i n o p telling, but hadn’t known before how I could possibly become a sto ry - p o t S
i teller. n n a v Upon my return to London I began to make my own films. o i G
© Nobody ever replied to my job requests, despite sending out over a s o t o
h thousand CVs. But London is a hub for the world media and film P
32 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | YPN in dustry, so there were always people I could learn from. I have found Then contact other film-makers and production people; nothing is that being good with people, being able to open them up and com - harder than working alone. Pitch ideas and stories. Be very hard- municate with them, is fundamental to being a good documentary skinned! Just get out there. Film! film-maker. Somehow I think I had that knack. My work with REACT was a response to a need: a lot of children How do you feel that the UN is portrayed in the media needed something important. They asked us for it, and it turned out and in documentaries about conflict situations? we could provide it. It’s that simple. The problem is that the press generally loves a negative, sensational story. The good ones don't often get a look in. That’s really the rub of What do you feel has been your greatest professional it. achievement to date? If I have my journalist hat on, I would say that we always need to I just spent six months tracking down the first high-ranking Sudanese look coldly and honestly at any organisation and report on what we commander to whistle-blow on his government’s policy of genocide in see – good or bad. So the UN needs to be looked at not just for its ho - Darfur. I did an interview with him – which was extraordinary, as I nourable founding principles, but also for its tricky day-to-day work personally knew many of the people who lived in villages his men had and the people who work for it around the world. attacked and pillaged. Any organisation – certainly one as vast as the UN – is going to Another big one was setting up REACT with my partner Giovanna have problems, both as a result of bad practice and bad eggs. So when Stopponi. We were asked by hundreds of Darfuri children to find negative stories come out about the UN I think we should be careful their text books for them: that way, if they ever returned to Sudan, not to think this means the UN as a whole is worthless. I have yet to they would not be destined for the bottom tiers of society. I didn’t meet anyone who seriously thinks the UN should disappear (though think it was possible but Giovanna said, 'Nothing is impossible!' I guess there are a few crazies in a certain powerful country!). She was right. At the beginning of this year we finally delivered over We all in general support the UN – and must continue to do so – 2,000 books and are now working in partnership with UNICEF and but that doesn’t mean we should be afraid of speaking out, criticising the British Council to serve thousands of more refugees. It just feels and voicing opinions. YPN, I think, has a vital role to play here, serv - really great – much better than working in the media! ing as not just a social network but also a discussion and an action net - work too. In YPN we are supposed to have young, sharp, brilliant What advice do you have for other young professionals minds, no? So let’s speak up and challenge those 'above'! wanting to follow a similar path to yours? Watch the media carefully. See how films and TV are put together. At What can our members do to support your work? the heart of it is curiosity: to be a director or film-maker, one has to be Visit www.reactweb.org. We are looking for people to come and help! curious about people and the world, and leave prejudices and judg - Please contact us! ments behind (or at least allow them to be explored!). Storytelling is essential. You need to start making your own small films, about small things in the world around you. You don’t have to Any comments on this interview? Send them to [email protected] travel abroad!
A compact for change UK NETWORK MEMBER RIO TINTO We are pleased to announce that UNA-UK is now an observer to the OFFERS $1 MILLION F OR ADVANCING UK Network of the UN Global Compact. The network is a coalition of SUSTAINABILITY UK companies which are signatories to the UN Global Compact – the Open to all not-for-profit organisations working on initiative launched in 2000 by Kofi Annan to harness the power of economic, environmental and social sustainability, the the corporate sector in support of a set of ten core values across the 2008 Rio Tinto Alcan Prize for Sustainability awards areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti- $1 million to one leader in this field. Also up for corruption. grabs are grants of $15,000 each, awarded to the nine NGOs on the short list. The UK Network aims to promote the Global Compact principles in the UK business community and serves as a forum in which UK signatories If you know of any organisations which fit the above can improve their performance and reporting on Global Compact princi - description, we encourage you to invite them to ples. It has over 30 corporate participants – among them BP, Diageo, apply before the deadline in mid-September. HSBC, Shell and Rio Tinto – and seven observer organisations that, along - side UNA-UK, include Amnesty International, Oxfam and Transparency Visit www.alcanprizeforsustainability.com International. for further details.
UNA-UK’s participation in the UK Network will serve as an important platform for YPN’s upcoming work around business and the Millennium Read more about the UK Network of the UN Global Development Goals. Compact at www.ungc-uk.net
www.una.org.uk/ypn/business_mdgs.htm
YPN | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 33 I hope you are all well and enjoying details for your group’s committee? Please the summer, wherever in the world you also include a postal address for me to send find yourself. For those of you who have your freshers fair materials to. As in previ - now left university, I would like to thank ous years, we’ll be sending a selection of you for all your hard work for UNYSA. UNYSA goodies to every UNYSA group But graduating does not have to mean an to help them attract members at the start end to your contribution to supporting of the new academic year. Stay in touch! the UN: if you are not already a member Have all those Model UN enthusiasts of UNA-UK’s Young Professionals out there had a look at our new MUN Network, why not join? You can do so website? Visit www.una.org.uk/mun for a Mark Rusling online at www.una.org.uk/ypn one-stop shop for everything you need to UNA-UK Campaigns For those of you who are still running know about Model UN. If you have any & Education Officer UNYSA branches next year, can you please comments or suggestions, e-mail me on make sure that I have up-to-date contact [email protected]
A year to be proud of Sissi Penttilä is President of Birmingham University UNA
Birmingham University UNA has had an incredible year. We have expanded our membership and activities, and have conducted innovative campaigns and held a hugely popular series of Model n UN events. o i
t Our centrepiece campaign focused on raising awareness about the plight of asylum a A i seekers. For this campaign we teamed up with Birmingham Citizens, a network of
c local faith and women’s groups, refugee associations, trade unions, schools, and other o
s neighbourhood organisations. s There was enormous demand for our Model UN A sessions, and in the second term we needed to start t n S running them every two weeks. Our topics ranged e from environmental issues, such as whaling, to acute - d
u ly sensitive ones such as abortion and the Israeli- t Palestinian conflict. These sessions sparked fierce de - S bates, which more often than not carried on be - d
n yond the committee room. We were also pleased to Y a
take part in several Model UN conferences over
h the year, in Oxford, Sussex, London and Puebla, t
u Mexico. We congratulate Marek Zaremba-Pike
o and Faizan Bhat – both of whom are UNYSA Y Youth Council members – for receiving awards s for their outstanding performances! n
o We were particularly proud to host UNYSA’s i N t Annual Conference in March, featuring engag - a ing speakers and an inspiring documentary – N and of course the exciting election of a new d
e UNYSA Youth Council. Other highlights of t
i our year included hosting talks by Sajida n Madni of Birmingham Citizens and Paul U U Usiskin of Peace Now UK, as well as participating in the inaugu - ral event in UNA-UK’s major conference series, ’Climate Challenge: A call to ac - tion’. We finished off with a sunny awareness-raising day at the university’s annual char - ity event, The Vale Festival – this year inspired by the theme of ‘Water is Life’. On behalf of the current committee of Birmingham University UNA, I would like to thank UNA-UK for its support, and pay tribute to the previous committee for making the year so fun and memorable!
34 | NEW WORLD | Summer 2008 | UNYSA Show the red card to child labour!
The World Day Against Child Labour – held every year on 12 June – seeks to build on the growing international consensus against child labour. This year the day highlighted the ways in which child labour and poverty constitute barriers to education, barriers which must come down if children around the world are to live fulfilled lives. Education provides a means for children to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. It is also a massively important de - velopment investment: a recent International Labour Organization (ILO) study estimated that the economic benefits of replacing child labour with universal ed - ucation exceed the costs by a ratio of more than six to one. The ILO estimates that 165 million children between five and 14 worldwide are involved in child labour, often working long hours in dangerous conditions. The Millennium Development Goals call on the international community to ensure that, by 2015, all children complete a full course of primary education, and to ensure that there is gender parity in education. Currently, many poor fam - ilies cannot afford school fees and have to prioritise the income from a working child over that child’s education. And when faced with the choice between send - ing a boy or girl to school, parents often opt to keep the girl at home. On 12 June, Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, challenged the in - ternational community ‘to offer hope to the child labourers of the world by mak - ing their rights a reality, ensuring that they have quality education and training which can lead them towards a future of decent work’. O L I Since 2002, the ILO has been working with FIFA on the Red Card ©
s o Campaign, which uses international football competitions to foster a world t o h p
t
movement against all forms of child labour. Fronted by football luminaries such e s n I
. as Pelé, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, the campaign mobilises communities o t o h P and sports associations in vulnerable neighbourhoods throughout the world to k c o t S i give the ‘red card’ to those who seek to exploit children in this way. ©
o t o h p
n To read more about the ILO’s work to eliminate child labour visit www.ilo.org i a M
RECOMMENDED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE SCREAM Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media
SCREAM is an ILO campaign which equips educa - tors, both formal and informal, to help young peo - ple understand the causes and consequences of child labour, and get them engaged in its elimina - tion. The emphasis is on encouraging young peo - ple to express themselves through different forms of artistic media, in a manner rooted in their culture and traditions. The SCREAM education pack fea - tures 14 flexible educational modules and activities which can be adapted to a year-long programme or a short workshop. The SCREAM education pack is available in 14 languages. To download it visit www.ilo.org
UNYSA | Summer 2008 | NEW WORLD | 35 WHO IS YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS HERO?
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, send us 100 words arguing the case for YOUR human rights champion.
The winning entry will be published in New World and the author will win a copy of The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations
‘Human Rights Hero’ submissions should be sent to Natalie Samarasinghe at [email protected] or UNA-UK, 3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL. The deadline for submissions is 1 November 2008, with the winner being announced on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2008. www.una.org.uk/humanrightshero UNA-UK