NGOs and UN Reform: A View from Inside the UN

Location: Church Center for the UN
777 UN Plaza, 2nd Floor
(44th and 1st Ave.)
New York, NY 10017

RSVP: Full contact information to:
Jessica Hartl, UNA-USA
202-462-3446
jhartl@unausa.org

Featured Speaker

Shashi Tharoor
Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information
United Nations

Background

With the UN member states struggling to implement reforms contained in the World Summit outcome document, there are signs of a renewed North-South divide within the UN. This manifested itself in the recent Administrative and Budget Committee resolution proposed by the G-77 group of developing countries seeking clarifications on the Secretary General's management reform proposals. The committee voted 108-50, with three abstentions, to put off further action on reforms until the fall at the earliest, so that the Secretary General can assure developing countries that the proposed changes in management will not result in major contributors having a disproportionate influence in Secretariat decision-making.

In his role with the Department of Public Information at the United Nations, Mr. Tharoor is in a unique position to reflect on the past year of UN reform activity and the potential for future North-South relations. As he was recently quoted in The Washington Post, "We must reform, not because the United Nations has failed, but because it has succeeded enough to be worth investing in." In this dialogue with the Council of Organizations, Mr. Tharoor will address progress on UN reform, and will talk about how the division between member states has impacted reform negotiations, as well as address what role NGOs might have moving forward.

Program

Welcome
NY Council of Organizations Annual Report
Lynda Selde, Chair, NY Executive Committee, Church World Service

Presentation of Eleanore Schnurr Award to Virginia Hazzard
by Jackie Shapiro

Recognition of Past Chairs and Executive Committee Members
Jessica Hartl, Coordinator, Council of Organizations, UNA-USA

Election of New Executive Committee Members
Fannie Munlin, Chair, Nominating Committee, National Council of Negro Women

Keynote Address
Shashi Tharoor
Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, United Nations

Questions & Answers

Adjournment