Improving
the World
Canadian & World Issues
The United Nations
United Nations Structure
• Six main “organs” of the UN
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General Assembly
Security Council
Secretariat
International Court of Justice
Economic & Social Council
Trusteeship Council
• Many other agencies & organizations within
the UN system
Secretariat (& Secretary-General)
• Secretariat is the “business”
• Secretary-General acts as a
diplomat, advocate, civil
servant, and CEO
• Spokesman for the interests of
the world’s peoples, in
particular the poor and
vulnerable
• H.E. Ban Ki-moon of Korea
(2007-)
Purpose of the UN
• Maintain international peace & security
• Achieve international cooperation in solving
economic, social, cultural, & humanitarian
problems
• Promote respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms
• Be a centre for harmonizing the actions of
nations in attaining common goals
UN Priorities:
Conflict Resolution
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Peaceful Settlement of Differences
International Court of Justice
Economic Sanctions
Peacekeeping Force
Regular Military Force
– Must be made available by all member states on an
individual basis
UN Priorities:
Human Rights
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• High Commission for Human Rights
– Will be replaced by the Human Rights Council on
June 16th, 2006
• Refugees
• High Commission for Refugees
UN Priorities:
Sustainable Development
• “Programs that improve people’s quality of life
without impairing future generations’ ability to
improve their quality of life”
• UN Conference on Human Environment
• The Earth Summit
• United Nations Environment Program
UN Priorities:
The Middle East
• Whereas many other conflicts were resolved in a
relatively short time….
• Palestine & Israel Conflict dominated the Security
Council agenda for decades
• Palestine to Israel; Palestine & Israel?!
• Wars: 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973
• Problems still exist today
UN Priorities:
Other Major Issues
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Women
Child Labour
Colonies (success!)
Apartheid (success!)
Population
Development (including the HDI)
Health
UN Millennium Development Goals
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Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Reduce child mortality
Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership for development
Canada & the United Nations
The Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson
• Invented the concept of
peacekeeping
• President of the General
Assembly 1952-1953
• Won the Nobel Peace Prize
for efforts to resolve the
Suez Crisis of 1956
• Canadian Prime Minister
1963-1968
Ms. Louise Frechette
• Appointed first ever UN
Deputy Secretary-General
1998-2006
• Helped manage Secretariat
operations
• Canadian UN Ambassador
1992-1995
Mrs. Louise Arbour
• UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights 2004-Present
• Justice of the Supreme Court of
Canada 1999-2004
• Chief Prosecutor for the
International Criminal Tribunals
for Yugoslavia and Rwanda
1996-1999
H.E. Stephen Lewis
• UN Special Envoy for
HIV/AIDS in Africa
2001-2006
• Deputy Director of UNICEF
1995-1999
• Canadian UN Ambassador
1984-1988
• Leader of the Ontario NDP
1970-1978
H.E. John McNee
• Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of Canada to the
United Nations
• Veteran Ambassador, Advisor to
Trudeau, staffer at PCO
LGen The Hon. Roméo Dallaire
• Commander of the United
Nations Assistance Mission in
Rwanda 1994
• Author of Shake Hands with
the Devil: The Failure of
Humanity in Rwanda
• Canadian Senator
MGen Lewis Mackenzie
• Commander of the United
Nations Protection Force in
Yugoslavia 1994
• Author of Peacekeeper, Road
to Sarajevo
Canada’s Financial Contributions
to the UN
• 7th leading contributor to the UN – 2.5% of
the UN’s budget (US $34.5 million)… more
than China or Russia!
• Canada has a perfect payment record –
always in full, on time, and without
conditions
• In addition, Canada contributes $77 million
annually for UN peacekeeping
Canada and
International Development
• Canada spent US $2 billion in 2002 on Official
Development Assistance (ODA)
– .28% of our Gross National Income
– $100 from every Canadian
• Canada plans to double ODA by 2010
Canada and Children
• Canada played a key role in creating the 1989 UN
Convention on the Rights of a Child
• Canada Co-Chaired the 1990 World Summit for
Children
• Canada hosted the 2000 International Conference
on War Affected Children
Canada and
Development in Africa
• Canada dropped its tariffs and quotas on
nearly all imports from least-developed
countries in 2003
• Canada led the G8 Africa Action Plan that
helped African nations launch the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development
(NEPAD)
• Canada added another $500 million in aid
through the Canada Fund for Africa
Canadian Missions to the UN
• Permanent Mission of Canada to the United
Nations in New York (UNHQ)
• Geneva Mission, Vienna Mission
• Delegation to UNESCO in Paris
• Mission UN HABITAT in Nairobi
• Mission to UNEP in Nairobi
• Mission to FAO in Rome
• Mission to ICAO in Montreal
Questions About the UN?
• www.un.org
• www.un.int/canada
– Michael Kovrig – canada@un.int
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www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada_un
www.unac.org
www.unicef.ca
www.canimun.org