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The League of Nations was established in reflection and remorse over World
War I. Unable to check the egoism of imperialism, humanity endured World
War II. This tragedy resulted in the establishment of the United Nations
in 1945.
The UN, pulled about by superpowers, has proven its worth in the field
of peacekeeping operations, mine removal and refugee relief activities.
The UN should be empowered to tackle many issued - the environment, terrorism,
poverty and disease, because it is the only universal body, and it is the
only body that is so constituted that it can provide the kind of authority
and legitimacy needed for the decisions it takes. Without such authority
and legitimacy, the world will find it difficult, if not impossible, to
garner the political will, mobilize the necessary resources and deploy
the needed capacity for truly global cooperation and an effective response.
However, the UN bashing is again on the
rise, fueled by scandals involving the Oil-for-Food program in Iraq and reports
of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers in the Congo. These are all very serious,
damaging charges against the UN, and they must be vigorously followed up for
effective response. Flaws and weaknesses found to exist in the organization must
be addressed forcefully as well. It is all the more important to reform the UN
so that it will be a better and more effective body, equipped to deal with the
multifaceted problems and the new threats and challenges of the 21st
century.
Photo #108500 UN
Photo/Paulo Filgueiras |
With the accession of Switzerland and East Timor, the UN became a world
body with 191 member countries. Each member state has its own opinion so
that to build consensus is extremely difficult. The organization reflects
world contradictions. The UN's plight is our plight. It is easy to blame
the weakness of the UN. However, we have to call for strenuous efforts
to raise the world body to be humanity's parliament for world peace. It
would be possible through a strong and viable people's movement in support
of the UN that the UN would be able to become a truly effective body for
guaranteeing world peace.
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