Strong idea Immediate reform of the United Nations
Reference Dialogue: Contributing to the Global Agenda

The reform of the United Nations and international institutions is both needed and being called for by civil society. These organizations, founded in the period following the Second World War, have to be made more democratic and much more representative, and must also adapt to a new world order, thus becoming more transparent and representative of the international community.

Various institutions and a considerable swathe of civil society are calling for the United Nations and other international institutions to be reformed. Some of these bodies were set up in the aftermath of World War II and they must now be adapted to the new world order to become more accountable with representation from the international community.

There are various trains of thought regarding how such reform should take place and several structure and representation possibilities are currently being weighed up. The prevailing belief is that current structures should be completely overhauled – some take this as far as ‘refounding’ important bodies – although there is general acceptance of the ideas underpinning the existence of organisations with world representation.

Few clear, decided voices ring out over this chorus of good intentions that is lacking in either agreement or working schedules. However, one exception is Federico Mayor Zaragoza, chairman of the Foundation for the Culture of Peace, who stressed the urgent need to embark upon bold reforms. For Mayor, “our time is up and we must no longer fudge the issue with more renovation proposals”. He resolutely insists that “now is the time” to get our skates on and start work. Mayor also declared that he would not forgive himself if future generations thought that "we faltered" when we still had time. He concluded by quoting Albert Camus: "I scorn them for while they could have done so much they dared to do so little".