Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Rev. Lois Wilson: Letter on the UN Financial Crisis (18 October 1996) Rev. Lois M. Wilson
President of World Federalists of CanadaLetter on the United Nations Financial Crisis
on Alternative Funding for the UN
October 18, 1996
Dear Lloyd,
I am writing on the behalf of the World Federalists of Canada (WFC), a national membership organization with 2,200 supporters across Canada. We are quite concerned over the ongoing funding crisis at the United Nations.
The third week in October is traditionally a time to celebrate the vital work of the United Nations System. However, this year, at a time in world history when the UN should be doing much more, it is unacceptable that the organization has been forced by some of its Member States to live in a semi-permanent financial emergency.
We appreciate that Canada pays its UN dues on time, in full and without conditions. Furthermore, we were pleased to note that last spring, soon after your appointment as Foreign Affairs Minister, you made it a priority to take up the matter of UN funding with U.S. Secretary of State Christopher.
However, we believe more can and should be done.
The financing of the United Nations has, one way or another, been under constant evaluation and discussion since the organization's early years. This track record of periodic financial shortfalls at the UN offers little hope that Member States will in the near future reverse course and pay their annual dues promptly, as well as making good on their overdue assessments.
We believe that the time has come for governments to give serious consideration to creating a flow of funds for the UN which is generated automatically, independent of and additional to contributions for its Members.
Numerous proposals for alternative funding for the UN have been made by economists, non-governmental organizations, and recently by a few Member States. These include a wide range of measures for taxing the international economy or levying taxes or license fees for uses of the global commons. Many are designed to advance other desirable goals, such as tax on excessive uses of fossil fuels (which would help reduce global warming), or the much-discussed `Tobin tax' (which would help stabilize the international monetary system).
Regardless of which may be the most ideal means of raising additional funds for the UN, what's important at this stage is gaining political acceptance, in principle, for the idea.
Canada should support as a matter of policy the development of measures which would generate alternative, independent and reliable funding for the UN.
Action to further this policy might include a high level experts study of UN funding, much like the work which led to the successful Canadian proposal for a UN Rapid Reaction Capability. Alternatively, Canada might provide diplomatic support for a United Nations Experts Study.
Political support from countries like Canada for alternative UN funding may also have other beneficial effects. It may lead other Member States to more promptly pay their current and overdue UN assessments.
Thank you for your consideration of this.
Sincerely,
The Very Rev. Lois M. Wilson
WFC President
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