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Ban Ki-moon, 2006
Picture Credit: United NationsSecretary General Ban Ki-moon's Reform Agenda
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2008 | 2007 2008
Remarks to the General Assembly Thematic Debate “Toward a Common Understanding of Management Reform” (April 8, 2008)
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon emphasized the urgent need for UN management reform, as the organization has to take on more responsibilities with fewer resources. Ban talked about speeding up the UN’s recruitment process and improving the selection of top managers. To increase the accountability of individual managers and their decisions, UN staff will be able to assess the Secretary General’s “Compacts” with senior managers, which lists their responsibilities. (UN News)2007
Secretary General’s Report on UN System-Wide Coherence (April 3, 2007)
In this report to the General Assembly, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the recommendations of the High Level Panel on System-Wide Coherence for improving the UN. While urging governments to support the panel's suggestions for streamlining the UN's work in development, the environment and humanitarian assistance, Ban concedes that “other areas will require fuller discussions and deliberations.”Ban Ki-moon, Testing the Tightrope (March 28, 2007)
This MaximsNews piece evaluates Ban Ki-moon’s performance in his capacity as UN Secretary General, ahead of the one hundred day mark of his term in office. Given Ban’s elusive approach to UN reform and to the appointment of his senior management team, the author remarks that “there is a quite remarkable lack of information on which to base any assessment.” The article concludes that while Ban may have developed mediation skills through quiet diplomacy, he ought to use his position at the UN to speak out occasionally on politically-sensitive issues.Bound to Fail (March 5, 2007)
Drawing from the experiences of previous UN leaders and from changes in the global order, this Newsweek piece analyzes the challenges ahead of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, whose term in office began on January 1, 2007. Like his predecessors, Ban must try to use his mediation and leadership skills to strengthen the United Nations. However, the author argues, his success will depend less on his qualifications and more on how well he deals with the incessant clashes between “selfish” big powers and “irresponsible” smaller powers, which often delay or weaken UN action on key issues.Secretary General Faces A Backlash (February 14, 2007)
Less than two months into his tenure as UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has already received sharp criticism for pushing reform proposals that appear “to accommodate US interests and the desires of other wealthy member nations.” This Washington Post article highlights the challenges Ban faces in pursuing an independent agenda at the UN’s helm. The UN leader must strike a balance between meeting the demands of the “big powers” and addressing the poor countries’ concerns.Ban's UN Peacekeeping Reforms Rejected (February 6, 2007)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s plans to restructure the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) have been supported by the US and Russia but have not received similar welcome from developing countries, who fear that the restructure could endanger peacekeeping troops. In addition, Ban’s efforts to carry out the reform quickly without following established consultation procedures have worried the developing countries, some of whom are among the largest troop contributors, and are thus affected the most if the reform of DPKO takes place. (Los Angeles Times)UN Chief Tries to Avoid Roadblocks on Path to Reform (February 5, 2007)
Amid concerns that he intended to hastily push through dubious reforms, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon assured the General Assembly that he would “personally engage in consultations with Member States.” While the US and other big donors back Ban’s proposals, many others – mostly the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 – remain skeptical about the planned changes. The situation hints at the underlying North-South power struggle entwined with the UN reform process. (Inter Press Service)UN Chief Moves to Restructure World Body (January 23, 2007)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has laid out his suggestions for reshaping the organization. Several NGOs as well as UN delegations have already balked at the proposal to move the Department of Disarmament Affairs (DDA) more directly under the UN chief’s authority. Further, the largest bloc of nations at the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, has called on Ban to clarify some issues, such as whether he will downgrade the top post at the DDA from Under Secretary General to Assistant Secretary General. (Inter Press Service)UN Chief to Drop Merger Plan (January 19, 2007)
Following strong protests from the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will abandon his proposal to combine the UN’s Departments of Disarmament Affairs (DDA) and Political Affairs (DPA). Amid speculation that the US – a nuclear power – seeks to secure the top DPA job, the NAM, which consists largely of “nuclear have-nots,” rejected the idea of a merger they believe could further politicize and, therefore, slow down the global disarmament process. (Associated Press)
