Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Global Policy Forum - Vigil on the UN Finacial Crisis 
Talking Points on the UN Financial Crisis
by James A. Paul, Executive Director of Global Policy Forum
1. Contrary to International Law & Treaty ObligationsCountries often talk about the sanctity of international law and the need to honor treaties. But in the case of payment of UN dues, some countries are outlaws. This is particularly true of the United States, but all countries that pay their dues late are lawbreakers.
2. UN Budget and Staff are Very Small
Contrary to propaganda about a "vast, bloated bureaucracy", the UN has a very small budget and staff, considering its global activities and obligations in so many fields. All UN staff, including the specialized agencies and funds, are fewer than the civil service of the City of Stockholm or the staff of McDonalds. The core UN budget is one half of one percent of the US military budget and far less than the cost of one B-2 bomber aircraft.
3. Major Delinquents & Late Payers
The United States is the major delinquent country. As of December 1999, it owed the UN $1.2 billion, while all other member countries together owed $0.6 billion - for a total outstanding of $1.8 billion. The other major debtors to the UN include the Russian Republic, Ukraine and Brazil. Other countries tend to pay their dues late - Japan, Germany and Britain, for example. Others have cut their voluntary payments to UN funds for population and development.
4. Unilateral Conditions on Payment
In late November 1999, legislation passed by the US Congress came into effect making repayment of US arrears contingent on a number of conditions, seeking to force the UN to adopt policies that are contrary to decisions of the majority of members, threatening to wreck the process of mulitlateral decision-making.
5. A Strong UN Needed More than Ever
At a time of rapid economic globalization, solutions to the great problems cannot be found within individual countries. Environment, health, employment and other pressing issues must be tackled at the global level. For these tasks the United Nations is needed more than ever. To strangle it for funds now is to ruin the hope of future generations.
6. Who Is Responsible?
Conservative leaders in the US Congress are the most visible parties responsible for the UN's crisis. But the Clinton administration must share important responsibility for refusing to take leadership on this issue. Other governments must also accept responsibility for failing to work effectively for a solution. Multinational corporations are also responsible parties, because many of them have financed negative campaigns about the UN and fought UN efforts to establish sensible global regulation of the environment, labor practices and other matters.
7. How Can Citizens Make a Difference?
Tens of thousands of ordinary citizens can have a major influence on this issue. By exposing the lawless activity of governments and by demanding a strong and well-funded UN, people worldwide can forge a transnational citizen movement that can build institutions we will need to assure the future of humanity.
More Information on the UN Financial Crisis
More Information on the Millennium Mobilization and the UN Vigil
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