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Public Statements Letter to the Toronto Star, 24 October 2006 We have never needed the U.N. more than we
need it now. Again. By Kathryn White "We have never needed the UN more than we need it today." This sentence has been spoken and written about the UN, probably as much as any adage, since its founding 61 years ago yesterday. Like many adages, it has always been true. It is useful to remind ourselves of what the UN is - and is not: of what makes it so essential to the affairs of human kind, nature and space. Established on October 24th in 1945 after 'the war to end all wars', the UN was conceived as a coming together of 'we the peoples' to ensure international peace and security; to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems; and to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The UN was created to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these common ends. The 192 Member States of the United Nations have been admitted based on their acceptance of the obligations of the Charter and their willingness and ability to carry out these obligations. The United Nations has succeeded most obviously in sustaining the sometimes fragile dialogue that has averted the horror of a third world war, in encouraging multinational dialogues and the development of international law, and in providing a forum for interaction between governmental and non-governmental entities. Ninety percent of the work of the UN remains in development, especially directed in support of the poorest. It is active in peacekeeping, disarmament, economic development, environmental preservation, education and disease prevention. UN Agencies and Programmes like UNICEF, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, the UN Development Programme and the International Atomic Energy Agency have produced a long list of achievements. It is less commonly known that the United Nations plays a key role in international judicial issues, international labor standards, international aviation safety provisions, international mail flow facilitation, and international copyright laws, all of which significantly benefit each of us in the global commons.None of these accomplishments have been without their controversies and missteps. As any rookie actuary will tell you, aspirations as high as the UN's (and each of us for it) come with risks. This year makes the 50th anniversary of UN peacekeeping, an idea crafted by a Canadian public servant at the time - Lester B. Pearson. It was an idea nudged along and supported by the Opposition critic for External Affairs (now Foreign Affairs) of the day, John Diefenbaker. We can be proud that the UN has always engendered non-partisan support in this country. Like much of the work of aspiring to world peace, peacekeeping (and peacebuilding) carries many serious risks. Canadians know, perhaps more than many countries, what it is to put our men and women on the line for this goal. Faced with some ambivalence among Canadians about our current role in Afghanistan, it is a serious moment to reaffirm an understanding that peacekeeping, and meeting our commitments to our membership in the United Nations, have been tasks of honour for Canada and Canadians. While we have dropped significantly in the troop numbers we contribute to UN peacekeeping, Canada remains committed to providing both troops and, increasingly, specialized support, to countries lacking the peace and prosperity which we enjoy. On the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations let us remember that this institution, while flawed, remains our greatest organized hope for the power of the conference table over the bullet or bomb. To attack the UN is to attack our own aspirations for peace, to attack the "conference table". Canadians have had, and continue to have a special voice, heard often above the cacophony of self interest at the UN. Let us use it to strengthen the Organization's effectiveness. Let us offer Canada's commitment of support to the new Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, as he takes up the challenges of "our" Organization at the end of this year. As our Prime Minister said in his first address to the General Assembly of the United Nations last month, on Canada's commitments to the UN: "Canada will be there with you every step along the way." With serious risks to the peace and security of the world confronting the global commons, we have never needed the UN more than we need it today.
Kathryn White
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