We, citizens from around the globe, call for urgent action to
solve the deepening financial crisis of our United Nations.
The UN faces collapse because many member states have not paid
their full dues assessments, owed as a treaty obligation. On
December 31, 1995, these debts totaled $2.3 billion. The
organization will be completely out of cash in just a few months
and may then be forced to close its doors. This would be a
terrible setback in efforts towards peace, human rights and
social well-being for all peoples.
Already the financial crisis is crippling the UN and keeping it
from carrying out essential tasks. Major governments have
slashed contributions to key development and humanitarian funds.
Diplomatic initiatives for peace cannot proceed, human rights
monitors cannot deploy, emergency humanitarian efforts are
blocked. To keep the lights turned on, UN leaders are
increasingly involved in desperate fund-raising efforts. The UN
has very small financial reserves and it has not been permitted
to borrow externally, even for one month.
We will not accept the ruin of the organization that embodies our
hope for the common future of humanity. At a time of rapid
globalization, individual national governments cannot solve the
great problems of today and tomorrow. We need the United Nations
and advocate reforms that will make it more effective and
democratic. We will not excuse those who now seek the UN's
destruction.
Several major countries facing deep economic difficulties--notably
Russia and Ukraine--have not paid their full dues, though they
have taken steps to catch up. But the largest debtor--the United
States of America--has withheld UN assessments as a matter of
policy and now owes over a billion dollars. The world's richest
country, host to UN headquarters, is pushing the UN to the brink
of disaster.
The UN's operating costs are surprisingly small. The current US
share of the regular UN budget--$321 million--is only a fiftieth of
1% of federal spending and less than 1% of New York City's annual
outlays. The cost of the total UN system, including peace-
keeping, health care, human rights, programs for children and
women, food and humanitarian relief, comes to less than $10
billion per year--just $2 for each person on earth. By contrast,
countries spent $36 billion in 1994 on the global arms trade and
$850 billion on military forces.
We must assume responsibility for the rapid worsening of the UN's financial condition. Countries that are strong UN supporters must take a lead in finding solutions. Citizen organizations must rally their members to action. Individuals of good will must speak out. We cannot just assume that the UN will survive. Further delay gambles dangerously with our future.
We therefore urge the President of the General Assembly to take
the lead in organizing an Emergency Special Session to address
the crisis. We further:
Without a strong, effective UN, the world we bequeath to our
children will suffer ever-greater violence and misery. We must
act immediately, lest we lose this precious source of hope and
opportunity!
