Introduction

However, the UN’s ability to deliver on its mandate has over the years fallen far short of its potential or, even, in terms of what the UN Charter has set out for the organization. Most of the UN’s work in the economic field remains unimplemented. The UN’s success during the early immediate post-World War II years in shaping global economic policy also contributed directly to its later weakening in this field. Some Northern powers thought that the UN was becoming a vehicle through which the North’s dominance of the global economy was being challenged. Hence, from the late 1970s onwards, some Northern governments have been engaged in a long-term and strategic effort to remove from the UN its UN Charter-mandated functions in the global economic policy field, and transfer such functions to the BWIs and the WTO. For example, the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) mandate to serve as a forum for trade negotiations has been effectively removed and transferred to the WTO; and the BWIs now effectively set global financial and monetary policy.

Since the 1990 Report of the South Commission, the South Centre has been consistent in pushing for a stronger UN system – one that reflects today’s realities in terms of the geopolitical and economic importance of developing countries and the need to ensure that the UN responds effectively to the needs of the South. The Centre’s work on UN governance and reform will expand on work that has already been done in the past. In particular, it will be guided by the following principles:

• Respect for international law and the common human values on which the UN is founded
• Restoration of the UN as the central institution for global governance
• Democratization of the UN and its modes of functioning and decision-making
• Strengthening of the UN’s ability to carry out its Charter mandates

The Programme tackles the following issues:

1. Restoring the UN’s role in global economic governance through strengthening the role and functions of ECOSOC
2. Restoring the role of UNCTAD in trade negotiations and the development of global economic norms (including those relating to transnational non-state economic actors) and
3. Strengthening the South’s participation in such processes.

The research and policy analysis in this issue area focuses on

1. Increasing global civil society access to UN processes in all areas
2. Strengthening the UN Secretariat’s independence and ability to perform its Charter-mandated functions
3. Addressing reform issues and initiatives being undertaken in various key UN agencies such as UNCTAD, UNEP, UNDP, UNIFEM, UNICEF, the UN Human Rights Council, humanitarian and social welfare agencies, to ensure that these remain true to their original mandates and the mandate of the UN Charter, as well as ensure greater Southern participation in these organizations’ governance structures and decision-making processes

Publications

For publications and papers on this issue area click here  

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