World

Can the UN do a Better Job with Democracy? — Global Issues


Credit: United Nations
  • Opinion by Simone Galimberti (kathmandu, nepal)
  • Associated Press Service

This is a topic of great uneasiness as democracy remains a controversial topic in the United Nations due to the objections of some member states not to adopt standard democratic practices in the way it governs. their reason.

However, the UN should try to play a larger role in promoting it because democracy itself is too important an issue to ignore despite the high sensitivity around it.

If you think well, it’s almost a miracle that the United Nations is organizing International Day of Democracy falls on September 15 every year.

It is without a doubt one of the most unobstructed and least prominent celebrations endorsed by the United Nations, and the lack of visibility of the day may be more than just a coincidence. Finding ways and tools to advance democracy at the UN is a difficult conundrum.

For example, how can the United Nations Democracy Fund, also known as UNDEF, be more effective and inclusive?

https://www.un.org/democracyfund/news

UNDEF is one of the most flexible programs promoted by the UN and perhaps one of the best, if not most suitable, for reaching members of civil society who often work in harsh conditions under harsh legal and regulatory environments and, therefore, funding starvation.

From gender empowerment in politics to press freedom to dialogue about democracy and fighting corruption, we have a program that can do wonders if expanded and strengthened.

UNDEF has recently closed Its annual application round (for the 17th time since its founding) and once again as every year it was in the spotlight before falling back into the shadow of international developments.

While its application process is relatively simple to become a UN program, its review process is overly complex and relies on multiple layers of checks that, at least apparently, seem to overlap. cross each other and are unnecessary.

However, even when a project is chosen, the hardest part still comes when, as website of UNDAF explains, “shortlisted applicants are now required to complete the final stage of the selection process: negotiating a formal project document with UNDEF. Only after the successful completion of this process will the project be approved for funding.”

This last procedure is simply useless and certainly does not make life easier for any chosen institution.

Perhaps such a complex governance structure illustrates the distinction of UNDAF, which is important to note that it is not included in any formal program nor is it led by any body. of the United Nations but something that stands on its own.

Self-control is not a negative factor in itself, in fact, it can even be more effective by leveraging one’s agility but only if the approach is purposeful and purposeful. overall goal to allow it to become more agile and independent.

Instead, I fear the way UNDAF operates is merely the result of a difficult environment, a kind of vehicle that allows to “manage” something of strategic significance, but at the same time, it is also is something that UNDAF members view critically. The United Nations did not consider democracy their system of government.

The fact that the fund and the money it manages are but a drop in the ocean can confirm the second option. Follow it websiteUNDEF “receives an average of about 2,000-3,000 proposals per year, and only about 50 are selected.”

It is not surprising that only 7 full employees are managing the entire fund with the valuable support of an equal number of interns.

Furthermore, the UN should not shy away from supporting innovative activities in the field of democracy. For example, it should embrace discussion democracy or any other form of bottom-up control that gives voice and importantly self-determination to citizens.

That is certainly less controversial than the liberal democracy that countries like China question.

Indeed, even a country like China with its past one-party governance system (especially in the era before President Xi Jinping) has accepted, at least in part, bottom-up participation. through discussion.

One way for the UN to play a larger role in supporting democratic activities is to defend them from the perspective of good governance, and discussions can be very helpful in this regard. This is the main task undertaken by UNDP in the past.

What is this program, one of the biggest and most resourceful, doing? Time to promote democracy? What are its plans for the future?

In an effort to facilitate transformative changes in all SDGs, which UNDP also points out, requiring structural transformations, there is a risk of losing focus on good governance. , used to be the strong point of the program.

In it New strategic plan 2022-2025Governance is one of six so-called “Signature Solutions” and it is at the heart of the government’s comprehensive, comprehensive “systems approach” supposed to ensure structural changes.

Stand still. if you read the definition of governance in the plan, you might wonder how important democracy and human rights are.

“Helping countries address emerging complex issues with governance systems that are ‘resilient to the future’ through better risk management and predictive approaches.”

This is a definition that may have come from the blueprint of a leading global consulting firm that had to do business with autocracies rather than the “recipe” to drive real democratic change.

It is therefore not surprising that in the entire document the word “democracy” does not appear even a single word. Not surprisingly, UNDP almost never runs civil society or funds direct democracy enhancement that benefits local grassroots organizations.

Maybe only UNDP Governance Center in Oslo, is currently looking for a new strategic direction that could help its “mother” organization rediscover its interest in democracy.

Another important actor in the United Nations system for promoting democracy through strengthening human rights is clearly Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

New High Commissioner, Volker TürkA veteran of the United Nations and Austrian nationality, was initially thought to be a modest candidate who would not make a splash in the international community.

Instead of its original claims, Türk is confronting some of the most controversial and sensitive but also very important filings.

Perhaps, OHCHR as the organization is known, can play a very important role in working more directly with civil society to promote human rights and with them democracy.

The UNDAF’s role and mission can be enhanced and supported through a strategic partnership with OHCHR or even through diverse funding arrangements from other agencies and programs within the UN system.

Do not forget that it was UN Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan who in 2005 came up with the idea of ​​a special thematic fund promoting democracy.

The Fund remains under the jurisdiction of the current Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, who leads the UNDAF Advisory Board.

Guterres should explore all options to strengthen UNDAF as it is in its current structure, a United Nations General Trust Fund but with much broader resources or as an independent entity, what would that can hardly come true.

paragraph 135 and 136 of UNGA Resolution 60/1. 2005 “World Summit Outcomes“welcomes the establishment of UNDAF, reinforcing its rationale:

“Democracy is a universal value based on the free will of the people to determine their political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of life”.

Undoubtedly, UNDAF should complement and strengthen the work of UNDP and OHCHR as explained in its report. TKTC.

What could ultimately make a difference may be Guterres’s will and commitment to include democracy in his ambitious reform agenda at the United Nations.

The writer is the co-founder of ENGAGE, a non-profit non-governmental organization in Nepal. He writes about volunteering, social inclusion, youth development, and regional integration as an engine to improve people’s lives.

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© Inter Press Service (2023) — All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service

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