A brief note to point out elements that would be worth drawing
attention to, (by way of building historical context), in the course of the
ongoing United Nations General Assembly, 2015:
The A/69/L.92
document of 23 years ago, which reiterated the UN's aspiration for equitable
representation, increase in the membership of the Security Council, and other
related matters, has made significant progress over the years, and has reached
a juncture in 2015, where the UN has, indeed, voted for reform in the
organization, particularly from the point of view of achieving equity.
It is noteworthy that it has been agreed upon, that consensus will
be built through text-based negotiations. This will facilitate transparency, and
add value to the process.
India is a member
of the G4 (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan) countries that mutually support G4
member-countries' membership to the Security Council. It is reported in the
Indian media, that the leaders of G4 countries are likely to meet on the
sidelines of the UNGA 2015.
The
inter-relatedness of the domains of: natural resources governance; the world
economy/economies; and war, peace and conflict are more evident than ever
before, as witnessed in numerous situations -and evolving situations-
worldwide, of displacement, impoverishment, inequity (and resulting conflict).
While much has
been achieved, since the inception of the United Nations, there are points in
the planet's history, when global forces must recognize when a tipping point
has been reached, and take the best possible evolutionary path. (At this point of time, "globalization" through corporate business has been over-achieved, ie., is out of balance, and is impacting global human rights and planetary sustainable development. Phasing in appropriate rebalancing in planetary governance systems is thus the need of the hour).
Therefore, while it would be beneficial to work towards India’s
membership at the Security Council, India must realize that it must play a much
more all-encompassing role, and focus beyond lobbying for the country’s membership
to the UN Security Council. Much of this role would lie in its being an active participant, discussant and leader in bringing about the planned UN Reforms.
India is at the pivot and fulcrum (to use words from one of the speeches
of former Prime Minister Vajpayee at the UN), and should seize the
opportunity to help bring back an appropriate human-rights balance, and guide the
planet as it is poised, this time, at the threshold of a fast-emerging, seemingly
inescapable age of high science and technology.
During the UNGA of 1990 (that contributed, in a great way, one
would imagine), to the drafting of the A/69/L.92 document, India’s
participation, and stand in favour of differential treatment for developing
countries, and its intention to “meet the global ecological challenge in the
best traditions of international cooperation” is worth highlighting.
Here, one would like to draw attention to a speech on Sustainable
Development at the UNGA, and a statement on Water and Sanitation, made by my
father, V. Kishore Chandra S. Deo, who was on the Indian delegation at the UNGA
in 1990. (He is currently a senior member of the Indian National Congress
party, and a former Union Cabinet Minister for Tribal Affairs and Local
Government).
The Speech may be accessed at:
The Speech may be accessed at:
The Statement is accessible at:
http://www.shrutidevi.in/18%20Oct%201990%20Deo%20UN%20Speech%20on%20Intnl%20Dev.pdf
One hopes that the relevant people read this, and join the dots accordingly.
No comments:
Post a Comment