ACTUN - UNA Conference resolution 2001
Action for UN Renewal was successful in getting the following resolution passed without opposition at United Nations Association Of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UNA) conference in April 2001.
"The United Nations Association
Believing that, the United Kingdom, as one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, has a special responsibility to be transparent in its dealing with that body and to encourage other members to do the same;
Believing that, as a leading democracy, it has a responsibility to Parliament to provide full information about its actions at the United Nations and to allow full discussion and debate on its decisions;
Calls upon Her Majesty's Government to
a) set up a formal system of accountability of its actions in the UN to parliament;
b) present an annual coordinated report on its actions in support of the UN;
c) encourage greater attention to the observations of the Select Committee on Foreign
Affairs."
The annual policy statement of the UNA also contained some far-reaching proposals that include setting up Select Committees of both houses of parliament to which the government would report on its activities at the UN. This is a major step forward and we are glad to see that UNA is so strongly reform-minded. We will continue to encourage and support UNA, who are a very important co-organiser of our joint annual parliamentary lobby. One task will be to draw to the attention of MPs and Ministers the need for more government support for the UN.
