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Final Report (March, 2001)
6 December, 2000 Planning The following organisations supported the Lobby and publicised it: Action for UN Renewal, Anti-Globalisation Network, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Christian CND, National Peace Council, One World Trust, Pax Christ, Quaker Peace & Service, United Nations Association, Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, Abolition 2000, Catholic Institute for International Relations, Charter 99, Conference of Religious, Council for Education in World Citizenship, Earthaction, International Alert, Jubilee 2000, Church & Society - Methodist Church, New Economics Foundation, One World Week, Saferworld, Sussex Peace Alliance, War on Want, World Court Project, World Development Movement, World Disarmament Campaign. Of these the 12 underlined took an active part in planning and contributed financially where possible Action for UN Renewal co-ordinated, building on the experience gained in organising 4 previous UN lobbies. UNA undertook the bulk of the administration, (printing, mailing etc) and stewarding and other arrangements on the day. The 12 attended planning meetings, shared experience, produced publicity materials and briefings.They agreed the following objectives: A) To show the Government that significant sections of the electorate expect it to make the UN a central part of its Foreign Policy - identifying three specific areas of Government action:
B) To heighten public awareness of and interest in how the UN can help to promote peace, human rights and development, particularly by raising media interest. Participation We sent Lobby Packs to at least 246 people, of whom 146 registered beforehand plus others on the day. We recorded 120 people lobbying, from 76 constituencies; there were undoubtedly others who did not book in or have not fed back to us. Feedback Feedback sheets were sent out in the Lobby packs. 73 participants from 44 constituencies sent in reports. 42 had seen their MPs at Westminster, 25 in the constituency, 4 had lobbied only by letter and 23 had followed up their interview with a letter. Some of these seemed to be starting an ongoing dialogue and one or two were already in regular contact with their MP. Responses A breakdown of these, as far as they can be classified, follows: MPs’ knowledge of, interest in UN: 19 considerable, 9 some, 10 no evidence, 6 little or none MPs’ attitude to issues: 22 were largely supportive of the positions taken in our briefings. Of these 7 intended to take some form of action* on at least 1 issue**. 7 expressed mixed views, supporting some of our positions, opposing others. 6 generally opposed our standpoint. The attitudes of 9 were unclear or unreported. Comments on Lobby: With one exception, very positive – organisation good; meeting ‘inspiring’ (though room – understandably - too crowded & hot for some); packs ‘excellent, helpful’ – though one or 2 found them too detailed and/or would have liked more guidance. *eg. ask a Parliamentary Question, make speeches, check policy. (One MP will start a local UNA Group with his lobbyist.) ** One MP will pursue reform of the International Economic Institutions but opposes other points. At Westminster Over 200 people attended the meeting in Westminster Central Hall. The speakers were, almost without exception, illuminating and challenging on the following issues: Peter Hain MP, Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth on Government policy, Malcolm Harper, Director, UNA on disarmament, Janet Bloomfield, Atomic Mirror, ex-Chair CND on nuclear disarmament, Patsy Robertson, Commission on Global Governance on the international economic institutions, Professor Bernard Crick, Adviser on Citizenship, Department for Education & Employment on education, Nick Buxton, Jubilee 2000 on the international economic institutions, Sally Joss, International Action Network on Small Arms on disarmament – light weapons trade, Bruce Kent, Action for UN Renewal & Chair, Culture of Peace Committee on education, Barry Coates, Director, World Development Movement on the international economic institutions. There was fruitful discussion from the floor after each contribution.Examples of work by schoolchildren illustrating the Culture of Peace were displayed in the meeting room and a banner designed by Paul Aston containing the Lobby’s ‘title’ hung behind the platform. FinanceThere were strict financial constraints. While it was hoped that all supporting organisations would make a substantial financial contribution this proved impossible for many of them. In the event approximately £1500 came from this source. An additional £500 came from individual donations, some sent with registrations, others collected on 6 December. Sufficient funds to employ a part time paid worker/press officer would obviously benefit any future Lobby. Act-UN has a grant of £4,000 for parliamentary lobbying this year. EvaluationThe Lobby would probably have raised the profile of the United Nations in Parliament more successfully had it not unintentionally coincided with the State Opening This was set much later than usual and much too late to change the date of the Lobby. Consequently some MPs considered themselves unable to meet their constituents at Westminster. Nevertheless many did so. Others met in the constituency, where interviews were often longer, so allowing a fuller discussion. In future it might be advisable to choose a date in Spring, when it is easier to forecast when the House will be sitting. The Lobby also highlighted the relevance of the UN to the work of the participating organisations and developed a network to build on. Anna Rehin, Action for UN Renewal. Co-ordinator, Lobby Coalition. March, 2001
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