The United Nations was created in 1945 to foster international cooperation in addressing problems of a global nature. Its founders envisioned the UN as a world body working primarily to prevent the type of conflict between nations that they had twice seen bring "untold sorrow to mankind". As the international community increasingly recognised the interdependence of peace, development and human rights (the other two objectives listed in the UN Charter), these three aims became known as the three 'pillars' of the UN.

Over the past 65 years, the world has changed significantly. The global problems faced today are both old and new, ranging from war and poverty to climate change and the H1N1 pandemic. The UN has also evolved during this time - in terms of remit, constituent bodies and working methods - but it must continue to change to meet today's challenges.

UN reform is the name give to the ongoing process of making improvements to the way in which the entire UN system works. It is a multi-faceted process, and one that has been taking place almost since the inception of the UN itself.

Click here to read an article, by Ramesh Thakur, with Walther Lichem, Julia Marton-Lefèvre, and Detlof von Winterfeldt on the need for a UN Science Adviser

Click here to access the outcome report of UNA-UK's major 2005 UK-wide consultation on UN reform

UN member states have long agreed that the General Assembly, often thought of as the UN's most democratic body, needs to streamline its procedures and structures so as to improve its deliberative processes and make it more effective. To date, however, only modest steps have been taken towards this 'revitalisation'.

RESOURCES:
The Origins and Developments of UN Electoral Groups (pdf) This article by UNA-UK's Executive Director is contained in a collection on Equitable Geographic Distribution in the 21st Century, published by the UN University,Tokyo, in 1999.

UNA-UK briefing paper on proposals for a 'League of Democracies' by Mipe Okunseinde (July 2008)

The UN Security Council was enshrined by the UN Charter in 1945 and expanded from 11 to 15 members in 1965. The five principal countries that were victorious in World War II - the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia and France - remain the only 'permanent' members of the Security Council, and have the power to 'veto' any substansive Council decision.

Although there is general agreement on the need for additional Security Council members, there remain deep divisions over how best to achieve this.

RESOURCES:
Effectiveness and ineffectiveness of the Security Council in the last 20 years (pdf)
A paper delivered by Lord Hannay at the IAI conference in Rome on 12-13 November 2009 on the 'EU and Reform of the UN Security Council'.

Security Council Reform - the dual risks (pdf)
A paper on UN Security Council reform by Sam Daws, Executive Director of UNA-UK, which was delivered at an international conference on United Nations reform in Tehran in July 2005.

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the principal UN body with the task of coordinating the economic and social development functions of the organisation. The UN Charter places ECOSOC under the authority of the General Assembly. ECOSOC has the power to issue policy recommendations to the UN system and member states.

Some reform advocates argue that the 54 member council is too large for constructive negotiations, and should be replaced with a smaller more efficient “Social and Economic Security Council.”

Strengthening UN management and human resources is vital to the effectiveness of all UN bodies. Hitherto seen as an issue which divided developed and devleoping countries, there have been a number of government initiatives to move the debate forward.