Page 277 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

Bringing the Concept to Life

What is the significance of this reform process for UNOG?

As every United Nations Office around the world, UNOG has been asked
to contribute its fair share to the global reform process presently underway.
However, reform efforts have been undertaken at UNOG since 1993, and they
are now placed in a broader context. Various UNOG-based institutions such as
the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UNCTAD
have also just implemented their specific reform plans and consequently will
not be substantially affected by the ongoing reform.

The more sweeping reform measures are expected to be in the field of
humanitarian assistance, where consolidation and restructuring is expected. A
common decision-making framework for humanitarian activities will be
proposed and I anticipate the leading role of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees to be recognized and institutionalized.

It is also likely that the role of Geneva as a centre of know-how and
expertise will be further strengthened. This would result from a proposal
presently under consideration to establish a political-academic complex which
would unite the various UNOG-based research institutes (including the
United Nations Institute for Training and Research - UNITAR; the United
Nations Institute for Disarmament Research -UNIDIR; and the United
Nations Research Institute for Social Development - UNRISD) with other
leading training and research institutions in Europe (including the ILO-run
staff college in Turin).

In conclusion, I would like to share with you a thought expressed by the
Secretary-General of the United Nations, in a letter, addressed last month to
the members of the G8 Denver Summit. He wrote,

“A vision of the new United Nations is emerging, a United Nations
Organization suited to the tasks of the twenty-first century and able to meet
the highest expectations of its Member States. It is vital that we seize this
moment to realize this vision."

I hope this endeavour will benefit from the necessary support of its
Member States, but I also hope that the United Nations will convince people
like you, all over the world, to join in this vision and in the efforts of the United
Nations to promote a better world.

Thank you for your attention.

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