Report of the UNA Annual Conference

Norwich, April 2003

Vijay Mehta

A large gathering of Delegates from various UNA branches, regions and affiliates across the country came to attend the conference at University of East Anglia.

The keynote speaker for the conference was his Excellency the High commissioner for Tanzania Hasan Omar Gumbo Kibellah. He spoke on the "UN Millennium goals—an African perspective". He explained the problems in Congo and other parts of Africa where around 4 Million people have died in conflicts. Our resources should be spending on peace and development, He said. He spoke about "UN Millennium goals" and said Tanzania is one of the only countries which have rapidly implemented "UN Millennium goals".

There were speeches by Richard Jolly (Chair) Malcolm Harper (Director) and Ahmed Fawzi, (UNIC Director). The main points of their speeches are as follows:

bulletIllegality of war on Iraq. Bush administration going back on international agreements. Hans Blix to be sent back for inspections. Humanitarian aid to be made available as a matter of urgency. European Union should act as counter force against US military actions.
bulletThe closing of UNIC (United Nations Information Centre) will pose a problem for spread of information about UN. Some of responsibility will fall on UNA UK.
bulletImplementation of Global Millennium Goals in Peace and Security and Development is to become one of UNA’s target under stake holder forum.
bulletImplementation of Brahmi report on Peace and Security to become a key point. Adopt a mined field programme is doing well and is to be extended.
bulletWork is being done on human rights and refugees.
bulletEducational programmes in schools including MUNGA (Model UN General Assembly) are being carried and are part of UN Agenda.

There were excellent work shops on the following topics:

  1. Middle East and the UN
  2. Human Rights/Asylum
  3. Pre-emptive action/humanitarian intervention
  4. Development and trade
  5. Appointment of a new Director (Malcolm Harper is retiring after 22 years of great leadership for UNA)

 

The policy statement of UNA is comprehensive and is divided in six parts:

  1. War against terrorism and war on Iraq
  2. Human rights – racism, citizenship education, immigration, asylum seekers and ICC (International Criminal Court)
  3. The Security Council, deadly conflict prevention, Peace keeping, peace building and peace enforcement
  4. Countries involved in conflict worldwide were mentioned-Afghanistan, Angola, Sudan, Sierra Leone, the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa, Middle East, Kashmir and Cote D’Ivoire. Resolutions were passed to take action and end conflict. These were sent to Foreign office and respective governments.
  5. Disarmament and Human Security – action to be taken on Arms control, US missile defence, cluster bombs and landmines
  6. The Global Economy, poverty reduction, sustainable development and environmental protection – the Millennium Development Goals to be carried forward

Many urgent issues of Aids, international debt, globalisation, earth summit, climate change and development in Africa were discussed.

The long debate on Iraq included illegality of war, calling back the Inspectors for verification of weapons of mass destruction; Humanitarian aid and reconstruction under the UN auspicious were discussed.

The achievements of UN and it’s importance for keeping peace and security, it’s role in areas of development in poor countries, it’s dealing of Global issues of Aids, poverty, international debt were reinforced and actions to alleviate them were discussed.

Jim Addington (Chair), Karl Miller (Secretary) attended on behalf of Action for UN Renewal. Vijay Mehta went as an individual delegate for Action for UN Renewal and represented UN-East London Branch along with Bruce Robertson.

It was good conference with an opportunity for interacting between UNA

Headquarters and it’s branches all over the Country.