Speaker: Dan Conway

Date of Event: 5/31/04

Author: Kirstin Aschbacher

Anyone who follows the news has heard of the United Nations, but how many of us actually have a sense of the size, capabilities, and nature of this highly influential, international organization? Whether it be in Iraq, Haiti, or Sudan, what can the UN reasonably be expected to accomplish? Dan Conway, former UN employee with extensive expertise working with refugees, shared his knowledge of the inner workings of this elaborate and intriguing organization in a talk organized by the Coastal Forum branch of the San Diego World Affairs Council on Memorial Day.

With an army of statistics and a heap of photos depicting everything from blood-spattered refugees in Turkey to regal luminaries of Thailand, Conway stressed the importance of understanding what the UN can and cannot realistically accomplish in international development assistance, humanitarian actions and peace-keeping activities. For example, despite the fact that the UN is made up of 191 member states, the annual budget for the entire system of the UN is less than the annual budget of the New York City Board of Education. One year’s worth of global military expenditures would be enough to fund the UN for roughly 65 years. In terms of man-power, there are just over 60,000 employees employed in the entire UN system, less than the number employed by Disneyland and Disney World combined. While such numbers are not meant to diminish the considerable international influence and invaluable accomplishments of the United Nations, they may, perhaps, offer a more sobering perspective.

Conway suggests that readers who are dedicated to achieving a more profound understanding of international events should apply a critical filter while reading or listening to news about the UN. For example, it may be illuminative to evaluate who the information is coming from and which arm of the UN is being discussed. The structure of the UN is complex, consisting of several principal organs and a number of smaller bodies and programs. Kofi Annon, the 7^th Secretary General of the United Nations, leads the Secretariat in administering the programs and policies established by the other principal organs, such as the General Assembly and the Security Council among others. The umbrella of the UN encompasses a number of programs and funds (e.g., UNICEF, UNAIDS, etc.), specialized agencies (e.g., WHO, ILO, etc.), research institutes and more. For those interested in a more detailed outline, the official UN web-site offers a thorough diagram (http://www.un.org/aboutun/unchart.pdf).

The San Diego World Affairs Council extends its gratitude to Dan Conway for this informative and entertaining discussion of the United Nations. As we educate ourselves about world affairs and the institutions of international peace-keeping, we become better citizens of our country and of the world.