Message from UNAA National
President John Langmore
Reflections on the 2008
National Conference
The 2008 National Conference was engaging,
stimulating and revitalising. The
conference organisation was highly accomplished for it was carefully planned;
held in the attractive and prestigious Queensland Parliament House; addressed
by a range of well-informed speakers on topics of crucial importance;
attractive to a wide range of participants, including some new to the UNAA; and
generated a buzz of discussion and conviviality. The theme, The future is in our hands, challenged participants to identify
what each of us could do to strengthen international peace and justice. A few high points will illustrate the quality
of the event.
The
conference was opened with a gracious welcome by the Queensland Premier, Anna
Bligh: and the new Governor of Queensland, Penny Wensley, gave a memorably fine
keynote address. As a former Australian
Mission member and later Ambassador to the UN, Penny reflected on her
experiences and began by saying that if the UN fails and disappoints in some
areas it delivers and succeeds in others.
Lessons she had learnt which are relevant to seeking Security Council
membership and other international goals included aiming to position oneself
effectively to influence events. There
is always an inner circle determining what happens, and by knowing your subject
and being useful it is possible to earn a place in it. Building coalitions of countries with shared
aims increases negotiating influence.
Willingness to compromise is essential.
Drawing on the advice of experts increases the authority with which one
can speak. Essential qualities are
patience, perseverance, persistence and positiveness. She concluded that she was optimistic about
the future of the UN because in an increasingly interdependent world its role
must expand. ‘The UN is still the most
legitimate instrument for upholding international norms and values. But it needs champions and advocates to raise
awareness of the issues it addresses and what it does well’. By also attending and presenting awards at
the concluding dinner, Penny made a major contribution to the stature of the
conference.
Jean
D’Cunha, the Regional Director of UNIFEM, spoke with passion and expertise
about the destructive impact of violent conflict on women and children. The explicitness of her descriptions was a
shocking reminder of the horror of situations with which UN agencies have to
deal. She also spoke of the hope which
human rights norms and the uneven strengthening of their application creates
and therefore of the challenge to increase commitment to them.
Dr
Leeora Black spoke positively about the value of the Global Compact in
articulating standards for corporate social responsibility. She persuaded many of us to advocate more
vigorously the ten norms articulated in the Global Compact as a means of
increasing corporate social responsibility in
The
Socratic Forum on Responsibility to Protect (R2P) was an attractive way of
generating discussion about a complex concept.
Two speakers presented pro and con cases to which four commentators
added many additional insights and issues.
The outcome was broad agreement that R2P is far more than a rationale
for humanitarian intervention in situations where crimes against humanity are
occurring. There was a clear view that
commitment to prevention of violent conflict through all possible peaceful
means such as the good offices of the Secretary-General, mediation and
negotiation and where necessary the use of sanctions are all preferable to
proposals for military intervention. R2P
is a means of strengthening the responsibility of national governments for
fulfilling national sovereignty rather than a rationale for undermining government
responsibility.
Bob
McMullan, the Parliamentary Secretary for International Development
Cooperation, emphasised the importance of strengthening commitment to
international norms throughout the region and pointed to the tiny
representation of women in many Pacific country parliaments as one area needing
attention. His examples of applying more
imagination to aid projects were striking.
An
authoritative panel of speakers demonstrated vividly the growth of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere and necessity for swift, strong and effective measures
to reduce emissions. There were also
highly pertinent discussions on a number of other issues such as
sustainability, life-long education, cultural preservation, youth and
international governance but it is not possible to summarise them all. In short, Virginia Balmain and her organising
committee are to be wholeheartedly congratulated on their fine organisation of
this outstanding conference. The UNAA
National Council accepted the offer of the ACT Division to organise the
national conference in 2009.
John Langmore