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United Nations

Bolton Pushes for Revisions to UN Reform Document

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Just days after the United States began pushing for significant changes to a draft of United Nations reform, American Ambassador John R. Bolton warned envoys that time is running out to create institutional change. The new American approach seeks to scrap more than 400 passages in the 38-page draft, which has been readied for a summit conference next month after nearly a year of intensive negotiations. Bolton's proposal calls for immediate negotiations starting with the current draft, and he urges fellow envoys to remain open to alternative formats that can help achieve consensus.

Key Takeaways:

  • The United States is pushing for significant revisions to a draft of United Nations reform, including the scrapping of more than 400 passages in the 38-page document.
  • The new American approach recommends immediate negotiations starting with the current draft and urges fellow envoys to remain open to alternative formats.
  • The reform document proposes significant changes to the United Nations, including the substitution of the Human Rights Commission with a more powerful Human Rights Council.
  • The American objections center on parts of the document that approve measures and offices opposed by the United States, including the International Criminal Court and the Kyoto protocols on global warming.
  • The United States also objects to the document's stress on disarmament rather than nonproliferation and lacks clarity in assigning responsibility to a management oversight committee.
  • More than 170 heads of state have confirmed plans to attend the conference on September 14 to consider approval of the reform document.

Statistics:

  • The draft of United Nations reform is 38 pages long and has been the subject of nearly a year of intensive negotiations.
  • The United States has proposed scrapping more than 400 passages in the draft document.
  • More than 170 heads of state have confirmed plans to attend the conference on September 14.
  • The reform document proposes significant changes to the United Nations, including the Creation of a Peacebuilding Commission to help countries emerging from conflict.
  • 0.7 percent of gross national product is pledged to development.

Sources:

  • Bolton, John R. "Letter to 190 other United Nations ambassadors." United Nations, [No date]
  • Pace, William R. "Statement on John R. Bolton's proposal for UN reform." World Federalist Movement, [No date]
  • Grenell, Richard A. "Statement on US stance on UN reform document." United States Mission, United Nations, [No date]
  • Koppel, Nathan. "US Said to Back Revisions to UN Reform Proposal." The New York Times, [No date]

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