"At a time when change is progressing at a pace and scale unparalleled in history, we can and must lay the foundation for a better path for humanity," concluded the UN75 People's Forum on 14-15 May 2020, with the participation of VCDNP Senior Fellow Angela Kane.
The UN75 People's Forum brought together members of civil society and other stakeholders to adopt a declaration on the occasion of the UN's 75th anniversary. The declaration, entitled "Humanity at a Crossroads: Global Solutions for Global Challenges," draws attention to the need for the UN to adapt to the new challenges of the 21st century.
In particular, Ms. Kane drew attention to the value of civil society engagement with the UN and the importance of multilateralism in international relations. She remarked on the change over the decades in the involvement of civil society in the UN, from very little involvement in the 1970s to very active participation today. One remaining deficiency in this regard is the remaining lack of representation by the global south.
Ms. Kane also discussed the momentum that civil society brings to the UN. For example, she mentioned the role of civil society in promoting the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, for which the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.
Despite the progress made in the representation of civil society in the UN, Ms. Kane said that more integration is needed, including through systemic reforms within the UN so that civil society is taken seriously as a partner in negotiations, rather than as an add-on.
Ms. Kane's full remarks from the panel discussion are available here.
