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New York UN

STATEMENT BY MS CHARMAINE KOH, SECOND SECRETARY, PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON BEHALF OF THE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE GROUP (3G) DURING THE THEMATIC DEBATE ON 'THE UNITED NATIONS IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE', ON TUESDAY, 28 JUNE 2011 - THE UNITED NATIONS IN 2025 - HOW CAN THE UN REMAIN RELEVANT IN ADDRESSING TOMORROW'S GLOBAL CHALLENGES?

28 June 2011

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STATEMENT BY MS CHARMAINE KOH, SECOND SECRETARY, PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON BEHALF OF THE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE GROUP (3G) DURING THE THEMATIC DEBATE ON 'THE UNITED NATIONS IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE', ON TUESDAY, 28 JUNE 2011 - THE UNITED NATIONS IN 2025 - HOW CAN THE UN REMAIN RELEVANT IN ADDRESSING TOMORROW'S GLOBAL CHALLENGES?



1 The global challenges that the world faces will grow increasingly complex and interrelated. The nature of such challenges will also change, thereby exacerbating existing vulnerabilities in the global governance framework. Non-traditional security threats will become more prominent worldwide, affecting all countries, large and small. Dealing with them will therefore require not just responses to specific challenges, but a concerted effort at reforming global governance.


2 Global problems ultimately require global solutions. Global solutions, in turn, require global leadership. The UN has an important role to play in providing global leadership. It is also the only platform that can lead the effort in reforming global governance, as it is the only entity with universal participation and legitimacy.


3 Multilateralism is vital for many countries, particularly small and medium sized states. There is currently no alternative to the UN and the essential role it plays in the multilateral fora. The UN must therefore remain central to our efforts to improve and reform the global governance framework.


4 In order for the UN to function effectively as the central mechanism for addressing global challenges and global governance, there has to be an honest, clear-eyed assessment of what role the UN currently plays in global governance, how well we are doing and what more can be done.


5 The UN system has to reform itself internally by optimising the workings of its various organs, funds and entities. In this regard, the UN Secretariat should critically and strategically overhaul its internal processes to trim waste and provide competent assistance to Member States in our search for solutions to manage the evolving challenges of global governance. The UN system also has to be equipped with the necessary resources to be more responsive to the challenges of the 21st century.


6 There is a need to identify and address gaps in implementation by the UN system. We should also establish a sound mechanism for the UN system to identify and address evolving challenges in global governance and identify the relevant expertise and actors. The UN system's surveillance of issues should also be improved.


7 It is important for the UN system to establish sound partnerships with external groups of countries that can contribute to addressing specific international problems. When it comes to global governance, one cannot ignore the important role that non-state actors such as MNCs, NGOs and international organisations play. It is therefore imperative that the UN increase its engagement of such actors in order to better coordinate and understand the interests of its Member States.


8 The work of other multilateral entities and international organisations must complement that of the UN. The UN on its part must take the lead in conceptualising the overarching vision of how all these different entities can best relate to one another in advancing our common goal of addressing the global challenges that we face today. This does not exclude the necessary internal reviews that those other entities must perform.


9 Member States have long been discussing the internal reform of the UN. In a globalised world, major challenges can erupt quickly and at any time. These challenges require rapid responses, which we all know the UN is not currently well-equipped to provide. In this regard, we have to muster the political will to make real progress on the reform of the UN, so that we can continue to guarantee its firm place at the heart of global governance.


10 Thank you


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