Last week I had the opportunity to visit the offices of the United Nations in Geneva. A trip organised by my school at university. We met with a series of people who represented the following offices: the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR); the Secreteriat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR); the World Trade Organisation (WTO); the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and last but not least there was a round-table discussion on non-governmental organisations.
In this round table there were: Ms Faidutti, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Federation of UN Associations; Ms Agazzi, Programme Officer for the Conference of NGO’s in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO); Ms Scherrer, Project Manager at the Business Humanitarian Forum (BHF); Mr Tronc, Policy & Advocacy Co-ordinator at the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Mr Prove, representative of the Lutheran World Federation at the Office for International Affairs and Human Rights.
We also visited the International Committee of the Red Gross as well as the Red Cross/Crescent Museum. There Mrs Escurriola Moulin, talked about the activities of the organisation in the field talking about her ten year experience as a prison delegate. She would visit prisons in areas of a country and provide with reports for the organisation only. The reports are confidential. The organisation works only with the prison institutions directly. It is important to note here that the Red Cross/Crescent is the only internationally acclaimed humanitarian non-governmental organisation which has visited Guantanamo Bay. The site of the museum can be found here. At any time you visit Geneva apart from the fondue, try this as well!
I stress my interest to the round-table since all the rest were at best, honest, and at worse, clueless.
The discussion intially was centered at the uniqueness of the United Nations and its important history. After that, Ms Agazzi said that at the moment there are almost 2,800 NGO’s registered in a ‘consultative relationship’ with the UN. These can only be registerd as such if the host country allows (Therefore, the abovementioned Red Cross/Crescent would be registered via Switzerland) stressing the control exercised, but also the financial difficulties faced by NGO’s from the developing world in relation to those in the developed. However, she said that their number is being multiplied.She too argued that regardless of the problems faced by the inherent nature of the UN as an inter-governmental organisation, this is the only instrument and we should promote it and work with it.
Ms Sherrer talked about the business opportunities that should be taken after the damage is done to recostruct an area. Her example of the Afghani hospital which will be built and will allow for around 80 places of work for Afgans was provided to promote her argument on humanitarian business which was possible and constructive. However, her points were clearly and adamantly opposed by Mr Tronc who rejected the ability of business in an area where chaos and anarchy rule.
Mr Tronc argued that throughout Afgani history there has been never before mention on suicide bombers which are now becoming the rule. He also made a point of the MSF attempts to draw attention to the Sudan crisis ten years now. (MSF has been working in Sudan now since 1985). He mentioned the political nature of the UN and the political realities of conflicts around the world and argued that after 9/11 all westerners are points of attack in Afganistan, in Iraq, in the Caucasus and subsequently the MSF has not been able to remain, since even they have been unable to ensure the security so as to undertake their work. Effectively, the silent ‘tabula rasa’ given always to MSF from the different actors in conflicts was no longer valid for all cases.
Apart from that he strongly supported the idea of the people themselves rebuilding the country [whichever this is], and not others in their name.
Something like the general situation regarding the international arena.
I am disillusioned. But not because of this trip. I knew very well before hand the realities of political discourse -or propaganda- and even with my very epidermic relation with an NGO, the inherent financial restrains that can and indeed do arise. The point however is not there. I find that the very disillusionement springs from our very inability to realise our potential. Our very passive activity which has become a reality in its own right. What do I mean?
All human beings are affected by pictures of people suffering. Of people reaching their outmost levels of despair. Always, when we compare ourselves to them, we find that we have more than we bargained for really. The silent and ‘passively-active’ majority is generally healthy, happy, and even if money always runs short, there is always a way of finding a way around. I realize that what I make at this point is a generalisation which is founded in nothing more than the discussions I have had with friends and people with whom I have had the opportunity to discuss, however this does not mean that such an option should be completely discarded.
This ‘passivly-active’ majority is the one which effectively rules the ‘game’.
Mr Tronc was wittingly characterised as a ‘pessimist’ because he dared speak with facts and not play around with words. And I agree with his perspective.
What is the point of having an international legal instrument-namely the UN- if this very instrument -which by the way we constructed- we are to undermine it, in every step of our way?
What is the point of having an international law which effectively is driven by, not by our very humanity -which we all share- rather by political passions and desires?
What is the point of discussing whether evidence aquired through torture can or cannot be admissible to a court of law, since torture takes place all over around this world?
What is the point of saying that we all believe in basic human rights and freedom when we are not prepared to deal with the inherent responsibilities which these rights bring about?
What is the difference between saying, and doing? Believing and acting?
When Mr Tronc was accused as a ‘pessimist’ I thought: Whoever thinks this man is a pessimist lives in his/her own little world. S/he has no idea of what truly happens. Unless s/he does, and s/he simply regards it as part of reality.
The thing is, we construct reality; what is and what is not is part of our work.
Tags: Citizenry
