Sure! Here’s the translation to American English:
—
The mandates of the United Nations (UN) have grown significantly since its founding in 1945, reaching over 40,000 active mandates managed by nearly 400 intergovernmental organizations. These mandates cover a wide range of activities, from peacekeeping to humanitarian response, affecting more than 190 countries and territories. This remarkable increase has generated over 27,000 meetings annually and nearly 2,300 pages of documentation, with a total estimated cost of $360 million.
However, this expansion poses several challenges. Many existing mandates are considered obsolete or redundant, complicating the coordination and effectiveness of UN actions. A recent report revealed that the complexity of General Assembly resolutions has increased by 55% since 2020, and Security Council resolutions have tripled in length over the past 30 years. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, emphasized the need to improve the effectiveness of these initiatives, warning that spreading resources results in a greater focus on processes rather than achieving meaningful outcomes.
Additionally, the lack of regular reviews and the reluctance to terminate many mandates are critical issues. Guterres stated that “effective reviews are the exception, not the rule,” which is reflected in the repetition of texts year after year with minimal changes.
To address these issues, the Mandate Implementation Review Report, part of the UN80 Initiative, proposes modernizing the organization through a “lifecycle” approach that evaluates the creation, implementation, and review of mandates, seeking improvements at each stage. The Secretary-General emphasized that the responsibility for creating, reviewing, and finalizing mandates lies with the Member States.
Among the proposals is the creation of digital records of mandates and the issuance of more concise resolutions with clear resource requirements. The increasing burden of meetings and the excessive generation of reports are also mentioned, many of which address recurring issues.
UN funding has become an additional obstacle, as 80% of its budget comes from voluntary contributions, often earmarked for specific objectives. This situation has led to a fragmented impact that requires immediate attention.
Guterres highlighted the importance of UN staff in implementing mandates, reminding that “none of the implementation tasks are possible without our staff.” The work of these professionals is crucial in transforming mandates into concrete results.
Finally, the Secretary-General urged Member States to establish an intergovernmental process with clear timelines for implementing the recommendations of the report. This step could result in a more agile and effective UN in executing its programs.
The UN80 Initiative is structured around three workstreams: enhancing the internal efficiency of the organization, reviewing mandate implementation, and assessing the need for structural changes. These approaches aim not only to optimize the functioning of the UN but also to reaffirm its relevance in an ever-evolving global context.
—
Let me know if you need any more help!
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish
