The Secretary-General’s latest report is a forceful statement in favour of the United Nations, pointing out the hypocrisy inherent in scapegoating the organisation while denying it adequate resources and power to act effectively. At the same time, the report addresses the pressing need to reform the UN itself directly and boldly.

This Advice Paper will evaluate some of the report’s key points around the themes of larger accountability, larger connectivity, larger inclusion and larger support.

The OCGG fully supports efforts to make the UN more accountable to the peoples of the world, as well as the governments of Member States. This must include the careful extension of the scope of multilateral intervention to cases where a member state poses a very grave threat to its own citizens.

The OCGG also notes with approval the Secretary General’s emphasis on larger connectivity. However, in restructuring the UN's relationship with the wider international community, impartiality must remain of paramount importance.

The Security Council must be reformed, but it is impossible to simultaneously realise all of the particular goals advocated by the Secretary General. The OCGG proposes an alternative blueprint.

Finally, "In Larger Freedom" does not go far enough in indentifying the particular ways in which the UN's support structure must be improved. This Advice Paper calls attention to some crucial gaps and proposes practicable solutions.

OCGG Government Advice No 4 (PDF)