• (1) UN draft proposal for a Civil Society Forum linked with the General Assembly
• (2) Qs and As on a Civil Society Forum
• (3) A UN Citizens' Assembly
• (4) Action for UN Renewal
• (5) Initiative for a New Zealand Forum for UN Renewal
• (6) Inaugural Meeting, March 1997, of New Zealand's Forum for UN Renewal
• (7) Survey of UK opinion on a Civil Society Forum linked with the General Assembly

The New Zealand Forum for UN Renewal is launched! on March 7 1997, in howling wind and torrential rain, some 150 people turned up at the Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, to attend the inaugural meeting of the Forum, which set the scene for future forums that would encompass dialogue, discussion and action programmes for furthering the objectives of the Forum, namely;

• to formulate strategies to further the aim of working for a United Nations which is capable of turning the ideals expressed in the Preamble of the Charter into reality;

• to lobby Members of Parliament of all parties to further an ongoing dialogue for the creation of a United Nation and United Peoples Partnership for Peace":

• to encourage the media to participate constructively in the reforming of the United Nations System;

• to stimulate and help keep informed and alive public debate on UN matters;

• to give further consideration to the establishment of a UN Peoples' Assembly.

Participants at the inaugural meeting heard several short introductory speeches including welcomes by the Rt.Ho.Don McKinnon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the UNANZ President, Lady Jansen, and the Convener of the organising committee, Dame Laurie Salas. It was emphasised that this was a "setting the scene" meeting at which the reasons for establishing the Forum would be given, and the proposals for on-going activity would be outlined. It was encouraging that so many people had responded to the invitation to attend, including people from Auckland, Hamilton, Te Awamutu, Tauranga, Taupo, Wanganui, Levin, Christchurch, Dunedian, as well as those from Wellington City and Greater Wellington.

The first main speaker was Colin Keating, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, former NZ Ambassador to the UN and former Co-chair of the Working Group for strengthening the United Nations, whose subject was: How can this Forum help to bring about a more democratic and effective United Nations?. He said he had encouraged the idea of a Forum for UN Renewal, because it was important that people in the "civil society", particularly people in NGOs such as the United Nations Association of New Zealand, should put energy and enterprise into the movement for reform. He outlined the various moves within the UN itself for reform and moves for cost-cutting, and said he hoped the recommendations of the working groups and committee would be translated into action.

This was indeed "crisis time" for the United Nations, and thus there was real need in any reform and renewal process for real input of the basic common sense of ordinary people, Currently there was much more recognition of the value of the contributions of non-governmental people to the definitive work of the United Nation.

Terence O'Brien, Director of the centre for Strategic Studies and former NZ Ambassador to the United Nations - during which time he chaired the security Council for a month - spoke to the subject: The Relationship between the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, We had suggested the sub-title: power-sharing, but he thought it more appropriate to talk about: influence-sharing, He said although the focus in any discussion about reform of the UN the emphasis always seemed to be on budgetary discipline and administrative efficiency, he considered that the real task was to create and sustain a UN that is truly relevant and reflective of the world on the doorstep of the 21st century.

In terms of influence-sharing Mr.O'Brien said there was a place for small countries" like New Zealand to exert influence within multilateral diplomacy: " ... if the major powers on the Security Council are to be persuaded to accept modifications to established practice it will be on the basis of expanding the opportunity for influence by the remainder of the UN, not through extending power of the remainder as such. He expanded on ideas for a change in the procedures of the Security Council and the need for greater accountability to the General Assembly, including greater transparency all round, and he urged the recognition of the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice by all UN members. In the 21st century there must be greater respect for international law.

The final session of the Forum was entitled: Forward Planning. Dame Laurie said that two further meetings for this year are planned in which there will be direct exchange of ideas and action plans, with involvement from members of government, local government and the various sectors of the civil society. Possible agenda items for future meetings were: wider involvement by the general public in the initial drafting of treaties and UN conventions; lobbying M.P.s and discussions with the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence; consideration of the reports of the UN committees on reform; and consideration of the establishment of a civil society forum or a "peoples' assembly" at the UN.

Closing Address by Gita Brooke, initiating proposer of the Forum As a representative of 'we, the peoples' - I see this as a truly historic event with great potential. In this fifty second year of the life of the United Nations, such a meeting place between the various sectors of society is indeed an idea whose time has come to help make the United Nations more effective and more democratic. This world organisation - even if at times appearing rudderless, powerless" and penniless - nevertheless holds a vision that brings us together in a mutual striving towards a better world and the common good. People-participation in the United Nations is not a new notion. Even in 1945, Ernest Bevin, the British Foreign Secretary, envisioned the establishing of a World People's Assembly to be seen as a completion of a development of the United Nations. With today's increased public awareness of global as well as local issues and our growing sense of indignation with the general state of affairs, we, the world's peoples, are now ready to take our rightful place within the United Nations alongside our governments - in a partnership for peace. We have for so long blamed, mocked, criticised and analysed this institution that we created. Perhaps what it needs is nurturing. Maybe what is missing is faith and the courage to hold steadfastly to the vision that a fair, peaceful and prospering global neighbourhood is fully possible - provided we express the willingness to bring it about. This needs not only goodwill but also a very real will-to-good. It was not cynics or impractical dreamers, but pragmatic, persevering and accomplished visionaries that walked the moon. Let us walk the earth with equal resolve and enthusiasm - as partners in peace. This Forum should, I think, be seen as a significant step in this direction.