New blueprint unveiled for reforming UN
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-07-23 15:16

The General Assembly president released Friday a revised blueprint for reforming the United Nations, which offers a legal definition of terrorism for the first time, and concretes steps to establish a human rights council and a peacebuilding commission.

The new blueprint, the so-called "Draft Outcome Document," will be presented to the September summit of world leaders in New York for approval.

The 37-page document provides that any action intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants, when the purpose of such an act is to intimidate a population or to compel a government or an international organization, can not be justified on any grounds and constitutes an act of terrorism.

It proposes that the 191 UN member states conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism, including a legal definition of terrorism, before September 2006.

The document lays out a series of proposals on the establishment of a human rights council to replace the Geneva-based Human Rights Commission.

It sets a five-year deadline for the General Assembly to consider whether to make the new human rights body a principal organ. The council would first be a subsidiary organ of the assembly.

Under the document, members of the human rights council shall be elected directly by a two-thirds majority of the assembly and in line with the principle of equitable geographical distribution and the contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights.

The blueprint also spells out concrete steps on the creation of a peacebuilding commission, an intergovernment advisory body whose mandate will be to assist countries emerging from conflict.

But the document again fails to provide any proposals on the enlargement of the powerful Security Council, a reflection of the current stalemate in the debate on the issue.

If approved by the September world summit, the document would lead to the broadest reform of the United Nations in its 60-year history.

Close

American women call for end of war Israeli forces storm Gaza settlement South Korean, DPRK separated families hold video reunions

Today's Top News     Top World News
Guangzhou oil supply 'returning to normal'         First joint drill with Russia launched         Scotland bank in US$3.1b deal for BOC stake         China-US textile talks make progress         Opinion: Corruption has to stay capital crime         'Bird flu may cause global economic mayhem'	al-Qaida leader in Saudi Arabia killed       Iraq lawmakers work on draft constitution       Israeli forces storm Gaza Synagogues       Encephalitis kills 79 children in India       Almost 90 arrested after Bangladesh bombings       Tigers agree to review Sri Lanka truce, emergency extended