UN chief calls for reform amid US funding cuts
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling on countries to cooperate on reform as the global body faces significant cuts in funding from the United States.
The UN chief explained reform proposals to member states on Monday and acknowledged some inefficiency in operations. He said, "The measure of success is not the volume of reports we generate or the number of meetings we convene." He said it is "in the real-world difference we make in the lives of people."
Guterres said he is considering merging units, eliminating functional and structural duplications, relocating staff from high-cost locations and other changes.
Representatives of some countries sought greater efficiency, while mainly developing countries expressed concern that UN projects or support could diminish.
Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea said, "The UN must return to its principal purpose" and that the global body should focus on maintaining international peace and security.
Guterres responded, "The idea that we can concentrate efforts on peace and security and forget about or reduce our efforts in development or human rights would be completely wrong."
He said the UN must uphold its purpose and principles, such as the Sustainable Development Goals.
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