Enhancing U.S. Leadership at the United Nations

The United States has not been nearly as effective at the United Nations as it can or should be. To address this concern, the Council on Foreign Relations and Freedom House cosponsored an Independent Task Force to assess the U.S.-UN relationship and to suggest a new strategy for improving the effectiveness and reputation of the United States at the UN. The Task Force calls for a U.S. strategy of building a coalition of democracies at the United Nations to carry forward three aims: building further support for democratization around the world, promoting respect for human rights principles, and coming together more effectively in the war against terrorism. In making its analysis, the Task Force identified several obstacles to U.S. effectiveness at the UN, including U.S. reluctance to support international agreements; the U.S. practice of withholding treaty-obligated dues; long gaps in the confirmation of a permanent U.S. representative to the UN; and a reluctance to engage in the outreach and lobbying at the UN for which American democracy is famous. The report also concludes that politicization in UN bodies, including the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights has made the institution an inconsistent voice for democracy and human rights. This report includes the Task Force's findings and recommendations, as well as key UN documents in the areas of democracy, human rights, and counterterrorism. The Task force, co-chaired by Republican congressman, David Dreier, chairman of the House Rules Committee, and former Democratic Congressman Lee Hamilton, director of the Woodrow Wilson Center and former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, included former senior officialsfrom Democratic and Republic administrations, scholars, and nongovernmental leaders.Dreier, David is the author of 'Enhancing U.S. Leadership at the United Nations' with ISBN 9780876093221 and ISBN 0876093225.