Comments on: Sometimes I Am Ashamed to Work for the UN. http://petercasier.be/writing/sometimes-i-am-ashamed-to-work-for-the-un/ My most notorious writings Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:53:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Peter Casier http://petercasier.be/writing/sometimes-i-am-ashamed-to-work-for-the-un/comment-page-1/#comment-333 Peter Casier Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:19:00 +0000 http://petercasier.be/writing/?p=396#comment-333 Apart from the fact that -IMHO- if we were to leave the future of the UN in the hands of John Bolton and his likes, the world (or the UN) would not be off for the better, I agree with you that any crime committed under the hat of the UN should be treated as a criminal offense, and not be subject to cover ups or immunity deals.<br/><br/>Actually UN staff immunity can, and as a matter of practice *is* waived, when there are proven facts of criminal behaviour. Whistle blowing activities *are* encouraged more and more. But still not enough.<br/><br/>My problem is not that those crimes go unpunished when brought to light. My problem is that:<br/>1/ they don't come to light fast enough, and that<br/>2/ they do happen.<br/><br/>Unfortunately facts do not support your statement that NGOs would do a better job than the UN... <br/><br/>P. Apart from the fact that -IMHO- if we were to leave the future of the UN in the hands of John Bolton and his likes, the world (or the UN) would not be off for the better, I agree with you that any crime committed under the hat of the UN should be treated as a criminal offense, and not be subject to cover ups or immunity deals.

Actually UN staff immunity can, and as a matter of practice *is* waived, when there are proven facts of criminal behaviour. Whistle blowing activities *are* encouraged more and more. But still not enough.

My problem is not that those crimes go unpunished when brought to light. My problem is that:
1/ they don’t come to light fast enough, and that
2/ they do happen.

Unfortunately facts do not support your statement that NGOs would do a better job than the UN…

P.

]]> By: Anonymous http://petercasier.be/writing/sometimes-i-am-ashamed-to-work-for-the-un/comment-page-1/#comment-332 Anonymous Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:20:00 +0000 http://petercasier.be/writing/?p=396#comment-332 You and all your (few) well-meaning and well-intentioned colleagues should be ashamed--the UN (all of its parts) is systemically corrupt, mostly populated at the top by people whose only skill is back-stabbing, ladder climbing, and self-enrichment--most of them probably wouldn't qualify for a job handing out towels in a third world men's room.<br/><br/>The UN will never reform itself because those within the organisation in a position to effect real change are the one who stand to lose (significantly) the most. And the member states lack the political will to effect real change as well--if John Bolton can't succeed at reform, no politician can.<br/><br/>The only hope is to get rid of the UN's immunity so that the crooks throughout the organisation (those that trade refugee aid for sex with 8 year olds [and those senior officials who do nothing to stop it except babble about the UN having "zero tolerance" for such abuse], those that accept bribes, those that drive out their competent colleagues through mobbing and harassment in order to preserve their own incompetent rise to the top, those that refuse to leave NYC, Vienna or Geneva, etc.).<br/><br/>As soon as the UN's immunity is removed, all of its parts will either reform or perish, as it should be. And if they perish, they will be replaced by NGO's that already know how to operate across national borders without the moral hazard of immunity.<br/><br/>That is truly the only hope for your beloved UN. You and all your (few) well-meaning and well-intentioned colleagues should be ashamed–the UN (all of its parts) is systemically corrupt, mostly populated at the top by people whose only skill is back-stabbing, ladder climbing, and self-enrichment–most of them probably wouldn’t qualify for a job handing out towels in a third world men’s room.

The UN will never reform itself because those within the organisation in a position to effect real change are the one who stand to lose (significantly) the most. And the member states lack the political will to effect real change as well–if John Bolton can’t succeed at reform, no politician can.

The only hope is to get rid of the UN’s immunity so that the crooks throughout the organisation (those that trade refugee aid for sex with 8 year olds [and those senior officials who do nothing to stop it except babble about the UN having "zero tolerance" for such abuse], those that accept bribes, those that drive out their competent colleagues through mobbing and harassment in order to preserve their own incompetent rise to the top, those that refuse to leave NYC, Vienna or Geneva, etc.).

As soon as the UN’s immunity is removed, all of its parts will either reform or perish, as it should be. And if they perish, they will be replaced by NGO’s that already know how to operate across national borders without the moral hazard of immunity.

That is truly the only hope for your beloved UN.

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