UN open to change, says Frechette
Deputy Secretary-General focuses on past successes, arguing that while the United Nations needs reform, it remains relevant in modern context
By Kayley Collum
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: News
On November 9, the Isabel Bader Theatre played host to this year's Keith Davey Lecture.
Presented this year by Deputy Secretary-General for the United Nations Louise Frechette. the Keith Davey Lecture has been a long tradition at Vic following its establishment in 1996. Friends and colleagues of Keith Davey, a 1949 Victoria College graduate, created the lecture to honour his service upon his retirement from the Canadian Senate.
President Gooch opened the event by stressing that he was encouraged to see so many students in the audience. Professor David Wright, the Kenneth and Patricia Taylor Distinguished Visiting Professor in Foreign Affairs, presented the audience with a warm introduction to Ms.Frechette, describing her as one of the "brightest stars in Canadian Public Service."
Frechette began her lecture by suggesting that the need for the U.N. is often questioned, as many view the organization as simply perpetuating the status quo.
She suggested when debating over reforming the U.N., that one must review the policies of the organization, the approbation of the body's resources, as well as the body's priorities.
Frechette argued that the U.N. is fully capable of reforming, and she utilized examples within the course of the history of the U.N. itself, and its evolution, to prove her case.
She began by running through a rich history of the U.N., but most of the lecture focused on the '90s as the most prominent and recent era of change for the organization.
Frechette claimed that the '90s brought with it a larger role for the U.N. in peacekeeping initiatives, as well as a proliferation of U.N. economic sanctions.
The U.N. also set up the Oil for Food program, as well as focused on creating Tribunals for War Criminals during this period. Frechette went on to discuss the U.N's current focus on combating terrorism as a major goal, recently initiating Resolution 1373, imposing obligations for countries surrounding terrorism prevention.
Presented this year by Deputy Secretary-General for the United Nations Louise Frechette. the Keith Davey Lecture has been a long tradition at Vic following its establishment in 1996. Friends and colleagues of Keith Davey, a 1949 Victoria College graduate, created the lecture to honour his service upon his retirement from the Canadian Senate.
President Gooch opened the event by stressing that he was encouraged to see so many students in the audience. Professor David Wright, the Kenneth and Patricia Taylor Distinguished Visiting Professor in Foreign Affairs, presented the audience with a warm introduction to Ms.Frechette, describing her as one of the "brightest stars in Canadian Public Service."
Frechette began her lecture by suggesting that the need for the U.N. is often questioned, as many view the organization as simply perpetuating the status quo.
She suggested when debating over reforming the U.N., that one must review the policies of the organization, the approbation of the body's resources, as well as the body's priorities.
Frechette argued that the U.N. is fully capable of reforming, and she utilized examples within the course of the history of the U.N. itself, and its evolution, to prove her case.
She began by running through a rich history of the U.N., but most of the lecture focused on the '90s as the most prominent and recent era of change for the organization.
Frechette claimed that the '90s brought with it a larger role for the U.N. in peacekeeping initiatives, as well as a proliferation of U.N. economic sanctions.
The U.N. also set up the Oil for Food program, as well as focused on creating Tribunals for War Criminals during this period. Frechette went on to discuss the U.N's current focus on combating terrorism as a major goal, recently initiating Resolution 1373, imposing obligations for countries surrounding terrorism prevention.
