US Congress approves bill on UN reform

The US Congressional House International Relations Committee, on June 8, approved a bill by Committee Chairman Henry J. Hyde that calls for specific reforms at the United Nations.

"No observer, be they passionate supporter or dismissive critic, can pretend that the current structure and operations of the U.N. represent an acceptable standard," Hyde said after introducing the bill -- the U.N. Reform Act of 2005.

The measure, which passed in the committee by a vote of 25 to 22, includes several critical proposals which would:

-- Allow the United States to withhold dues payments if the United Nations does not make a series of operational reforms.

-- Change the funding from mandatory assessments to voluntary contributions for 18 U.N. programs.

-- Create an independent oversight board, as well as establish a U.N. Office of Ethics.

-- Require detailed financial disclosures for top U.N. officials to prevent such financial conflicts of interest as were revealed in the Oil-for-Food Program investigation.

-- Prohibit membership on the Human Rights Commission for any country that is under U.N. investigation for human rights violations.

-- Require new audits, qualification standards, and a code of conduct for U.N. peacekeeping missions.