United States Policy toward the United Nations: a Dossier

Key U.S. Policy Priorities

President Bush’s Speech to U.N. General Assembly (2007-09-25) On Tuesday, President Bush said, "Sixty years ago, representatives from 16 nations gathered to begin deliberations on a new international bill of rights. The document they produced is called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- and it stands as a landmark achievement in the history of human liberty. It opens by recognizing "the inherent dignity" and the "equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family" as "the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world." And as we gather for this 62nd General Assembly, the standards of the Declaration must guide our work in this world." With the commitment and courage of this chamber, we can build a world where people are free to speak, assemble, and worship as they wish; a world where children in every nation grow up healthy, get a decent education, and look to the future with hope; a world where opportunity crosses every border. America will lead toward this vision where all are created equal, and free to pursue their dreams. This is the founding conviction of my country. It is the promise that established this body. And with our determination, it can be the future of our world. more

The United States is a strong supporter of the United Nations and is committed to strengthening the world body so that it can be more effective in dealing with the challenges of the 21st Century. U.S. priorities for both center on development, democracy and human rights, counterterrorism and security and U.N. reform. The U.S. delegation will be working to have those issues reflected prominently in the summit final document and strong resolutions during the three-month major work session of the assembly.

A very top priority is management reform -- very practical management reforms that would apply to any major organization, not just the U.N.. As the United Nations engages in a critical debate on how to reform itself for the future, the United States has designated seven key priorities to ensure the organization that emerges will be strong, effective and accountable. The United States is prepared to help lead the effort to strengthen and reform the UN. Key issues: Budget, Management, and Administrative Reform; Peace Building Commission; Human Rights Council; Democracy Initiatives and the UN Democracy Fund; Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism; Development more

United States Generously Supports the United Nations The U.S. contributed well over $3 billion to the U.N. in '04. "We remain strongly supportive to ensuring the U.N. has the resources it needs." more

United Nations Has Key Role in Promoting Democracy, U.S. Says The United States wants the United Nations to assume a more important role in the promotion of democracy around the world and it sees the U.N. Democracy Fund as a way to achieve that goal. The Democracy Caucus at the United Nations is a vehicle for democratic countries to advance the United Nations’ work on rule-of-law issues and human-rights matters as well as the pursuit of good governance. The United States also supports U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s initiative to replace the existing Commission on Human Rights with a proactive Human Rights Council. The new council would not include member states with a record of human-rights abuse. more

The Founding of the United Nations
A new historical background paper describes the U.S. and the founding of the United Nations.
 

Major US Government Statements

A select list of major statements On the United States and Iraq with policy value.

• Obama at U.N. Security Council Summit on Nuclear Disarmament (2009-09-24)
• President Obama’s Address to U.N. General Assembly (2009-09-23)
• Secretary Clinton’s Speech in Advance of U.N. General Assembly (2009-09-18)
• United States “Ready to Lead Once More” at United Nations (2009-08-14)
• American Envoy Pledges Renewed Commitment to United Nations (2009-01-26)

Latest US Government Statements

The five most recent statements in reverse chronological order. 

• Women’s Issues to Be Major Focus of U.S. Policy (2009-09-25) ...
• Obama at U.N. Security Council Summit on Nuclear Disarmament (2009-09-24) ...
• U.N. Security Council Resolution 1887 (2009-09-24) ...
• Ambassador Rice on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament (2009-09-24) ...
• Articles on the United Nations (2009-09-24) ...

US Government Fact Sheets

The five most recent fact sheets.

• U.N. Security Council Resolution on Nuclear Disarmament (2009-09-24)
• Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century (2008-09-23)
• UN Security Council Resolution on Iran’s Nuclear Program (2008-04-08)
• United States' Continued Call for U.N. Management Reform (2007-09-24)  
• United States Response to Darfur Crisis (2007-09-24)