Progress in UN reforms reported; follow-up to 'Group of 18.' (includes related articles)

Progress in UN reforms reported

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar on 26 April reported that despite unfavourable circumstances resulting from the Organization's financial crisis, progress had been made in the United Nations reform process set in motion in 1985 by the "Group of 18" intergovernmental experts.

He cited significant changes in both organizational structure and work methods with consolidation of similar activities, clearer lines of responsibility, better co-ordination, and better tools to enable managers to discharge their responsibilities more effectively in the context of a streamlined Secretariat.

The Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts to Review the Efficiency of the Administrative and Financial Functioning of the United Nations--the "Group of 18"--had formulated 71 recommendations (A/41/49), the implementation of which was approved in the landmark General Assembly resolution 41/213 on 19 December 1986. Among other things, these urged a 15 per cent reduction in staff over a three-year period and approval of the programme budget by consensus.

The Secretary-General had originally proposed abolition of 1,465 posts--13 per cent--by the end of 1989. The General Assembly in 1988 decided that 12.1 per cent of posts under the regular budget should be cut by that deadline.

Mr. Perez de Cuellar said he considered his April 1989 report (A/44/222) a "factual review" of all actions taken by him since 1 January 1987 to implement resolution 41/213, taking into consideration subsequent instructions from and actions by the General Assembly.

Technological innovations, improved management procedures, consolidation of programmes and units, and rigorous standards for recruitment should, if actively supported by Member States, enhance the productivity and efficiency of a smaller Secretariat, he reported.

Special measures to improve the status of women in the Secretariat had been undertaken. The number of women promoted to decision- and policy-making levels had increased substantially. Training programmes in the areas of office automation, management and supervisory training deserved priority.

Official travel costs had...