[WSIS CS-Plenary] deconstructing the UN org chart

[richard jordan]

For an interesting take on the ITU, maybe only pp. 12-15, go to the report of the Joint Inspection Unit (my very favorite UN body) and see the report JIU/REP/2001/3 -- simply go to un.org and then click on welcome, the next screen in the upper right should give you search and enter that JIU report number.

Richard 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rik Panganiban" <rikp at earthlink.net>
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Subject: Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] deconstructing the UN org chart
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 15:02:12 -0400

> 
> Bill, et al,
> 
> I recall a discussion with the President of ECOSOC in July on this 
> issue of the Bretton Woods Institutions and their relationship to 
> ECOSOC.  He said that while the BWIs don't mind "coordinating" 
> their activities with ECOSOC, they don't want to "be coordinated."  
> I.e. they are happy send regular reports to ECOSOC, but don't want 
> ECOSOC telling them what to do.  I imagine the ITU has a similar 
> position.
> 
> The reality is that ECOSOC is not in a political position to impose 
> its will on other international agencies.
> 
> Rik Panganiban
> CONGO
> 
> On Aug 31, 2005, at 11:27 AM, William Drake wrote:
> 
> > Hi,
> >  
> > The UN org chart does show ITU being one of a number of 
> > organizations that are linked to ECOSOC, via a dotted line.  But 
> > the precise nature of these links are unclear.  For example, the 
> > org chart also shows the Bretton Woods orgs (World Bank, IMF, 
> > WTO) being linked to ECOSOC.  I once asked someone at WTO about 
> > that and she replied that the UN is prone to wishful thinking.  
> > In any event, I've never heard anyone at either WTO or ITU say 
> > there was any sort of real coordination, much less a reporting 
> > relationship with, the UN generally or ECOSOC specifically.  So 
> > since  I was over at ITU today, I asked the head of strategic 
> > planning in the SG's office.  Per my previous message, he said 
> > that ITU has historically had little to nothing to do with the 
> > UN, except for involvement in the COPOUS framework for peaceful 
> > uses of outer space, and now WSIS.  However, ITU does generate an 
> > annual report which is pro forma sent out to lots of relevant 
> > organizations, inter alia to the UN SG, other IGOs, and he 
> > supposed why not, ECOSOC, but that's the extent of it.  So they 
> > don't "report to" in the sense that their activities must be 
> > reviewed and approved, but they do send a courtesy copy of 'this 
> > is what we've been doing in the past year.'  Perhaps that's what 
> > the dotted line on the org chart means...?
> >  
> > Best,
> >  
> > Bill
> >  
> >> From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org 
> >> [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org] On Behalf Of John Mathiason
> >> Sent: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 15:36:02 -0400
> >> To: plenary at wsis-cs.org;
> >> Subject: : [WSIS CS-Plenary] Drastic changes to the proposed 
> >> WSIS implementation mechanisms in the new text
> >>  
> >>
> >>
> >> Jean-Louis,
> >>  
> >> All of the Specialized Agencies of the United Nations (including ITU)
> >> report to ECOSOC.  This is part of the relationship agreement into
> >> which they entered when the United Nations was founded.  Now that the
> >> WSIS has been given status as a UN conference, it also reports to the
> >> General Assembly.  Whether or not ECOSOC does anything with the
> >> reports, of course, is up to ECOSOC, but the General Assembly will be
> >> expected to act on whatever is adopted by WSIS.
> >>  
> >> Regards,
> >>  
> >> John
> >>  
> >>  
> >>  
> ===============================================
> RIK PANGANIBAN       Communications Coordinator
> Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United 
> Nations (CONGO)
> web: http://www.ngocongo.org
> email: rik.panganiban at ngocongo.org
> mobile: (+1) 917-710-5524
> 
> * Information on the WSIS at http://www.ngocongo.org/wsis
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