The best decisions in the world will make no difference if little happens as a result. That is why accountability is a central issue for the Millennium Assembly. The UN should have a central role in ensuring that all international decisions are in accordance with Article 1 of the UN and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN itself has to play a central role in holding all international decision-making to account, if it is to fulfil its mandate in Article 1 and the Preamble to the Charter. Each of these international bodies must account for their actions under international law and the principles of the United Nations.
Accountability can take many different forms.
It includes rulings by the World Court, scrutiny by Office of Internal Oversight and investigations by the Human Rights Commission. None of this is sufficient to bring all international decision-making into the open. The General Assembly could mandate the Secretary General to set up an independent panel of eminent 'Friends of the Secretary General' with expert support to undertake a technical review of progress made on multilateral treaties, international commitments, Article 1 of the Charter, and the development targets. It would report to the General Assembly, which could conduct hearings through the UN Economic and Social Council. Charter 99 has been sent three times to all UN delegations and to governments, but government ministers also need to get letters from as many people as possible demanding action.