The United Nations and ECLAC at the half-century mark of the Organization

The Executive Secretary shares some considerations on the balance of the first 50 years of the United Nations and ECLAC, and the possible course that both organizations may follow during the next half-a-century. He specially emphasizes that the central objetives of the United Nations express universal values that can hardly be opposed, as they never lose their validity and cannot give rise to major disagreement. He also mentions the three major areas that give rise to discrepancies: the adaptation of the Organization's objectives to the present-day context; the way responsibilities are shared between the Secretariat and member governments; and the efficiency and effectiveness displayed in seeking to achieve the proposed goals. In his balance, he refers to ECLAC as a microcosm within the United Nations system, whose action is limited to the economic and social spheres, concluding that it has reached high relevance and pertinence, since, in its pioneering years, ECLAC had an undeniable impact on the concept and praxis of public policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, and this influence is all the more noteworthy because it came from its analytical work. He examines the specific components which have made possible the Commission's relative success during these years: identification of a function through which to be of benefit to the member governments; second, shaping of an "institutional message" and personality of its own; third, maintainance of its validity over the years by adapting to the changes taking place in its institutional context; fourth, success in establishing a lively and creative form of interaction with member governments; and lastly, constant concern to keep up high standards of quality and performance. These same components now offer alternatives to the reform of the United Nations as a whole, since it is important to identify its flaws and shortcomings, with a view to making the changes needed to allow it to face the challenges of the next fifty years. There is therefore every reason to face the future with serene optimism and faith that, as the next century draws near, the Organization will keep on fulfilling the purposes for which it was created.