Topic: 2025 – Responsibility of International Organizations
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Gavin O’Meara
Gavin O’Meara
Canada
Responsibility of International Organizations
Legal Committee
Forest Hills Central High School
In recent years, questions have arisen regarding how to hold international organizations accountable for causing unintended consequences. These consequences include the spread of disease, the death of civilians, and the disruption of economies. International organizations in the past, such as military and humanitarian operations, have saved many lives and contributed positively to the global ecosystem, so holding these organizations accountable for what they have done wrong requires overlooking all the good these organizations have caused. Therefore, many countries in the UN have disputed the role of these organizations and how to keep them accountable for their actions.
Recently, Canada has passed the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act, which deals with this issue. This act was passed with the hopes of countering harmful foreign interference by ensuring transparency in activities conducted on behalf of foreign governments, entities, or principals. This act also includes a public database that international organizations must register for, therefore improving clarity of who is doing what in other nations.
In adherence with this act, Canada would urge the UN to also create a publicly available database of international organizations wishing to impact foreign nations. The delegation of Canada believes that this will help improve the effectiveness of these organizations while also allowing the UN to closely monitor their actions. Another solution that the delegation of Canada would propose is that more preventative measures need to be taken to prevent issues arising in the future, while also helping these international organizations achieve their goals. Placing restrictions on and aiding these organizations would be more effective than attempting to punish them, as issues begin to arise regarding national sovereignty when trying to punish organizations working in other countries.
