Topic: 2025 – Responsibility of International Organizations
Country: France
Delegate Name: Lee Gerring
In recent years, the question of outlining the responsibilities of International Organizations (IOs) has been continuously brought into question. As UN bodies and other international groups continue to take on more responsibilities and roles within humanitarian work and development, the official jurisdiction in which these organizations are held accountable once harm is caused becomes difficult to fully lay out. Over time, it becomes muddy whether the responsibility lies with the organization itself, the member states that conduct the organization’s actions, or the individual carrying out the organization’s actions.
France, in particular, is in a special place when it comes to outlining the responsibilities of International Organizations. France holds a very special level of power as a top leading nation and holds itself to a belief of reformation rather than radicalization. As a member of multiple organizations, such as the European Union (EU), and a top contributor to the Official Development Assistance (ODA), France finds itself particularly implicated in what it could mean to make sure IOs understand their proper responsibilities.
France continuously does not believe that radical changes are needed to help the systems of accountability. Rather, France sees an emphasis on a realistic approach of smaller reforms to consolidate the already established systems and further strengthen them. France is under the common belief of the Rule of Law, making it certain that it believes no one or group is above the law. With this, France believes that IOs opening themselves up to more transparency of their operations will further their credibility and overall effectiveness. France has demonstrated this itself with its push for reform within the ODA to broaden its development landscape and further benefit those under the ODA’s help. France has done this by publishing detailed information on the projects being carried out by the ODA through a government portal in line with what is described as “open line” standards, including those of the International Aid Transparency Initiative. Furthermore, France vehemently supports international judicial bodies as to uphold the standards by which the world should conduct itself, such as the International Criminal Court. Similarly, France holds the EU to the same standard as they do the ODA. For example, France greatly supports the EU Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which further promotes the idea of transparency and accountability within a multinational organization. France also greatly understands the importance of sovereignty within an IO, and is taking into account the implications it may have on an IO if too much infringement is put on them in regulation, ultimately leading to a decline in influence and impact. France hopes to further outline the guidelines of which International Organizations must conduct themselves and the levels at which they must be held accountable, while also keeping the same influence that they continue to have now. France hopes to work with those with whom it conducts IOs with such as member states of the EU.
