NEWSLETTER ARTICLE: Seven Goals in 2009 - Progress Report

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RATIFYING THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA

The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) sets environmental, security, and economic standards for the world's seas. Without such standards, disputes over the oceans and their resources are inevitable. Our longstanding efforts have ensured that the State Department's current Treaty Priorities List features UNCLOS. In June, Citizens for Global Solutions led a national action campaign on World Oceans Day to urge President Obama to publicly support prompt ratification of UNCLOS. That day, members from 15 national organizations contacted the White House through thousands of calls, emails, and social networking tools.

WORKING FOR AN EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established to bring accountability and justice to the perpetrators of the world's most heinous crimes. Earlier this year the ICC began its first trial, a trial of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga for the recruitment of child soldiers. Also this year, the ICC issued a warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, the first warrant for war crimes issued against a sitting head of state.

110 countries have joined the ICC, but the U.S. has not. To build support for the ICC in the U.S., Citizens for Global Solutions has met with government officials, staged radio tours, and hosted the Court's President, Philippe Kirsch, in Washington. On International Justice Day, CGS and Senator Christopher Dodd (DCT) sponsored a briefing to educate Hill staff about the ICC. Senator Dodd and Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) are working to sponsor bills for U.S. to support the ICC and to take steps to eventually join the Court.

STEPPING UP U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN GLOBAL PEACEKEEPING

U.S. support for global peacekeeping missions benefits our security and economic interests. Citizens for Global Solutions has advocated increased U.S. engagement in peacekeeping forces. With our support, the U.S. has recently paid arrearages on U.N. peacekeeping assessments (see below). We were encouraged when U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice announced that the U.S. "is willing to consider directly contributing more military observers, military staff officers, civilian police, and other civilian personnel -- including women -- to U.N. peacekeeping operations." We continue our work to keep U.S. peacekeeping contributions on the agenda.

PROMOTING A WORLD WITHOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Citizens for Global Solutions continues to educate about and build support for nuclear non-proliferation and arms reduction. President Obama has expressed support for the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and for the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), two multilateral treaties endorsed by CGS. We are following developments on the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) between the U.S. and Russia, a treaty that needs to be renewed by 2010. The two countries have already agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals by a third.

PROMOTING EQUITABLE POLICIES ON CLIMATE CHANGE

The harmful effects of climate change become clearer as they become more devastating. As countries prepare to meet in Copenhagen this December to negotiate the terms of an international environmental agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, the need for significant domestic action grows. The House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill, which is a good start, but we believe that the Senate must pass an even stronger piece of legislation. Scientific studies show that, to reverse the damaging effects of global warming, carbon emissions must be reduced by 25 - 40% of 1990 levels by 2020; Waxman-Markey only calls for a 5 - 17% reduction. We are using our resources to push for the speedy passage and strengthening of this bill.

RESTORING HUMAN RIGHTS

With our support and the advocacy of other groups, the U.S. pursued and won a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council. Citizens for Global Solutions has also advocated for U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which 186 countries have joined. On Women's Equality Day, August 26, 2009, we participated in promoting CEDAW as part of the Alliance for CEDAW Ratification. This fall, to further our efforts to stop torture, Citizens for Global Solutions is releasing our book, Faithful Against Torture, a collection of essays by religious leaders explaining the major faiths' opposition to torture.

CHAMPIONING A MORE EFFECTIVE AND EMPOWERED UNITED NATIONS

Citizens for Global Solutions actively backed the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Bill, which pays past U.S. debt to the U.N. -- a goal we have been pursuing for years. We contacted Congressmen and met with high level officials, aiding the bill's passage in June. To protect against the occurrence of mass atrocities, we have circulated a white paper explaining that the principle of "Responsibility to Protect" -- a concept agreed to by all nations -- should extend to the use of the veto in the U.N. Security Council.