Suchergebnisse

The Annual Report of the Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1954, was transmitted to the Chairman of the Board of Governors on July 1, 1954. During the period under review, the report noted, important steps toward currency convertibility had been taken in several countries, notably Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands, and United Kingdom; restrictions on dollar imports had been lightened, exports of domestic capital had been freer, and more reliance had been placed on the regulative powers of the price mechanism. The easing of restrictions had gone hand in hand with an improvement in the world balance of payments equilibrium, and a reversal, during 1953, of the downward trend in the volume of world trade which had appeared early in 1952. Sound fiscal and monetary policies had improved the competitive position of Europe which had experienced smore stable prices and less inflationary pressure; the report cautioned that the coincidence, up to mid-1953, of a high level of business activity in the United States with slack demand conditions in western Europe had been a purely fortuitous aid in improving the latter's balance of payments position. Progress toward convertibility had been made possible by a general improvement in economic conditions; however, problems would be involved in taking further steps toward convertibility. Among these were: (1) the problem of controlling international movements of capital, and (2) the importance of having countries whose balance of payments position was weak, as well as those with a stronger position, move concurrently towards convertibility.

International Labor ConferenceThe 38th session of the Conference of the International Labor Organization (ILOs) was held in Geneva from June 1 to 23, 1955, under the presidency of Mr. García Odini (Chile). The Conference had before it the annual report of the Director-General (Morse), the main theme of which was labor-management relations in the developing industrial society. After the selection committee had submitted its proposals on the composition of committees, a spokesman for the employers' delegations of Albania, Bulgaria, Byelorussia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, the Ukraine, and the Soviet Union stated that the majority of the employers' group had discriminated against them and violated their rights as delegates by not including them in the lists of prospective members of committees which the employers' group had furnished the selection committee. On the request of the spokesman, a vote was taken on the lists in question; the lists were adopted by votes ranging from 124 to 139 in favor, 26 to 31 opposed, and 25 to 37 abstentions. It was later proposed by the selection committee that the eight employers' delegates who had not been chosen to sit on committees be given seats as deputy members. However, Mr. Chajn (government delegate, Poland) moved that the selection committee's proposals be amended so as to give the delegates seats as full members. Mr. McGrath (employers' delegate, United States) stated "…that no member of the United States Employers' delegation would sit on any committee with a so-called Employers' delegate or adviser from an Iron Curtain country.

The Annual Report of the Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1954, was transmitted to the Chairman of the Board of Governors on July 1, 1954. During the period under review, the report noted, important steps toward currency convertibility had been taken in several countries, notably Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands, and United Kingdom; restrictions on dollar imports had been lightened, exports of domestic capital had been freer, and more reliance had been placed on the regulative powers of the price mechanism. The easing of restrictions had gone hand in hand with an improvement in the world balance of payments equilibrium, and a reversal, during 1953, of the downward trend in the volume of world trade which had appeared early in 1952. Sound fiscal and monetary policies had improved the competitive position of Europe which had experienced more stable prices and less inflationary pressure; the report cautioned that the coincidence, up to mid-1953, of a high level of business activity in the United States with slack demand conditions in western Europe had been a purely fortuitous aid in improving the latter's balance of payments position. Progress toward convertibility had been made possible by a general improvement in economic conditions; however, problems would be involved in taking further steps toward convertibility. Among these were: 1) the problem of controlling international movements of capital, and 2) the importance of having countries whose balance of payments position was weak, as well as those with a stronger position, move concurrently towards convertibility.

A report of the activities of the International Materials Conference during its first operative year was issued in March 1952. Concerning the accomplishments of IMC during the preceding year the report stated, "The major accomplishment … was the development of plans for international distribution of the materials in short supply and securing their prompt acceptance by the participating countries". The plans for the distribution of metals recognized three categories of needs, namely: 1) defense, 2) strategic stockpiling, and 3) essential civilian consumption. These allocation plans, which were to be administered by the member countries, the IMC not having actual materials at its disposal for direct distribution, were designed to include the total production at the disposal of the member countries, and the report stated that, for the most part, the allocations had been carried out as planned. In many cases the commodity committees also recommended to their members the adoption of conservation and end-use control measures for those commodities. The report also noted an increase in market stability and a downward trend in prices during the preceding period. In discussing plans for the ensuing year, the report anticipated continued shortages, necessitating plans for distribution, in the commodities with which IMC dealt. However, it held, the activities of the various committees would gradually take on a more long term character as the immediately pressing problems were solved, and "In the field of production, studies of future requirements and probable availabilities, based upon programs for increasing production already under way, will be required."

The seventh annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund was held jointly with the Board of Governors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Mexico City, Mexico, September 3 through 12, 1952, under the chairmanship of the Governors for Brazil, Eugenio Gudin and Horacio Lafer. Presenting the seventh annual re-port of the Fund, the Managing Director (Rooth) stated that the payments problem had persisted for so long and was so little understood that the public might lose interest in its solution, but that with positive measures by the deficit and surplus countries, he believed the problem could be solved. After remarking that it could not be solved by "retreating behind a network of restrictions and discriminations", he expressed concern with the recent spread in western Europe of dollar retention systems and similar arrangements. In the subsequent discussions of the policies and activities of the Fund as reported in the annual report, many Governors emphasized the importance of proper credit and budget policies in solving payments difficulties; some mentioned the need to recognize the responsibility of the surplus countries in restoring payments balance, it being suggested that joint discussions between surplus and deficit nations be held with the Fund; a number referred to the need for a clearer policy on the use of the Fund's resources, emphasizing the payments problems which arose in underdeveloped countries when there was a sudden depression in world markets; and several spoke about the price of gold.

The ninth and final session of the International Refugee Organization's General Council was held in Geneva from February 11 to 16, 1952. All but two (China and Iceland) of the member states were represented at the session, as were observers of six non-member states, the Holy See, the United Nations, the International Labor Organization, the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Having elected officers for the session and having approved the report on the eighth session, the General Council received and considered, from the acting chairman of the Eligibility Review Board, a report covering the period from July 1 to December 31, 1951; during which time 2,606 decisions were made after 1,086 appellants had received personal interviews. The acting chairman revealed that during the entire life of the board 21,906 personal hearings had been given and 36,742 decisions had been made involving approximately 80,000 persons, with the eligibility criteria for IRO services — under the policy guidance of the Executive Committee and General Council — becoming more and more lenient as the operation progressed. The acting chairman of the board, having outlined to the council the reasons why it was still useful for refugees in Germany and elsewhere to be determined eligible for IRO services despite the fact that IRO had ceased to grant such services, stated that the board would finalize as many outstanding appeals as possible before it ceased to exist on February 15, 1952.

Meeting in its 110th session in Mysore, India, the ILO Governing Body completed action on a number of projects designed to extend, in cooperation with the United Nations, technical assistance to economically under-developed areas. The Governing Body also authorized the Director-General (Morse) to raise with the Trusteeship Council a number of questions arising out of the reports of the administering authorities and relating to the applicability of ILO conventions and recommendations in trust territories. At the same session, the Governing Body approved procedures for the establishment of a nine-member commission to examine infringements of trade union rights, the first international fact-finding and conciliation commission on freedom of association. The members of the commission, to be chosen "for their personal qualifications" and expected to "discharge their duties with complete independence," were to be selected by the Governing Body at its 111th session, to convene in Geneva on March 8, 1950. The commission was created in accordance with a request of the Economic and Social Council of August 1949 and was to function on behalf of the United Nations as well as the ILO. The Governing Body defined the commission as "essentially a fact-finding body" which was also authorized to consult with the government or governments concerned "with a view to securing the adjustment of difficulties by agreement." Complaints alleging the violation of trade union rights were to be referred to the commission by either the Governing Body or the International Labor Conference.

Accountability is critical in international policing. In order to be able to carry out its policing mandates, the UN needs to have competent and disciplined police officers subject to the rule of law. The UN has undertaken a host of measures to enhance accountability post reports of sexual exploitation and abuse in West African refugee camps in 2003. While prevention of misconduct is key, significant deficiencies remain in the legal framework for the accountability of UN police serving in post conflict countries. The UN needs to continue its work with Member States to close legal loopholes and ensure the accountability of its police so as to strengthen its ability to carry out its policing mandates. Further, the responsibility of the Organization may be incurred in respect of the acts and omissions of its police personnel.