In 2005, to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Organization, a research group co-ordinated by Dr. Antonio Blanc Altemir, Professor of International Law and International Relations at the University of Lleida, was formed. The group’s main objective was to research and discuss, from today’s perspective, major issues raised by the always unfinished and pending reform of the Organization, in view of the forthcoming World Summit in New York, in September of that year.

The occasion was propitious, because the expectations raised by the Summit, which was to bring together many Heads of State and Government, were certainly noteworthy. Reports from the High Level Group and the then Secretary General, Kofi Annan, had provided a very significant degree of specificity to the reform proposals. Also, the relevancy of carrying them out was more compelling than ever, following on from the deep divisions created by the Iraq crisis and its consequences. Several years later, we can say that the historic opportunity presented by the World Summit, was not availed of. However, it did lay the groundwork for further deepening of the reform process.

The research group, consisting of nineteen professors from Spanish, Italian and French Universities, was recognised in 2009 as a Consolidated Research Group by the Generalitat de Cataluña’s Agencia de Gestión de Ayudas Universitarias y de Investigación (AGAUR) [University Funding and Research Management Agency] and has carried out a series of activities over these years, including the organization of eight working sessions on the reform, as well as various publications on this subject.

Dr. Antonio Blanc Altemir
IP del Grupo de Investigación: La reforma de las Naciones Unidas

 

Location: C/ Jaume II, núm.73, Despacho 2.30 de la Facultat de Dret i Economia de Lleida (Campus de Cappont).

Telephone: 973.70.32.85