October 2006 New Powers for Global Change: Brazil at the UN STEPHANIE KAGE The Brazilian government has woven a network of coalitions that stretches across continents and also bridges the North-South divide on certain topics. A founding member of the G77 1 and a strong promoter of South-South cooperation, Brazil is a driving force in the regional trade cooperation and integration, for example through MERCOSUR and the South American Community of Nations 2 . Brazil is also a member of the OAS. 3 In the UN’s political consultations, Brazil is coordinating its actions with the Rio Group 4 (e.g., peacekeeping mission in Haiti and UN reform) which established regular meetings with China and the EU. Over the last few years Brazil has significantly reduced its backing of the US-government in the General Assembly(GA). Alliances outside of Latin America have gained in significance. The Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries(CPSC) 5 was initiated in 1996. CPSC supported UN peace efforts in East Timor and in Guinea-Bissau. In 2005, President Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva invited 34 South American, Middle Eastern and North African nations as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League. Participants agreed to collaborate on numerous topics at the UN. The most prominent new example of an intercontinental Southern cooperation is the India-Brazil-South Africa(IBSA) Dialogue Forum founded in 2003. IBSA agreed to consult each other on all issues of significance in the UN and its 1 Group of 77( G77), established in 1964 at first session of UNCTAD, 131 members from developing countries 2 Mercosur(English: Southern Common Market), founded 1991, customs union of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela; associated: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. South American Community of Nations ( Mercosur and Andean Community), expected 2007. 3 Organization of American States( OAS), established in 1948, members: all 35 American countries except for Cuba. 4 Rio Group, created in 1986, members: 19 Latin American states and CARICOM(Caribbean Community); It was set up as an alternative to the OAS to avoid US-domination. 5 Members: Angola, Brazil, Capo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and Sao Tome e Principe. specialized agencies, including biodiversity, climate change, peaceful use of atomic energy, the global counter-terrorism initiative and the reform of the UN Security Council(SC). The group has overlapping interests and the power to promote common initiatives and establish links to industrialized countries. Innovative Financing Mechanisms for the fight against hunger, poverty and disease President Lula set new priorities in Brazil’s UN policy. He launched together with the Presidents of France and Chile at the United Nations the initiative”Action against Hunger and Poverty” in September 2004. Its aim is to find and implement new financing mechanisms to reach the UN Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) and to provide additional sources of finance to the official development assistance goal of 0.7%. Begun as the“Lula group,” 6 by now about 40 countries have committed themselves to support the project of “solidarity contributions,” beginning with a levy on air tickets. The proceeds and direct contributions are intended to increase access to high-quality diagnostics and drugs against Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in the poorest countries by the newly created International Drug Purchase Facility UNITAID. 7 Additionally, Brazil, India and South Africa have committed themselves to pay at least $1 million per year to the UNDP-administered IBSA Fund for public health, education, sanitation and food security projects. Brazilian Position on Other UN Reforms The current Brazilian government addresses equity and justice for instance by backing the concept of“Human security” at the UN. Brazil sees the Peacebuilding Commission as the missing link between security and development. 6 Algeria, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany and Spain. 7 UNITAID, launched in September 2006, core group: Brazil, Chile, France, Norway and the United Kingdom, WHO will host the UNITAID secretariat.