UNITED NATIONS: Targeted Strategies Could Help Boost U.S. Representation

摘要

The employment of Americans in international organizations, particularly at senior and policy making levels, is a high priority for the United States, according to the U.S. Department of State. State believes that placing qualified Americans in these key positions allows U.S. citizens to become goodwill ambassadors for U.S. interests and values; brings the organizations a U.S. perspective on global needs; and provides international entities with management, administrative, and technical skills. While State plays a central role in promoting U.S. representation in the United Nations and other international organizations, it acts in collaboration with other federal agencies that have a direct interest in these international entities. To employ the nationals of U.N. member states in an equitable manner, several U.N. organizations have established employment targets for geographical representation. In 1991, the Congress enacted legislation 1 requiring the Secretary of State to report annually on whether U.N. entities with geographic targets 2 were meeting these targets. The Congress has continued to be concerned about the number of Americans employed by U.N. organizations, particularly in senior-level and policy making positions.