Introduction
1 The United Nations
2 Africa: The AU and sub-regional organizations
3 Asia: ASEAN and other sub-regional institutions and proposals
4 The Americas and Europe: The OAS and OSCE
5 Conclusion: Optimism about civil society, and a proposed executive preventive role for the UN Security Council
Biography
Dr Bertrand Ramcharan of Guyana had a 33-year career at the UN, serving, among other roles, as director in the Department of Political Affairs (Africa I Division), and deputy, then acting High Commissioner for Human Rights. He wrote the first draft of Agenda for Peace, and drafted the recommendation to the secretary-general to establish the UN Preventive Deployment in FYR Macedonia. He has been chancellor of the University of Guyana, professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists. He is the author of several books, including Preventive Diplomacy at the United Nations and International Peace Conferences.
