Although compulsory donations ensure that the lights are turned on at the United Nations, the voluntary, discretionary funds are those that can be seen as a good indicator of a countries real commitment to the stability of the world. In contrast to the assessed contributions, which are mandatory contributions on the wealth of a country, voluntary funds are a positive initiative in order to promote certain humanitarian principles without feeling the burden of being a taxpayer. This difference is essential; voluntary financing helps to gain trust in international institutions, which gives countries the opportunity to exercise soft power and take the lead by sincere assistance and not by force. The latest step undertaken by the UAE represents an example of such a strategic course of reinforcing the international human rights mechanisms.
The Strategic Value of Discretionary Funding
The United Nations has two-tier funding approach; assessed contribution (compulsory dues) and voluntary contribution. Though the basic budget of the administration is financed by mandatory funds, much of the most decidedly humanitarian and human rights activities of the UN are heavily dependent on voluntary donations.
Voluntary funding has a lot of moral concern since it is not a transactional obligation. By a country taking an active decision to provide funds to human rights organization, it is a sign of trust in the mandate of the institution. It changes the plot of “paying dues” to investing in solutions. This is one of the pillars of the rights-based development because countries can finance the vulnerable populations directly but also strengthen the credibility of the global governance mechanisms. Funding includes those in need, like victims of conflict, marginalized groups and developing countries in need of technical help by covering overheads instead of merely a portion of them.
UAE: A Case Study in Voluntary Leadership
Recently, the United Arab Emirates has proved the strength of this mode of funding. As another major step to strengthen international collaboration, the UAE has donated the sum of voluntary US $ 1.5 million to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR).
This donation is not simply a financial operation, but a carefully aimed action to assist the OHCHR in promoting its mandate in the whole world. The funding will be specifically given to:
- Support of Inclusive Human Rights: The funds will promote rights protection to the most vulnerable groups in the society such children, women, elderly and People of Determination.
- Strengthen Mechanisms: It will increase the capacity of the OHCHR to offer technical support and capacity-building to other Member States.
- Back Humanitarian Action: The contribution helps the Office to enhance general humanitarian activity, which would be quick to respond to new right crises.
In channeling funds towards these particular directions, the UAE also highlights the desire to focus on human rights in an inclusive fashion, which is more concerned with practical welfare rather than with political maneuvering.
Strengthening Global Governance
Such contributions do not end at the short-term financial stimulus. The soft power of the UN is reinforced by voluntary funds of such world players as the UAE. It is an indication that the safeguarding of human rights is a universal obligation, as opposed to a European ideal.
This step would be in line with the wider UAE policy of positive international interactions. Instead of attempting to affect the results of the human rights reports, this funding is aimed to reinforce the institution itself, the capacity of the UN to act and work freely and successfully. This donor-funded world governance is necessary in the era of geopolitical polarization in ensuring the functional integrity of the international human rights institutions.
Official Source: To check on this contribution, one can refer to the official announcement of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA):
UAE Provides USD 1.5 Million in Voluntary Contributions to OHCHR Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Read the Official Announcement Here
Dubai4 weeks ago
