2005 World Summit

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The 2005 World Summit, 14–16 September 2005, was a follow-up summit meeting to the United Nations' 2000 Millennium Summit, which led to the Millennium Declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Representatives (including many leaders) of the 191 (now 192) member states met in New York City for what the United Nations described as "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take bold decisions in the areas of development, security, human rights and reform of the United Nations." <ref>The 2005 World Summit: An overview (PDF) United Nations website</ref>

The event was billed as the "largest gathering of world leaders in history," and featured appearances of numerous heads of state and heads of government. The majority of those present addressed the UN General Assembly, and gave speeches reflecting on the U.N.'s past successes and future challenges. All 191 member states gave an address in some form- if the head of state or government was not present the nation's foreign minister, vice president, or deputy prime minister usually sufficed. The meetings were presided over by the Prime Minister of Sweden, Göran Persson.

The pre-summit negotiations were blown sharply off course by the appearance in early August at the UN of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John R. Bolton, appointed as a recess appointment by U.S. President George W. Bush. The position had been vacant since January, with responsibilities handled by professional U.S. diplomats. Bolton swiftly issued a list of new demands (including dropping the use of the words "Millennium Development Goals"), which days before the summit had still not been settled. Some observers contended that on the eve of the summit the US struck a more conciliatory tone than expected,<ref> Howard LaFranchi At U.N., Bolton Softens His Tone Controversial U.S. Ambassador Taking More Conciliatory Approach CBS News September 12, 2005 (originally published in the Christian Science Monitor) </ref> something partly credited as a consequence of the outpouring of international support for the US after Hurricane Katrina.

As well as discussing progress on the Millenium Development Goals (often abbreviated as 'MDGs'), and re-iterating the world's commitment to them, the summit was convened to address the possible reform of the United Nations; much of this was eventually postponed to a later date. An exception was the endorsement of the "Responsibility to Protect" (known by the acronyms RTP and R2P), a formulation of the "right of humanitarian intervention" developed by a UN commission <ref>Annan calls for endorsement of Responsibility to Protect Human Security Policy Division, Human Security and Human Rights Bureau Foreign Affairs Canada </ref> and proposed by Kofi Annan as part of his In Larger Freedom<ref>In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all. Report of the Secretary-General. Prepared by the UN Web Services Section Department of Public Information in 2005.</ref> reform package. The "Right to Protect" gives the world community the right to intervene in the case of "national authorities manifestly failing to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity". There was also broad agreement at the summit to set up a new Human Rights Council.

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1674, adopted by the United Nations Security Council on April 28, 2006, "Reaffirm[ed] the provisions of paragraphs 138 and 139 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document regarding the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity"<ref>Resolution 1674 (2006) on the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine website</ref>

During the summit, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption received its 30th ratification, and as a result will enter into force in December 2005.

The inaugural session of the Clinton Global Initiative was held in New York City to coincide with the 2005 World Summit, and attracted many of the same world leaders.

[edit] Trivia

The World Summit was featured in the 2000 film X-Men, released 5 years before it actually took place. In the film, the Summit took place on Ellis Island and the mutant terrorist Magneto tried to mutate all the leaders with a machine he built.