Meira Kumar stresses on UNSC expansion

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Monday called for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council, including an expansion in both its permanent and non-permanent membership categories.

Kumar said this while intervening in the discussion on priorities for the UN and its reform, at the second meeting of the Preparatory Committee of Speakers of Parliaments. The meeting was organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union at the United Nations in New York. The committee, incidentally, will hold its conference in New Delhi next year.

Kumar, who is in NY to address the meeting of the committee, also called for the early revitalisation of the General Assembly, and welcomed the UN's efforts for a composite entity for women's empowerment.

But in response to a question on Saturday at the Indian consulate, where she delivered a lecture -- third in the series of Distinguished Lecture series started by the Indian consulate -- Kumar parried a direct reply as to what was happening to the women's reservation bill that has been hanging fire in Parliament.

"The women's reservation bill was introduced two or three times in the past. But it is still waiting in the House for a consensus," she said in response to a question as to the status of the bill.

At the UN, however, Kumar stressed the need for concerted efforts to ensure a global partnership for development, and underscored the useful role the IPU could play towards these end.

During a session on the global economic and financial crisis and democratic accountability, she highlighted the need for reform in the Bretton Woods institutions to give greater voice to and ensure the participation of developing countries.