UNITED NATIONS 101

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UNITED NATIONS 101

• An introduction to the history and structure of
  the United Nations

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United Nations Headquarters New York City
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ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS

• After World War I the League of Nations was
  established as a forum in which countries could
  peacefully arbitrate their disputes and avoid
  conflict
• The League was crippled due to the refusal of
  major nations like the US and Soviet Union to
  join as well as its inability to deal with the
  rise of expansionist fascist powers in the 1930s
• World War II made it evident that a more
  effective institution both necessary and possible
  
• Meeting in San Francisco, the United Nations
  charter was formally ratified on October 24, 1945

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UNITED NATONS EMBLEM

• Olive branches symbolize peace
• Map depicts area of concern to the United Nations

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PURPOSE OF THE UNITED NATIONS

• Maintain international peace and security
• Develop friendly relations among nations
• Cooperate in solving international problems
• Promote respect for human rights and fundamental
  freedoms
• Harmonize actions of nations toward these ends

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Principal organs OF THE UNITED nATIONS

• General Assembly
• Security Council
• Economic and Social Council
• Trusteeship Council
• International Court of Justice
• Secretariat

UN Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland
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BUDGET OF THE UNITED NATIONS

• 1.5 billion core budget (2005-06)
• Additional contributions are assessed for the
  cost of peacekeeping operations
• Total 5 billion in 2005-06
• Contributed mainly by Member States
• Each nation is assessed according to its ability
  to pay based on
• Its share of world GDP Per capita income
• US contributes 20 of UN budget
• Japan 19.6 Germany 10 France 7 UK
  6 Italy 5 Canada 3 Spain 3

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY (GA)

• Includes all 192 member states
• Usually meets from September to December
• Has the power to debate any issue brought before
  it, to set the budget, and to elect officers
• Simple majority vote required for most matters
• Two/thirds majority required for admission of new
  states and budgetary matters
• Resolutions are not binding but carry the force
  of world opinion
• Divided into 6 committees

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ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC)

• Includes 54 member states each serving a 3-year
  term
• Decisions require a simple majority
• Purposes
• Supervise UN programs, funds, commissions
• Gather and distribute data related to economic
  and social issues
• Work with non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
  to coordinate related work

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SECURITY COUNCIL

• Includes 15 member states
• Five permanent members France, China, Russia,
  UK, and US
• Ten rotating members are elected for two-year
  terms
• Most matters require approval by 9 members,
  including all 5 permanent members
• May initiate investigations, impose sanctions,
  and instigate military action
• All member states must accept and implement
  Council decisions

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Security Council Reform

• Possible new permanent members
• Japan
• Germany
• India
• Brazil
• Muslim nation
• African nation
• Pro New members can represent the concerns of
  previously neglected civilizations
• Con A large SC with more veto nations can make
  the Council slow cumbersome

• China, France, Russia, United Kingdom United
  States each have permanent status and veto power
• Reformers wish to add more nations with permanent
  status and/or veto power

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INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ)

• Located in The Hague, Netherlands
• Charged with settling disputes between states and
  giving advisory opinions on legal questions to UN
  agencies
• Composed of 15 judges of different nationalities
• Elected to 9-year terms by the General Assembly
  and Security Council
• Has issued 74 judgments since 1946
• Issues include right of asylum, non-interference
  in the internal affairs of states,
  hostage-taking, and territorial sovereignty

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SECRETARIAT

• Administrative/Executive body of the UN
• Composed of 9,000 international civil servants
• Headed by the Secretary-General who is appointed
  by the General Assembly for a 5-year term
• Kofi Annon is present Sec Gen
• Responsible for the daily functions of the UN
• Administering peacekeeping operations
• Translating official documents

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INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (IGO)

• Institutions composed of governments, which give
  them authority to make collective decisions to
  manage particular problems on the global agenda
• Examples
• International Labor Organization (ILO)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• European Union (EU)
• International Criminal Court (ICC)
• World Bank
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)

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International Criminal court (icc)

• Established at the Rome Conference in 1998
• Has the power to try those responsible for the
  most serious crimes of concern to the
  international community, including war crimes,
  genocide, and crimes against humanity
• Presently hearing cases involving war criminals
  from Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and
  Darfur, Sudan
• US refuses to ratify ICC treaty for fears of
  politically-motivated prosecution of US officials

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WORLD BANK

• Established in 1944 to fund the reconstruction of
  Europe
• Lending agency that directs its efforts toward
  reducing poverty by promoting sustainable
  economic growth for nations in need of assistance
• Lends money for school, road, electricity, health
  and communication projects
• Focus on reducing national debt, educating
  citizens, and stabilizing fragile economies
• Has been criticized in the developing world for
  forcing nations to cut spending and raise taxes

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INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)

• Established in 1946
• Promotes free trade and monitors the global
  economy
• Seeks to mitigate problems such as large trade
  and budget deficits
• Seeks to establish a collective economic policy
  through temporary financing, administering loans,
  and monitoring currency policies
• Lends money to governments that agree to
  implement policies such as removing trade
  barriers, increasing exports, paying off debt,
  and promoting foreign investment through
  privatization and deregulation
• Criticized for mandating measures that hinder
  nations from developing domestic industries and
  services

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UN CHILDRENS FUND (UNICEF)

• Provides long-term developmental and humanitarian
  assistance to children and mothers in developing
  countries
• Major goals
• Educating girls
• Immunization
• Child protection from abuse exploitation
• Fighting HIV
• Early childhood health care

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World Health Organization (WHO)

• Goals
• Combat disease
• Coordinate international efforts to monitor
  outbreaks
• Promote healthy lifestyle choices
• Relies on voluntary contributions