United Nations Study Guide

1
United Nations Study Guide
2
The United Nations

• Estd in 1945
• Predecessor League of Nations
• Top priority preserve peace
• HQ New York City

3
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

• From Republic of Korea (aka South Korea)
• Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade for
  ROK
• Speaks Korean, English, French

4
(No Transcript)
5
Basic structure of the UN
The Secretary General
The Security Council
The General Assembly
6
The Security Council

• Security Council decisions require unanimous
  votes
• Permanent members can veto any decision
• UN somewhat ineffective during the Cold War
• Why?
• Security Council may add permanent members
• Japan, Germany, India, Brazil would like
  permanent seats
• Why?

7
The Security Council 15 total

• 5 permanent members
• US
• United Kingdom
• Russian Federation
• Peoples Republic of China
• France
• 10 Rotating members (2 year terms)
• 2 Latin America
• 2 Africa
• 2 Asia
• 2 Europe
• 2 Middle East

• Presidency of Council rotates monthly,
  alphabetically in English
• Current Members 9/2011
• Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, Gabon,
  Germany, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, South
  Africa

8
The General Assembly

• 193 members
• Every country gets 1 seat, one vote
• Like a global town meeting
• All members pay dues
• Based on national ability to pay, a
• Meetings translated into many different languages

9
Main Missions of the UN

• Peace Security
• Prevent war through negotiation
• Peacekeeping Operations
• Monitor ceasefires, truces, etc
• Canada wrote the book
• Economic Social Development
• Rights for workers
• Working conditions
• child labor
• Migrant labor
• Rights for women, ethnic minorities
• Promoting health issues
• Water sanitation
• Nutrition
• Preventative medicine

The UN paints its peacekeeping vehicles white to
clearly identify them.
10
Main Missions of the UN

• Human Rights
• Basic rights for all should be guaranteed
• Humanitarian Affairs
• Disaster relief, aid to refugees, HIV/AIDS,
  famine, drought, flooding
• International Law
• What can we get everyone to agree to?
• Rules for
• Immigration
• Borders
• Use of waterways
• Prisoners rights
• Etc.

UN troops The Blue Helmets
11
Stats

• 1945 50 member states
• 2011 193 member states

The UN flag is light blue and shows the map of
the world surrounded by the an olive branch . -
Why the olive branch?
12
Challenges for the UN

• Taking decisive action quickly
• Members have different priorities, needs
• Decisions require compromise
• Peacekeeping forces
• Nations voluntarily contribute troops
• Troops work for UN, but also for their home
  country