united nations
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How the UN WorksHow the UN Works
Established on 24 October 1945Established on 24 October 1945
51 countries were committed to preserving 51 countries were committed to preserving peace through international cooperationpeace through international cooperation
UN Membership: 192 countriesUN Membership: 192 countries
States agree to accept obligations of the States agree to accept obligations of the UN CharterUN Charter, an international treaty that sets out , an international treaty that sets out basic principlesbasic principles
How the UN WorksHow the UN Works
According to the Charter the UN has 4 According to the Charter the UN has 4 basic principles:basic principles:
1. Maintain international peace and security1. Maintain international peace and security
2. Develop friendly relations among nations2. Develop friendly relations among nations
3. Cooperate in solving international problems 3. Cooperate in solving international problems and promote respect for human rightsand promote respect for human rights
4. Be the center for harmonizing the actions of 4. Be the center for harmonizing the actions of nations nations
How the UN WorksHow the UN Works
The UN is not a world governmentThe UN is not a world government It does not make lawsIt does not make laws Large or small, rich or poor, and with Large or small, rich or poor, and with
differing political views and social differing political views and social systems:systems:
• All member states have a voiceAll member states have a voice
• All member states have a voteAll member states have a vote
Main BodiesMain Bodies
General Assembly (New York)General Assembly (New York)
Security Council (NY)Security Council (NY)
Economic and Social Council (NY)Economic and Social Council (NY)
Trusteeship Council (NY)Trusteeship Council (NY)
Secretariat (NY)Secretariat (NY)
International Court of Justice (Netherlands)International Court of Justice (Netherlands)
General AssemblyGeneral Assembly
The main deliberative organ of the UNThe main deliberative organ of the UN Composed of all member statesComposed of all member states Each member has one vote.Each member has one vote. Decisions on important issues require two Decisions on important issues require two
thirds majority votethirds majority vote• Peace and SecurityPeace and Security• Admissions of new membersAdmissions of new members• Budget mattersBudget matters
Decisions on other issues: simple majorityDecisions on other issues: simple majority
Functions and Powers Functions and Powers
Maintain international peace and security Maintain international peace and security (disarmament)(disarmament)
Make recommendations to the Security councilMake recommendations to the Security council Promote international political cooperationPromote international political cooperation Develop international lawDevelop international law Promote human rightsPromote human rights Over see international collaboration in the Over see international collaboration in the
economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, and economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, and educational and health fieldseducational and health fields
Functions and PowersFunctions and Powers
Receive and consider reports from the Security Receive and consider reports from the Security Council and other UN organsCouncil and other UN organs
Consider and approve UN budgetConsider and approve UN budget Establish financial assessments of Member Establish financial assessments of Member
StatesStates Elect non-permanent members to SC and other Elect non-permanent members to SC and other
UN councils and organsUN councils and organs Appoint Secretary GeneralAppoint Secretary General
General AssemblyGeneral Assembly
Subsidiary OrgansSubsidiary Organs
Committee on InformationCommittee on Information
Human Rights CouncilHuman Rights Council
CandidaciesCandidacies
Security CouncilSecurity Council
Primary responsibility to maintain peace and Primary responsibility to maintain peace and securitysecurity
A representative of each member must be A representative of each member must be present at all times at the UN Headquarterspresent at all times at the UN Headquarters
15 Council Members15 Council Members Five permanent members:Five permanent members:
• ChinaChina• FranceFrance• Russian FederationRussian Federation• United KingdomUnited Kingdom• United StatesUnited States
“Non Violence”
Security CouncilSecurity Council
Ten non-permanent members elected by the General Ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two year termsAssembly for two year terms• BelgiumBelgium• Congo (Republic of the)Congo (Republic of the)• GhanaGhana• IndonesiaIndonesia• ItalyItaly• PanamaPanama• PeruPeru• QatarQatar• SlovakiaSlovakia• South AfricaSouth Africa
Each member has one voteEach member has one vote
Japanese Peace Bell
Security CouncilSecurity Council
In the event of fighting the Council:In the event of fighting the Council:• Tries to secure a ceasefireTries to secure a ceasefire• May send peace keeping missionMay send peace keeping mission• Impose economic sanctionsImpose economic sanctions• Order an arms embargoOrder an arms embargo• Rare occasions “all means necessary”Rare occasions “all means necessary”
The Council makes recommendations to the The Council makes recommendations to the General Assembly on:General Assembly on:• appointment of Secretary Generalappointment of Secretary General• admission of new Members to the UNadmission of new Members to the UN
Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council
Council has 54 membersCouncil has 54 members
• Elected by the General AssemblyElected by the General Assembly• Three year termsThree year terms
Serves as central forum for discussing Serves as central forum for discussing international economic and social issuesinternational economic and social issues
Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council
This Council is responsible for:This Council is responsible for:• Promoting higher standards of livingPromoting higher standards of living• Full employmentFull employment• Economic and social progressEconomic and social progress• Identifying solutions to international economic, Identifying solutions to international economic,
social and health problemssocial and health problems• Facilitating international cultural and Facilitating international cultural and
educational cooperationeducational cooperation• Encourage universal respect for human rights Encourage universal respect for human rights
and fundamental freedomsand fundamental freedoms
ECOSOCECOSOC
Trusteeship CouncilTrusteeship Council
Suspended operation 1 Nov, 1994Suspended operation 1 Nov, 1994 Palau: last remaining UN trust territoryPalau: last remaining UN trust territory Council amended rule to meet annuallyCouncil amended rule to meet annually Meet when required by President, General Meet when required by President, General
Assembly, Security Council or a majority of membersAssembly, Security Council or a majority of members Established to promote the advancement of Established to promote the advancement of
developing countries towards self-government or developing countries towards self-government or independence.independence.
China, France, Russian Federation, UK and USChina, France, Russian Federation, UK and US
Secretariat Secretariat
International staff working in duty stations International staff working in duty stations around the worldaround the world
Carry out diverse day to day work of the Carry out diverse day to day work of the UNUN
Survey economic and social trendsSurvey economic and social trends Prepare studies on human rights and Prepare studies on human rights and
sustainable developmentsustainable development Inform the media about work of the UNInform the media about work of the UN
SecretariatSecretariat
Organize international conferencesOrganize international conferences Interpret speechesInterpret speeches Translate documentsTranslate documents Staff 8,900 under a regular budget Staff 8,900 under a regular budget
from some 170 countriesfrom some 170 countries Take oath not to seek or receive Take oath not to seek or receive
instructions from any governmentinstructions from any government
International Court of JusticeInternational Court of Justice
Hears cases involving legal disputes Hears cases involving legal disputes among governmentsamong governments
Clarifies questions of international lawClarifies questions of international law Interprets the UN CharterInterprets the UN Charter Composed of 15 judges, elected to office Composed of 15 judges, elected to office
for 9 year terms by UN GA&SCfor 9 year terms by UN GA&SC Official languages are English and FrenchOfficial languages are English and French
Specialized AgenciesSpecialized Agencies
Linked to the UN but remain autonomous Linked to the UN but remain autonomous (independent)(independent)
ILOILO – International Labor Organization: improve – International Labor Organization: improve working conditions and employment agenciesworking conditions and employment agencies
WHOWHO – World Health Organization: solve health – World Health Organization: solve health problems, health education, immunizationsproblems, health education, immunizations
The World BankThe World Bank – provides loans and economic – provides loans and economic assistance to nationsassistance to nations
WTOWTO – World Trade Organization: oversees – World Trade Organization: oversees world tradeworld trade