MATT BUONGIORNODARIYA FADEEVA

UN Basics

The General Assembly

The GA is the closest thing to a “world parliament”

It is composed of approx. 192 Member States, all of which send delegates to the GA chamber in NYC

Delegates discuss matters brought before the GA, negotiate with each other in informal caucus and give formal speeches, and write resolutions that are then passed into non-enforceable international law

The GA is divided into several committees and subcomittees

The Security Council

The SC is the UN’s enforcer, charged with the task of international peace and security

The SC has the authority to decide on matters that affect the fate of governments, establish peacekeeping operations, create tribunals to try those accused of war crimes, and in extreme cases levy economic sanctions or deploy military action

The SC is the only organ whose resolutions are legally binding

15 members, 5 permanent members (P5) w/veto power: The U.S., the U.K., France, China, Russia

The Economic and Social Council

ECOSOC undertakes investigations of social/economic issues and reports its conclusions and suggestions to other committees and UN organs for appropriate action

Its main objectives include: Promoting higher standards of living, full

employment, and economic and social progress, Identifying solutions to economic, social, and health

problems Facilitating international educational and cultural

cooperation Encouraging universal respect for human rights and

fundamental freedoms

The International Court of Justice

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the UN

It deals with trying cases between nations, not individuals (that’s the ICC)

It is concerned with settling disputes between countries in accordance with international law

The Trusteeship Council

Originally established in order to promote the progress and self-governance of trust territories, the council no longer meets since its last trust, Palau, became independent in 1994

The Secretariat

The administrative organ of the UNHeaded by the UN Secretary-GeneralOne of the most successful Secretaries-

General was Kofi Annan, who finished his second five-year term last year

Ban Ki Moon of the Republic of Korea is the current Secretary-General