The United NationsThe United Nations

AimsAims::

Identify the aims of the United Identify the aims of the United NationsNations

The key role played by the General The key role played by the General Assembly and Security Council.Assembly and Security Council.

How the UN deals with conflicts.How the UN deals with conflicts.

The United NationsThe United Nations

Established in 1945Established in 1945

193 countries are members193 countries are members

It aims to maintain international It aims to maintain international peace and security and promote peace and security and promote friendly relations between friendly relations between countries.countries.

The Structure of the UNThe Structure of the UN

General AssemblyGeneral AssemblyAll countries are represented All countries are represented and have one vote each. This isand have one vote each. This iswhere member countries discusswhere member countries discussand make decisions.and make decisions.

Security CouncilSecurity CouncilDeals with any threat to global Deals with any threat to global peace and security. It has five peace and security. It has five permanent members permanent members – – China, France, Russia, UK and USA.China, France, Russia, UK and USA.These five countries have the These five countries have the power to veto decisions.power to veto decisions.

The Head of the UNThe Head of the UN

The UN is headed by the Secretary-The UN is headed by the Secretary-General.General.

This is currently Ban Ki-Moon from This is currently Ban Ki-Moon from South Korea.South Korea.

He is the main spokesperson for the UN He is the main spokesperson for the UN and will often be directly involved in and will often be directly involved in trying to resolve conflicts between trying to resolve conflicts between countries.countries.

Organisation of the UNOrganisation of the UN RoleRole

Carries out the day by Carries out the day by day work of the UN day work of the UN administering policies administering policies and programmes.and programmes.

Settles legal questions Settles legal questions from member countries.from member countries.

Maintains international Maintains international peace and security. peace and security. Deals with any conflicts Deals with any conflicts that arise.that arise.

Parliament of the UN. Parliament of the UN. Each country has one Each country has one vote.vote.

Coordinates work of UN Coordinates work of UN agencies.agencies.

Dealing With ConflictDealing With Conflict

When dealing with a conflict the UN security When dealing with a conflict the UN security council has a number of options:council has a number of options:

Fact-finding Missions – assess a situation Fact-finding Missions – assess a situation then try to mediate between countries.then try to mediate between countries.Military ObserversMilitary ObserversEconomic Sanctions – UN members refuse Economic Sanctions – UN members refuse to trade with an aggressive countryto trade with an aggressive countryArms Sanctions – UN members refuse to Arms Sanctions – UN members refuse to sell weapons to an aggressive countrysell weapons to an aggressive countryPeacekeeping Operation.Peacekeeping Operation.

UN PeacekeepersUN Peacekeepers

Known as the ‘Blue Berets’Known as the ‘Blue Berets’Drawn from armed forces of member Drawn from armed forces of member countries.countries.Authorised by the Security CouncilAuthorised by the Security CouncilTheir role is to keep the peace and help Their role is to keep the peace and help create conditions for a lasting peace e.g. create conditions for a lasting peace e.g. helping a country to have a stable helping a country to have a stable elections, police force etc.elections, police force etc.Can only take military action in self-Can only take military action in self-defence or to protect civilians.defence or to protect civilians.

UNMISS 2011

UNAMID 2007

MONUSC0

2010

UN Peacekeeping Operations

MONUSCO (2011) – Democratic Republic of MONUSCO (2011) – Democratic Republic of

CongoCongo

The country has struggled to recover from civil The country has struggled to recover from civil

war. UN peacekeepers have helped aid to get war. UN peacekeepers have helped aid to get

through. Mine action experts have helped to through. Mine action experts have helped to

deal with unexploded mines. The country is deal with unexploded mines. The country is still still

unstable – UN peacekeepers are helping to unstable – UN peacekeepers are helping to

protect civilians and support a more stable protect civilians and support a more stable

government.government.

Current Peacekeeping Current Peacekeeping OperationsOperations

Current Peacekeeping Current Peacekeeping OperationsOperations

UNMISS – UN Mission in the UNMISS – UN Mission in the

Republic of South SudanRepublic of South Sudan

In 2003 a twenty year civil war In 2003 a twenty year civil war

came to an end. In 2011 South came to an end. In 2011 South

Sudan declared its independence Sudan declared its independence

– – UN peacekeepers are helping UN peacekeepers are helping

this new country to establish this new country to establish

stable government.stable government.

Current Peacekeeping Current Peacekeeping OperationsOperations

UNAMID – United Nations and African UNAMID – United Nations and African Mission in DarfurMission in Darfur..

In 2003 civil war broke out in the In 2003 civil war broke out in the Darfur region of Sudan.Darfur region of Sudan.A rebel group began to attack the A rebel group began to attack the government and accused them of government and accused them of discriminating against Black Africans in discriminating against Black Africans in favour of Arabs.favour of Arabs.2.7 million people have fled their 2.7 million people have fled their homes and live in refugee camps – an homes and live in refugee camps – an estimated 400,000 have died from estimated 400,000 have died from war, famine and disease.war, famine and disease.The ‘Jangaweed’ Arab horsemen have The ‘Jangaweed’ Arab horsemen have been slaughtering men and raping been slaughtering men and raping women. It has been claimed the women. It has been claimed the government has supported this and government has supported this and was trying to wipe out Black Africans in was trying to wipe out Black Africans in the region.the region.

Current Peacekeeping Current Peacekeeping OperationsOperations

UNAMID – United Nations and UNAMID – United Nations and African Mission in DarfurAfrican Mission in Darfur..

• Peacekeeping troops were Peacekeeping troops were sent in by the African sent in by the African Union.Union.

• In January 2008, UNAMID a In January 2008, UNAMID a joint African Union – UN joint African Union – UN peacekeeping mission took peacekeeping mission took over.over.

• A ceasefire was agreed in A ceasefire was agreed in November 2008. However November 2008. However the situation is far from the situation is far from stable.stable.

• UN peacekeepers have UN peacekeepers have helped to provide helped to provide humanitarian help (aid) humanitarian help (aid) and protect human rights and protect human rights and the rule of law.and the rule of law.