United NationsUnited NationsGlobal IssuesGlobal Issues

THE UNITED NATIONSTHE UNITED NATIONS1.1. How UN came into existence.How UN came into existence.

2.2. Atlantic Charter.Atlantic Charter.

3.3. Declaration by United Nations.Declaration by United Nations.

4.4. United Nations Day.United Nations Day.

5.5. Aim of UNAim of UN

6.6. Who/ What/ Where of UNWho/ What/ Where of UN

7.7. Organs of UNOrgans of UN

8.8. Achievements Achievements

9.9. India in UNIndia in UN

THE UNITED NATIONSTHE UNITED NATIONS 2020thth century witnessed two destructive century witnessed two destructive

war.war. 1914-1918: World War I1914-1918: World War I Need of international organization for Need of international organization for

peace.peace. League of Nations was born.League of Nations was born.

Primary AimPrimary Aim

THE UNITED NATIONSTHE UNITED NATIONS 1939 – 45 World War II1939 – 45 World War II Most terrible. Towns cities were razed to Most terrible. Towns cities were razed to

ground.ground. In this war atom bombs were used for the In this war atom bombs were used for the

first time.first time.

THE UNITED NATIONSTHE UNITED NATIONS During the course of war efforts were During the course of war efforts were

made to establish an international made to establish an international Organization.Organization.

In the year 1941 British PM and US In the year 1941 British PM and US President met aboard battleship President met aboard battleship somewhere in Atlantic Ocean. This somewhere in Atlantic Ocean. This declaration came to be known as Atlantic declaration came to be known as Atlantic Charter. They agreed that after war Charter. They agreed that after war mankind must have some guaranteed mankind must have some guaranteed basic rights. basic rights.

THE UNITED NATIONSTHE UNITED NATIONS Four basic freedom :-Four basic freedom :-

1.1. The freedom from want.The freedom from want.

2.2. Freedom of speech.Freedom of speech.

3.3. Freedom of religious belief.Freedom of religious belief.

4.4. Freedom from fear.Freedom from fear.

United Nations DayUnited Nations Day

1945 conference at Yalta in Russia.1945 conference at Yalta in Russia. Membership was open to all peace loving Membership was open to all peace loving

states.states. 1945 : In April, 50 nations met at San 1945 : In April, 50 nations met at San

Francisco and on 26 June last day of Francisco and on 26 June last day of conference UN Charter was signed.conference UN Charter was signed.

24 Oct. Charter came into force and this 24 Oct. Charter came into force and this day was known as day was known as United Nation Day.United Nation Day.

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 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 5 According to the Charter the UN has 5

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

4.4. Be the center for harmonizing the actions of Be the center for harmonizing the actions of nations nations

5.5. Save succeeding generations and humanity Save succeeding generations and humanity from war.from war.

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

W’s of UNW’s of UN Membership:Membership:

1.1. Peace loving nations. Ready to accept UN Peace loving nations. Ready to accept UN charter.charter.

2.2. Admission made by General Assembly on Admission made by General Assembly on recommendation of Security Council.recommendation of Security Council.

3.3. Members can be expelled by General Members can be expelled by General Assembly on recommendation of Security Assembly on recommendation of Security Council.Council.

W’s of UNW’s of UN Language:Language:

1.1. French and English are commonly French and English are commonly used language.used language.

2.2. Official languages are E.F.R.C.A.S.Official languages are E.F.R.C.A.S.

3.3. Speeches of delegates are translated Speeches of delegates are translated in all these languagesin all these languages..

W’s of UNW’s of UN Finance:Finance:

Contribution of member state.Contribution of member state.

Rich states contributes more then the Rich states contributes more then the poor states.poor states.

W’s of UNW’s of UN Headquarters Headquarters :: Official HQ is in N.Y. 39 storey building.Official HQ is in N.Y. 39 storey building.

Flag:Flag:

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 securityMaintain international peace and security Make recommendations to the Security councilMake recommendations to the Security council Promote international political cooperationPromote international political cooperation 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

Appoint Secretary GeneralAppoint Secretary General

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 Members (5 + 10)15 Council Members (5 + 10) Five permanent members:Five permanent members:

• ChinaChina• FranceFrance• Russian FederationRussian Federation• United KingdomUnited Kingdom• United StatesUnited States

“Non Violence”

Security CouncilSecurity Council

Permanent member enjoys Permanent member enjoys vetoveto power. power.

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

The composition of the Security Council The composition of the Security Council does not reflect present day realitiesdoes not reflect present day realities

Britain and France are members of the Security Britain and France are members of the Security Council only because they were victors in Council only because they were victors in World War 2. Should they still be there?World War 2. Should they still be there?

Similarly, Japan, the world’s second largest Similarly, Japan, the world’s second largest economy is not a Security Council member. economy is not a Security Council member.

Efforts to expand Security Council membership Efforts to expand Security Council membership have failed because countries cannot decide on have failed because countries cannot decide on how it should be done.how it should be done.

Probable candidates: Japan, India, Brazil and Probable candidates: Japan, India, Brazil and one African country (Nigeria?)one African country (Nigeria?)

In more than 50 years, the UN Security In more than 50 years, the UN Security Council has only authorized military action in Council has only authorized military action in

the following casesthe following cases

KoreaKorea SomaliaSomalia Bosnia Bosnia Gulf War Gulf War In all these cases different countries In all these cases different countries

have undertaken military action with have undertaken military action with the permission of the UN. The UN the permission of the UN. The UN itself has not gone to waritself has not gone to war

Typical UN operations are peacekeeping not Typical UN operations are peacekeeping not war fightingwar fighting

These operations usually come into effect once These operations usually come into effect once a war is overa war is over

They monitor ceasefires, and help to maintain a They monitor ceasefires, and help to maintain a buffer between the warring partiesbuffer between the warring parties

The peacekeepers are there at the request of The peacekeepers are there at the request of the warring partiesthe warring parties

Their main role is to calm things and build Their main role is to calm things and build confidence among the warring partiesconfidence among the warring parties

Soldiers from different countries are assigned Soldiers from different countries are assigned to the UN, and are responsible to the United to the UN, and are responsible to the United Nations, not their own countriesNations, not their own countries

The UN has no military force of its own, and is The UN has no military force of its own, and is dependent on other countries to provide dependent on other countries to provide military forcesmilitary forces

The UN Charter requires countries to maintain The UN Charter requires countries to maintain a certain part of their forces for the use of the a certain part of their forces for the use of the UN. This has never been done UN. This has never been done

Instead of representing the world, the UN is Instead of representing the world, the UN is often pushed into becoming an instrument of often pushed into becoming an instrument of its most powerful membersits most powerful members

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

Trusteeship Council

Set up immediately after II World War.Set up immediately after II World War. Supervise administration of territory which were Supervise administration of territory which were

under foreign rule ( Germany, Japan, Italy)under foreign rule ( Germany, Japan, Italy) Lead these territory towards self government or Lead these territory towards self government or

independence.independence. 11 states were under these all have attended 11 states were under these all have attended

independence.independence. Now they meet if required.Now they meet if required. Suspended operation 1 Nov, 1994Suspended operation 1 Nov, 1994 Palau: last remaining UN trust territoryPalau: last remaining UN trust territory

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

International Court of JusticeInternational Court of Justice

No two judges can be of the same No two judges can be of the same nationality.nationality.

They can be re-elected.They can be re-elected. The court elects its President and Vice The court elects its President and Vice

President for 3 yrs. Can be re-elected.President for 3 yrs. Can be re-elected. It acts only if both the parties agrees to It acts only if both the parties agrees to

go.go.

Secretariat Secretariat

Main administrative organ.Main administrative organ. Head Secretary General.Head Secretary General. 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 16000 under a regular budget Staff 16000 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

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

India and the UNIndia and the UN

India is the original member of UNIndia is the original member of UN India has always supported its policies.India has always supported its policies. Helped countries to gain freedom.Helped countries to gain freedom.

• IndonesiaIndonesia• LibyaLibya• MalaysiaMalaysia• TunisiaTunisia• GhanaGhana• MoroccoMorocco• AlgeriaAlgeria• BangladeshBangladesh

India and the UNIndia and the UN

Admit new members to UNAdmit new members to UN Supported admission of ChinaSupported admission of China Always opposed racial discrimination.Always opposed racial discrimination. Leading role in conferences on Leading role in conferences on

disarmament. disarmament. Chairman for the supervision of the truce Chairman for the supervision of the truce

in Indo-China.in Indo-China. Arranged for the repatriation for the Arranged for the repatriation for the

prisoners of the war. (Korea)prisoners of the war. (Korea)

India and the UNIndia and the UN

Despite the setting up of the UN, world is Despite the setting up of the UN, world is split up into two power blocs and has split up into two power blocs and has resulted in signing of many pacts.resulted in signing of many pacts.

India tries to bridge the gap between India tries to bridge the gap between these two blocs and safeguarded these two blocs and safeguarded international peace.international peace.