United Nations

I
INTRODUCTIO
N
United Nations Headquarters
In 1945 the United States Congress invited the United Nations (UN) to establish its
peranent head!"arters in the United States# Copleted in 195$% the UN &ople'
sits in (anhattan% alongside the )ast River% in the &it* o+ Ne, -or.# Under the UN/s
agreeent ,ith the United States% the site o+ the UN head!"arters is e'ept +ro
lo&al la,s#
0anessa 0i&.12hoto Resear&hers% In&#
United Nations (UN)% international organi3ation o+ &o"ntries &reated to
proote ,orld pea&e and &ooperation# The UN ,as +o"nded a+ter 4orld
4ar II ended in 1945# Its ission is to aintain ,orld pea&e% develop good
relations bet,een &o"ntries% proote &ooperation in solving the ,orld/s
probles% and en&o"rage respe&t +or h"an rights#
The UN is an organi3ation o+ &o"ntries that agree to &ooperate ,ith one
another# It brings together &o"ntries that are ri&h and poor% large and
sall% and have di5erent so&ial and politi&al s*stes# (eber nations
pledge to settle their disp"tes pea&e+"ll*% to re+rain +ro "sing +or&e or the
threat o+ +or&e against other &o"ntries% and to re+"se help to an* &o"ntr*
that opposes UN a&tions#
Kof Annan
6o7 8nnan o+ 9hana served as se&retar* general o+ the United Nations (UN) +ro
199: thro"gh $;;<% be&oing the UN/s 7rst se&retar* general +ro s"b=Saharan
8+ri&a# 8nnan s"&&eeded >o"tros >o"tros=9hali o+ )g*pt as se&retar*=general and
,as +ollo,ed b* >an 6i (oon o+ So"th 6orea#
8# Tannenba"1S*ga
UN ebership is open to an* &o"ntr* ,illing to +"rther the UN ission
and abide b* its r"les# )a&h &o"ntr*% no atter ho, large or sall% has an
e!"al voi&e and vote# )a&h &o"ntr* is also e'pe&ted to pa* d"es to s"pport
the UN# 8s o+ $;;: the UN had 19$ ebers% in&l"ding nearl* ever*
&o"ntr* in the ,orld#
The UN/s in?"en&e in ,orld a5airs has ?"&t"ated over the *ears% b"t the
organi3ation gained ne, proinen&e beginning in the 199;s# It ,as
a,arded the Nobel 2ea&e 2ri3e in $;;1# Still% the UN +a&es &onstant
&hallenges# It "st &ontin"all* se&"re the &ooperation o+ its eber
nations be&a"se the organi3ation has little independent po,er or a"thorit*#
>"t getting that s"pport is not al,a*s eas*# (an* nations are rel"&tant to
de+er their o,n a"thorit* and +ollo, the di&tates o+ the UN#
II
CR)8TION O@ TA) UNIT)D
N8TIONS
The UN is the res"lt o+ a long histor* o+ e5orts to proote international
&ooperation# In the late 1Bth &ent"r*% 9eran philosopher Ian"el 6ant
proposed a +ederation or Cleag"eD o+ the ,orld/s nations# 6ant believed
that s"&h a +ederation ,o"ld allo, &o"ntries to "nite and p"nish an* nation
that &oitted an a&t o+ aggression# This t*pe o+ "nion b* nations to
prote&t ea&h other against an aggressor is soeties re+erred to as
&olle&tive se&"rit*# 6ant also +elt that the +ederation ,o"ld prote&t the
rights o+ sall nations that o+ten be&oe pa,ns in po,er str"ggles
bet,een larger &o"ntries#
Big Three
@ro 1941 to 1945% United States 2resident @ran.lin Roosevelt% >ritish 2rie (inister
4inston Ch"r&hill% and Soviet 2reier Eoseph Stalin held vario"s &on+eren&es in
,hi&h the* dis&"ssed their respe&tive strategies in 4orld 4ar II# Their e'perien&es
helped the to +or"late a plan to &reate an international pea&e.eeping
organi3ation ,ith a goal o+ preventing +"t"re ,ars on the s&ale o+ 4orld 4ar II# In
8pril 1945% representatives +ro 5; &o"ntries et in San @ran&is&o to &reate the
&harter o+ the organi3ation that ,o"ld be &alled the United Nations#
U2I1TA) >)TT(8NN 8RCAI0)
6ant/s idea &ae to li+e a+ter 4orld 4ar I (1914=191B)# Aorri7ed b* the
devastation o+ the ,ar% &o"ntries ,ere inspired to &oe together and ,or.
to,ard pea&e# The* +ored a ne, organi3ation% the Feag"e o+ Nations% to
a&hieve that goal# The Feag"e ,o"ld last +ro 19$; to 194< and have a
total o+ <G eber nations thro"gh its histor*% in&l"ding soe o+ the
,orld/s greatest po,ersH @ran&e% the United 6ingdo% Ital*% Eapan%
9eran*% and the Union o+ Soviet So&ialist Rep"bli&s (USSR)# >"t the
Feag"e had t,o aIor ?a,s# @irst% several o+ the ,orld/s ost po,er+"l
&o"ntries ,ere not ebers% ost notabl*% the United States# Se&ond% the
Feag"e re!"ired &onsens"s aong its ebers to oppose aggression#
Dissent b* an* one eber &o"ld prevent &onsens"s and render the
Feag"e ipotent# 4hen Eapan% Ital*% and 9eran* "ndertoo. ilitar*
aggression in the 19G;s% the* ,o"ld not agree to &ens"re theselves% th"s
preventing the &onsens"s ne&essar* +or Feag"e a&tion# This aggression
"ltiatel* led to 4orld 4ar II (19G9=1945)# In the end% the Feag"e +ailed in
its ost basi& ission% to prevent another ,orld ,ar#
Despite this +ail"re% the idea o+ a leag"e did not die# The 7rst &oitent
to &reate a ne, organi3ation &ae in 1941% ,hen U#S# president @ran.lin D#
Roosevelt and >ritish 2rie (inister 4inston Ch"r&hill anno"n&ed the
8tlanti& Charter% in ,hi&h the* pledged to ,or. to,ard a ore e5e&tive
s*ste to .eep ,orld pea&e and proote &ooperation# In 194$
representatives o+ the 8lliesJthe 4orld 4ar II &oalition o+ $< nations
7ghting against 9eran* and EapanJsigned a De&laration b* United
Nations a&&epting the prin&iples o+ the 8tlanti& Charter# The de&laration
in&l"ded the 7rst +oral "se o+ the ter United Nations% a nae &oined b*
2resident Roosevelt# 8 *ear later% +o"r o+ the 8lliesJthe United States% the
United 6ingdo% the Soviet Union% and ChinaJagreed to establish a
general international organi3ation# The +o"r &o"ntries et in 1944 at the
D"barton Oa.s estate in 4ashington% D#C#% and dra+ted a &harter +or the
ne, organi3ation# The* &alled the ne, leag"e the United Nations# >"t the*
still &o"ld not agree to &ertain details% s"&h as ebership and voting
rights#
The +o"r &o"ntries et again in earl* 1945 at a s"it in -alta% U.raine
(see -alta Con+eren&e)# There% the* settled their di5eren&es and &alled +or a
&on+eren&e o+ nations to &oplete their ,or.# On 8pril $5% 1945% the United
Nations Con+eren&e on International Organi3ation &onvened in San
@ran&is&o% ,ith delegates +ro 5; &o"ntries attending# The delegates
,or.ed +or t,o onths to &oplete a &harter +or the UN that in&l"ded its
p"rpose% prin&iples% and organi3ational str"&t"re# The &harter &ontained a
+oral agreeent &oitting all the ,orld/s nations to a &oon set o+
basi& r"les governing their relations# The UN oK&iall* &ae into e'isten&e
on O&tober $4% 1945% ,ith 51 eber &o"ntries=the 5; represented at the
&on+eren&e and 2oland% ,hi&h had not been able to send a delegate#
Fi.e the Feag"e o+ Nations% the UN ,as +o"nded to proote pea&e and
prevent another ,orld ,ar# The UN re&ogni3ed it ,o"ld not be s"&&ess+"l
"nless it had the ongoing s"pport o+ the ,orld/s ost po,er+"l &o"ntries#
The organi3ation too. several steps to ens"re that s"pport# To en&o"rage
&ontin"ed U#S# involveent% the UN pla&ed its head!"arters in Ne, -or.
Cit*# To reass"re the ,orld/s ost po,er+"l &o"ntries that it ,o"ld not
threaten their sovereignt*% the UN gave the veto a"thorit* over its ost
iportant a&tions# @ive &o"ntries re&eived this veto po,erH the United
States% the United 6ingdo% @ran&e% the Soviet Union% and China# (R"ssia
inherited the Soviet Union/s veto a+ter the brea."p o+ that &o"ntr* in
1991#)
8nother aIor strength o+ the UN% "nli.e the earlier Feag"e o+ Nations% is
that virt"all* ever* territor* in the ,orld is a eber% or a provin&e% or a
&olon* o+ a eber# Soe noneber politi&al entities% s"&h as the
0ati&an Cit* and the 2alestine Fiberation Organi3ation (2FO)% also have
peranent observer ission stat"s at the UN#
III
STRUCTUR) O@ TA) UNIT)D
N8TIONS
Organization of the United Nations
The Charter o+ the United Nations (UN) organi3ed the UN into si' distin&t bodiesH the
9eneral 8ssebl*% the Se&"rit* Co"n&il% the Se&retariat% the )&onoi& and So&ial
Co"n&il% the International Co"rt o+ E"sti&e% and the Tr"steeship Co"n&il# The 9eneral
8ssebl* has inp"t into the other bodies% b"t its po,ers are liited# @or e'aple% it
ele&ts the UN se&retar* general% b"t the Se&"rit* Co"n&il is responsible +or
noinating the se&retar* general# The Tr"steeship Co"n&il is the onl* UN bod* that
no longer +"n&tions% altho"gh it &ontin"es to e'ist# It ,as established to help +orer
&olonial &o"ntries a&hieve independen&e or sel+=governent% a goal that ,as
a&&oplished in 1994#
L (i&roso+t Corporation# 8ll Rights Reserved#
The UN/s &harter established si' distin&t bodies that serve di5erent
+"n&tionsH (1) the 9eneral 8ssebl*% ($) the Se&"rit* Co"n&il% (G) the
Se&retariat% (4) the )&onoi& and So&ial Co"n&il% (5) the International Co"rt
o+ E"sti&e% and (<) the Tr"steeship Co"n&il#
8
9eneral
8ssebl*
UN General Assembly
The 9eneral 8ssebl* o+ the United Nations% seen here in session% is ade "p o+
representatives o+ all eber &o"ntries o+ the UN# @"n&tioning as a global to,n hall%
the 8ssebl* a* address an* atter &overed b* the UN/s &harter# Ao,ever%
be&a"se it has no a"thorit* to en+or&e its de&isions% the 8ssebl*/s resol"tions are
not legall* binding#
6e*stone 2ressedienst 9bA
The 9eneral 8ssebl* is ade "p o+ all 19$ eber &o"ntries% ea&h ,ith
one vote# It "nderta.es all aIor dis&"ssions and de&isions abo"t UN
a&tions# It is li.e a global to,n hall% providing a po,er+"l edi" +or
&o"ntries to p"t +or,ard their ideas and debate iss"es# The 8ssebl* &an
dis&"ss and a.e re&oendations on an* iss"e &overed b* the UN/s
&harter# Ao,ever% the re&oendations are not binding and the 8ssebl*
has no a"thorit* to en+or&e the# (ebers de&ide ro"tine atters ,ith a
siple aIorit* vote# Iportant de&isions re!"ire a t,o=thirds aIorit*#
Arafat Addressing the United Nations
8s 2alestine Fiberation Organi3ation leader -asir 8ra+at addresses the United Nations
(UN) 9eneral 8ssebl* in E"ne 19B$% Israel/s delegation to the UN is &onspi&"o"s in
its absen&e#
U2I1COR>IS=>)TT(8NN
The 9eneral 8ssebl* eets ann"all* in reg"lar sessions that generall*
r"n +ro id=Septeber to id=De&eber# Re&entl* the 9eneral 8ssebl*
has been eeting *ear ro"nd# It also &onvenes +or spe&ial sessions ever*
+e, *ears on spe&i7& topi&s% s"&h as e&onoi& &ooperation or
disaraent# In addition% the 8ssebl* &an eet in eergen&* session to
deal ,ith an iediate threat to international pea&e# 8t the beginning o+
ea&h reg"lar session% 8ssebl* ebers ele&t a president to preside over
the assebl*# The 8ssebl* sessions% li.e ost UN deliberations% are
si"ltaneo"sl* translated into an* lang"ages so that delegates +ro
aro"nd the ,orld &an "nderstand an* spea.er#
The 9eneral 8ssebl* has the po,er to adit ne, ebers to the UN# It
approves the b"dget +or UN progras and operations# The 8ssebl* &an
establish agen&ies and progras to &arr* o"t its re&oendations# It
ele&ts ebers to serve on &ertain agen&ies and progras% and it
&oordinates those progras thro"gh vario"s &oittees#
>
Se&"rit*
Co"n&il
United Nations Seurity !ounil
The Se&"rit* Co"n&il is the ost po,er+"l bod* in the United Nations (UN)# Its 15
ebers deterine ho, the UN sho"ld resolve ,orld &on?i&ts% and it is the onl* UN
bod* that &an order en+or&eent a&tion in the event o+ aggression# The Co"n&il/s
7ve peranent ebersJ>ritain% China% @ran&e% R"ssia% and the United StatesJ
have the ost po,er be&a"se an* one o+ the &an veto a Co"n&il de&ision#
Ee5 Christensen1Re"ters
The Se&"rit* Co"n&il is the ost po,er+"l bod* in the UN# It is responsible
+or aintaining international pea&e% and +or restoring pea&e ,hen &on?i&ts
arise# Its de&isions are binding on all UN ebers and have the +or&e o+
international la,# The Se&"rit* Co"n&il has the po,er to de7ne ,hat is a
threat to se&"rit*% to deterine ho, the UN sho"ld respond% and to en+or&e
its de&isions b* ordering UN ebers to ta.e &ertain a&tions# @or e'aple%
the Co"n&il a* ipose e&onoi& san&tions% s"&h as halting trade ,ith a
&o"ntr* it &onsiders an aggressor#
The Co"n&il &onvenes an* tie there is a threat to pea&e# 8 representative
+ro ea&h eber &o"ntr* ,ho sits on the Co"n&il "st be available at all
ties so that the Co"n&il &an eet at a oent/s noti&e# The Se&"rit*
Co"n&il also +re!"entl* eets at the re!"est o+ a UN eberJo+ten a
nation ,ith a grievan&e abo"t another nation/s a&tions#
The Se&"rit* Co"n&il has 15 ebers% 5 o+ ,hi&h hold peranent seats#
The 9eneral 8ssebl* ele&ts the other 1; ebers +or rotating t,o=*ear
ters# The 5 peranent ebersJthe United States% the United 6ingdo%
@ran&e% R"ssia (+orerl* the Soviet Union)% and ChinaJhave the ost
po,er# These nations ,ere the ,inning po,ers at the end o+ 4orld 4ar II%
and the* still represent the b"l. o+ the ,orld/s ilitar* ight#
De&isions o+ the Co"n&il re!"ire nine votes# >"t an* one o+ the peranent
ebers &an veto an iportant de&ision# This a"thorit* is .no,n as the
veto right of the great powers# 8s a res"lt% the Co"n&il is e5e&tive onl*
,hen its peranent ebers &an rea&h a &onsens"s# This &reated
probles d"ring the Cold 4ar% the post=1945 str"ggle bet,een the United
States and Soviet Union that ended ,hen the Soviet Union dissolved in
1991# D"ring that tie% the &o"n&il ,as +re!"entl* deadlo&.ed be&a"se the
United States and Soviet Union &o"ld not agree# >eginning in the 199;s%
in&reased &ooperation bet,een the United States and R"ssia enabled the
&o"n&il to be&oe ore e5e&tive#
The Co"n&il has a variet* o+ ,a*s it &an tr* to resolve &on?i&ts bet,een
&o"ntries# Us"all* the Co"n&il/s 7rst step is to en&o"rage the &o"ntries to
settle their disagreeents ,itho"t violen&e# The Co"n&il &an ediate a
disp"te or re&oend g"idelines +or a settleent# It &an send
pea&e.eeping troops into a distressed area# I+ ,ar brea.s o"t% the Co"n&il
&an &all +or a &ease7re# It &an en+or&e its de&isions b* iposing e&onoi&
san&tions on a &o"ntr*% or b* a"thori3ing Ioint ilitar* a&tion#
In re&ent *ears% there has been gro,ing &ontrovers* over ,hi&h &o"ntries
sho"ld have peranent seats on the Co"n&il# Soe nations believe that
other &o"ntries beside the original 7ve sho"ld be in&l"ded# @or e'aple%
Eapan and 9eran* are po,er+"l &o"ntries that pa* large ebership
d"es and a.e s"bstantial &ontrib"tions to the UN% *et the* do not have
peranent seats# There is no eas* sol"tion to this proble# 8dding ore
peranent ebers &reates its o,n set o+ &opli&ations% in&l"ding ho, to
de&ide ,hi&h &o"ntries get a seat and ,hi&h do not# @or e'aple% i+
9eran* Ioined% three o+ the peranent ebers ,o"ld be )"ropean%
giving that region an "n+air advantage# Several proposals +or addressing
this proble have been &onsidered% in&l"ding adding 9eran* and Eapan
as peranent ebers% ,aiving the veto po,er o+ the peranent
ebers% and liiting Co"n&il ebership to one *ear# Th"s +ar% none o+
the proposals have been adopted% partl* be&a"se the present str"&t"re
,or.s ,ell +or the 7ve peranent ebers and the* &an veto an*
&hanges to it#
C
Se&retaria
t
The Se&retariat is the UN/s e'e&"tive bran&h# It oversees the
adinistration o+ the UN/s progras and poli&ies and &arries o"t da*=to=
da* operations# This bran&h is headed b* the se&retar* general% ,ho a&ts
as the UN/s spo.esperson#
C1
Se&retariat
Sta5
The UN/s sta5 in&l"des adinistrators% e'perts on te&hni&al iss"es s"&h as
environental prote&tion% and e&onoi& advisors ,or.ing on vario"s
progras and proIe&ts in the eber &o"ntries# These ,or.ers have a
variet* o+ responsibilities% s"&h as overseeing the operations o+
pea&e.eeping issions% preparing st"dies on ,orld iss"es% organi3ing
international &on+eren&es% s"rve*ing e&onoi& and so&ial trends% and
providing translations o+ spee&hes# The* per+or the da*=to=da* ,or.
ne&essar* +or basi& UN operations# The largest &on&entration o+ sta5
o"tside Ne, -or. Cit* is in 9eneva% S,it3erland% ,here several UN
progras and agen&ies have head!"arters#
One p"rpose o+ the Se&retariat is to develop an international &ivil servi&e o+
diploats and b"rea"&rats ,hose lo*alties are not tied to an* one &o"ntr*#
The sta5 ans,ers onl* to the UN and ta.es an oath not to obe* an* o"tside
a"thorit*# The UN &harter &alls on its ebers to respe&t the
independen&e and international &hara&ter o+ the sta5# Ao,ever% the UN
has had i'ed s"&&ess +ollo,ing thro"gh on this ideal# The se&retar*
general is generall* seen as an independent diploat# >"t eber nations
still &opete to pla&e their &iti3ens in &ontrol o+ sta5s that adinister
iportant UN progras#
In the earl* 199;s the UN b"rea"&ra&* &ae "nder in&reasing &riti&is +or
ineK&ien&* and even &orr"ption# ("&h o+ this &riti&is &ae +ro the
United States% ,hi&h believed it ,as bearing an "n+air share o+ the &osts o+
s"pporting the UN# >* the id=199;s% these &riti&iss had led to a series o+
re+ors% in&l"ding b"dget and sta5 red"&tions#
C$
Se&retar*
9eneral
The se&retar* general is a po,er+"l p"bli& 7g"re ,ho oversees the dail*
operations o+ the UN and pla*s a aIor role in setting the organi3ation/s
agenda in international se&"rit* a5airs# The se&retar* general &an bring to
the Se&"rit* Co"n&il an* atter that ight threaten ,orld pea&e# The
se&retar* general has the a"thorit* to serve as a ne"tral ediator in
international &on?i&ts and to bring hostile parties together to negotiate#
The se&retar* general/s personal attention to a proble &an o+ten help
bring abo"t a resol"tion# @or e'aple% in the 199;s Se&retar* 9eneral
>o"tros >o"tros=9hali personall* ediated &on?i&ts in Soalia% the +orer
-"goslavia% and else,here# In the 19B;s% Se&retar* 9eneral Eavier 2Mre3 de
C"Mllar ediated &on?i&ts in Central 8eri&a# The se&retar* general also
,or.s to b"ild &onsens"s aong the 7ve peranent ebers o+ the
Se&"rit* Co"n&il% .no,ing that ,itho"t it the Co"n&il &annot a&t#
The se&retar* general is +orall* &hosen b* the 9eneral 8ssebl*# >"t the
se&retar* general "st 7rst be noinated b* the Se&"rit* Co"n&il and ,in
the &onsent o+ all 7ve o+ its peranent ebers# The se&retar* general
serves a 7ve=*ear ter% ,hi&h a* be rene,ed# The Se&"rit* Co"n&il &an
noinate a &andidate +ro an* &o"ntr*% b"t it is an "n,ritten tradition that
the position rotates geographi&all*% ,ith a se&retar* general &hosen +ro a
ne, region a+ter ever* t,o ters# In 199: the 9eneral 8ssebl* &reated
the post o+ dep"t* se&retar* general to assist in the anageent o+ the
Se&retariat# The se&retar* general appoints the dep"t* se&retar* general#
The se&retar* general% li.e the rest o+ the UN sta5% is s"pposed to be
independent# In realit*% the se&retar* general "st rel* on eber
&o"ntries% espe&iall* the 7ve peranent Se&"rit* Co"n&il ebers% to get
an*thing done# 8s a res"lt% the se&retar* general o+ten str"ggles ,ith the
Se&"rit* Co"n&il over ,hat dire&tion the UN sho"ld ta.e# Sin&e the Se&"rit*
Co"n&il &hooses the se&retar* general% there is a liit on ho, independent
the position &an be#
6o7 8nnan o+ 9hana ,as ele&ted b* the 9eneral 8ssebl* to be se&retar*
general +ro 199: thro"gh $;;1# In $;;1 the 9eneral 8ssebl*
"nanio"sl* ele&ted hi to a se&ond ter% r"nning +ro $;;$ thro"gh
$;;<# Ae ,as the 7rst se&retar* general +ro s"b=Saharan 8+ri&a and the
7rst to rise thro"gh the UN sta5 to the top Iob# >e+ore be&oing se&retar*
general% 8nnan served as "nderse&retar* general +or pea&e.eeping
operations# Ae ,as &redited ,ith doing the best Iob possible ,ith diK&"lt
pea&e.eeping issions in Soalia and >osnia in the earl* 199;s# 8nnan
,as ed"&ated in the United States and .ne, the UN b"rea"&ra&* ,ell# 8s
se&retar* general% 8nnan re+ored the UN se&retariat/s 7nan&es and
anageent and signi7&antl* iproved relations bet,een the UN and the
United States# Ae also ,or.ed to iprove h"an rights ,orld,ide and to
slo, the spread o+ a&!"ired i"node7&ien&* s*ndroe (8IDS)%
parti&"larl* in developing &o"ntries#
Boutros Boutros"Ghali
>o"tros >o"tros=9hali o+ )g*pt served as se&retar* general o+ the United Nations
+ro 199$ thro"gh 199<# Ae is sho,n here in 1991 addressing the UN 9eneral
8ssebl*#
R)UT)RS1TA) >)TT(8NN 8RCAI0)
8nnan/s iediate prede&essor% >o"tros >o"tros=9hali o+ )g*pt% ,as
se&retar* general +ro 199$ thro"gh 199<# Ae tried to e'pand the UN/s
role as pea&e.eeper and pea&ea.er# Ae ,as o"tspo.en ,ith the Se&"rit*
Co"n&il% a trait that got hi into tro"ble ,ith its ebers% parti&"larl* the
United States# @or e'aple% he s&olded the Co"n&il +or giving hi big
proIe&ts ,itho"t eno"gh one* to &arr* the o"t# In 199< the United
States vetoed his &andida&* +or a se&ond ter# Sin&e both 8nnan and
>o"tros=9hali represented 8+ri&an nations% 8nnan/s sele&tion preserved the
tradition o+ .eeping the se&retar* general/s post in the sae geographi&
region +or t,o ters# 8nnan ,as s"&&eeded in $;;: b* >an 6i (oon%
+orer +oreign inister o+ So"th 6orea#
Se&retaries general have &oe +ro vario"s regions o+ the ,orld% b"t it is
an "n,ritten r"le that the* never sho"ld &oe +ro one o+ the ost
po,er+"l &o"ntries# This tradition is a response to &on&erns that a se&retar*
general sele&ted +ro s"&h a &o"ntr* ,o"ld not be per&eived b* other
nations as obIe&tive or ne"tral# There is also a +ear that s"&h a sele&tion
,o"ld give the ,orld/s ost in?"ential nations that "&h ore po,er# 2ast
se&retaries general in&l"de Tr*gve Fie o+ Nor,a*% ,ho served +ro 194< to
195GN Dag Aaars.IOld o+ S,eden% 195G to 19<1N U Thant o+ >"ra (no,
(*anar)% 19<1 thro"gh 19:1N 6"rt 4aldhei o+ 8"stria% 19:$ to 19B$N
and Eavier 2Mre3 de C"Mllar o+ 2er"% 19B$ thro"gh 1991# No ,oan has *et
served in this position#
D
)&onoi& and So&ial
Co"n&il
The )&onoi& and So&ial Co"n&il ()COSOC) ,or.s "nder the a"thorit* o+
the 9eneral 8ssebl* to &oordinate the e&onoi& and so&ial ,or. o+ the
UN# )COSOC has 54 eber &o"ntries ele&ted b* the 9eneral 8ssebl*
+or three=*ear ters# )COSOC &oordinates st"dies and re&oends
a&tions on international topi&s s"&h as edi&ine% ed"&ation% e&onoi&s%
and so&ial needs# It prootes higher living standards% +"ll eplo*ent%
respe&t +or h"an rights% and e&onoi& and so&ial progress# It oversees
the ,or. o+ a large n"ber o+ UN progras and agen&ies#
)COSOC operates ainl* thro"gh vario"s standing &oittees% +"n&tional
&oissions% and regional &oissions# There are 7ve regional
&oissions that loo. at ho, the UN/s progras in a parti&"lar region are
,or.ing together# There are ten +"n&tional &oissions that deal ,ith
topi&s s"&h as pop"lation gro,th% nar&oti&s traK&.ing% h"an rights% and
the stat"s o+ ,oen# Other &oittees ,or. on topi&s relevant to several
UN progras% s"&h as &rie prevention% p"bli& 7nan&e% nat"ral reso"r&es%
s&ien&e and te&hnolog*% and geographi&al naes#
)COSOC &oordinates the ,or. o+ an* spe&iali3ed agen&ies that provide a
variet* o+ so&ial% e&onoi&% and related servi&es# The agen&ies operate
independentl* b"t ,or. ,ith other progras in the UN# Those agen&ies
in&l"de the 4orld Aealth Organi3ation (4AO)% the 4orld >an.% the
International (onetar* @"ndN the United Nations )d"&ational% S&ienti7& and
C"lt"ral Organi3ation (UN)SCO)% the International Fabor Organi3ation (IFO)%
and the @ood and 8gri&"lt"re Organi3ation (@8O)# )COSOC also ,or.s
&losel* ,ith the private se&tor and ,ith ore than $%;;; nongovernental
organi3ations#
)
International Co"rt o+
E"sti&e
#nternational !ourt of $ustie
The United Nations International Co"rt o+ E"sti&e% soeties re+erred to as the 4orld
Co"rt% has head!"arters in the 2ea&e 2ala&e o+ The Aag"e% Netherlands# )stablished
in 1945% the &o"rt addresses international disp"tes and provides advisor* opinions
on legal !"estions arising "nder international la,#
Sa C# 2ierson12hoto Resear&hers% In&#
The International Co"rt o+ E"sti&e% also .no,n as the 4orld Co"rt% is the
I"di&ial ar o+ the UN# It is lo&ated in The Aag"e% Netherlands# The &o"rt
hears &ases bro"ght b* nations against ea&h other# It has 15 I"dges%
ele&ted b* the Se&"rit* Co"n&il and the 9eneral 8ssebl*# 8 &o"ntr* is not
re!"ired to parti&ipate in the &o"rt/s pro&eedings% b"t i+ it agrees to
parti&ipate% it "st abide b* the &o"rt/s de&isions#
@
Tr"steeship
Co"n&il
The Tr"steeship Co"n&il ,as established to oversee the transition o+ a
hand+"l o+ &olonies to independen&e# The last o+ those &olonies% the 2ala"
Islands% gained independen&e in 1994% a.ing the Tr"steeship Co"n&il
obsolete#
I0
()(>)RSAI2 IN TA)
UN
The UN started in 1945 ,ith 51 +o"nding ebersJin&l"ding the 5;
&o"ntries that had attended the San @ran&is&o &on+eren&e% and 2oland%
,hi&h ,as not at the &on+eren&e b"t signed the &harter later#
Ne, ebers are aditted to the UN on the re&oendation o+ the
Se&"rit* Co"n&il% i+ approved b* a t,o=thirds vote o+ the 9eneral 8ssebl*#
(ebership is open to an* &o"ntr* that s"pports the UN/s ission and is
,illing to +ollo, the r"les and responsibilities spe&i7ed in the &harter#
In its earl* *ears% 4estern &o"ntries doinated the UN and the 9eneral
8ssebl* reg"larl* sided ,ith the United States# The Soviet Union provided
a balan&e to 4estern in?"en&e b* "sing its veto po,er in the Se&"rit*
Co"n&il#
The balan&e o+ po,er began to &hange in the 195;s and 19<;s% as &olonies
in 8sia and 8+ri&a gained independen&e and be&ae ebers o+ the UN#
The UN/s ebership ore than do"bled d"ring that tie and the ne,
ebers had di5erent &on&erns than did the on&e=doinant 4estern
ind"strial nations# (an* o+ the ne, ebers believed the United States
,as too po,er+"l and the UN too o+ten gave in to 8eri&an interests# 8s
ne,l* independent developing nations began to predoinate% the*
a5e&ted voting patterns in the UN# The United States +o"nd itsel+ in the
inorit* on an* iss"es# >* the end o+ the 19:;s% the United States had
be&oe the priar* "ser o+ the veto#
8nother &hange in UN ebership involved representation +or China# In
1945 China Ioined the United Nations as a +o"nding eber and ,as
represented b* the Nationalist governent in NanIing# In 1949 the
Nationalists lost the Chinese &ivil ,ar against the Co"nists and
retreated to the island o+ Tai,an# >a&.ed b* the United States and other
4estern nations% the Nationalist governent on Tai,an &laied to be the
legitiate governent o+ all China and &ontin"ed to hold the China seat in
the UN "ntil 19:1# That *ear the 9eneral 8ssebl* too. the seat a,a*
+ro Tai,an and gave it to the Co"nist governent in >eiIing% on the
ainland# This a&tion le+t Tai,an ,itho"t representation in the UN# Tai,an
,o"ld li.e to be a eber and has tried to ,in a separate seat# >"t China
regards Tai,an as a provin&e and has opposed independen&e +or the
island% despite the +a&t that Tai,an +"n&tions li.e an independent nation in
an* international atters# China has veheentl* obIe&ted to UN
ebership +or Tai,an be&a"se leaders there believe i+ the UN re&ogni3es
Tai,an ,ith a seat it ,o"ld help that governent/s bid +or independen&e#
0
UN
@UNDIN9
The UN is +"nded b* d"es paid b* ea&h o+ its ebers# )a&h &o"ntr*/s
d"es are based "pon its ,ealth and abilit* to pa*# The UN also re!"ires
&o"ntries to a.e 7nan&ial &ontrib"tions to its pea&e.eeping e5orts# In
addition% an* &o"ntries a.e vol"ntar* &ontrib"tions to s"pport vario"s
UN progras# The United States is the largest &ontrib"tor to the UN#
The UN &annot +or&e eber nations to pa* their d"es# (an* nations have
+ailed to pa* their +"ll d"es and have &"t their vol"ntar* &ontrib"tions%
&a"sing the organi3ation to +all into &onsiderable debt#
The 7nan&ial &risis began in the 19B;s ,hen &o"ntries started +alling
behind in their pa*ents# -et as 7nan&ial s"pport de&lined% the UN/s
e'penses gre,# In 199< the UN &ae perilo"sl* &lose to ban.r"pt&*# 8+ter
6o7 8nnan be&ae UN se&retar* general in 199:% he p"shed thro"gh
re+ors to &onsolidate soe aIor UN oK&es% in part to en&o"rage the
United States to pa* its ba&. d"es# In 1999 the U#S# Congress agreed to
pa* nearl* P1 billion o+ ba&. d"es% b"t onl* on the &ondition that the UN
de&rease the U#S# share o+ the adinistrative b"dget +ro $5 to $$ per&ent
and its share o+ the pea&e.eeping b"dget +ro G1 to $5 per&ent#
In $;;; the 9eneral 8ssebl* responded to these ters b* overha"ling its
s*ste o+ 7nan&ing# It set a &eiling o+ $$ per&ent as the a'i" ao"nt
an* &o"ntr* ,o"ld pa* to,ard the adinistrative b"dget# It also repla&ed
its ad ho& s*ste o+ +"nding pea&e.eeping operations ,ith a sliding s&ale
o+ d"es based on a &o"ntr*/s per &apita in&oe# 8s a res"lt% the U#S#
&ontrib"tion to pea&e.eeping operations de&lined to abo"t $: per&ent b*
$;;4% and ore than t,o do3en &o"ntries a&&epted in&reases in their
pea&e.eeping &ontrib"tions#
The UN also re&eives one* +ro private &iti3ens# Individ"als a* donate
to vario"s UN progras% s"&h as the United Nations Children/s @"nd
(UNIC)@) and the 4orld @ood 2rogra (4@2)# In 199: 8eri&an b"siness
e'e&"tive Ted T"rner pledged P1 billion to UN progras% the largest single
gi+t to the UN in its histor*#
0I
@UNCTIONS O@ TA)
UN
The UN toda* has the sae basi& p"rpose and str"&t"re as it did ,hen it
,as +o"nded in 1945# Its priar* p"rposeJand greatest bene7t to its
ebersJis to aintain ,orld pea&e# That% in t"rn% helps &o"ntries to
develop and prosper% thereb* iproving the lives o+ their &iti3ens# In
addition to that priar* ission% the UN serves its eber &o"ntries in a
variet* o+ other ,a*s# The UN provides a +or" +or &o"ntries to proote
their vie,s and settle &on?i&ts ,itho"t violen&e# It allo,s &o"ntries to
&ooperate to solve ,orld probles% s"&h as povert*% disease% and threats
to the environent# It serves as a s*bol o+ international order and global
identit*# It ,or.s to address e&onoi& and so&ial probles in developing
&o"ntries% ,ith the idea that s"&h probles &reate so"r&es o+ &on?i&t that
&an lead to ,ar# The UN helps &oordinate the ,or. o+ h"ndreds o+ agen&ies
and progras% both ,ithin its o,n organi3ation and o"tside it# It also
&olle&ts and p"blishes global statisti&s#
8
(aintenan&e o+ International 2ea&e and
Se&"rit*
The UN has three priar* ,a*s to aintain international pea&e and
se&"rit*# 8ll dire&tl* involve the Se&"rit* Co"n&il# Under &hapter < o+ the UN
&harter% the UN &an assist in the pea&e+"l resol"tion o+ international
disp"tes# This a"thorit* has evolved into the "se o+ UN a"thori3ed
pea&e.eeping +or&es# Under &hapter : o+ the UN &harter% the UN &an
a"thori3e ilitar* a&tion to en+or&e its resol"tions# @inall*% the UN &an
serve as a +or" +or international deliberations on long=ter sol"tions to
pressing se&"rit* iss"es% s"&h as ars &ontrol and terroris#
81
2ea&e.eepin
g
United Nations %ores in Bosnia
The United Nations (UN) deplo*s pea&e.eeping +or&es ,ith t,o ain p"rposesH to
separate ,arring% or antagonisti&% parties% and to .eep lo&al &on?i&ts +ro spreading
over a larger region# This photograph sho,s UN pea&e.eeping +or&es in SaraIevo
d"ring the &ivil ,ar in >osnia and Aer3egovina in the 199;s#
R)UT)RS1TA) >)TT(8NN 8RCAI0)
2ea&e.eeping is the nonaggressive "se o+ ilitar* +or&e to help nations in
&on?i&t rea&h a settleent# The UN &harter does not ention
pea&e.eeping +or&es% altho"gh &hapter < o+ the &harter does establish
g"idelines +or pea&e+"l resol"tion o+ international &on?i&ts#
The UN/s 7rst pea&e.eeping e5ort too. pla&e in the (iddle )ast in 194B#
The UN sent "nared observers to help aintain the tr"&e negotiated
a+ter 7ve 8rab &o"ntries atta&.ed Israel earlier in the *ear# The UN 7rst
"sed ared pea&e.eepers d"ring the S"e3 Crisis o+ 195<% ,hen )ngland%
@ran&e% and Israel +o"ght )g*pt +or &ontrol o+ the S"e3 Canal# The
pea&e.eepers oversa, the ,ithdra,al o+ @ren&h% >ritish% and Israeli troops
and a&ted as a b"5er bet,een the ,arring parties#
Toda*% the UN/s pea&e.eeping +or&es pla* a ne"tral role% ,or.ing to &al
regional &on?i&ts in several ,a*s# The* &an go into an area o+ &on?i&t as
observers% a.ing s"re agreeents rea&hed bet,een opposing sides are
being +ollo,ed# The* &an provide a b"5er bet,een ,arring parties b*
ph*si&all* interposing theselves in the iddle# The* &an negotiate ,ith
ilitar* oK&ers on both sides% providing a &hannel o+ &o"ni&ation# The*
&an also onitor &ease7res% s"pervise ele&tions% and provide h"anitarian
aid#
2ea&e.eepers are lightl* ared# The* travel in arored vehi&les ,ith
a"toati& ri?es% b"t la&. artiller*% tan.s% or other heav* ,eapons# Their
,or. &an be ha3ardo"s% espe&iall* i+ one o+ the ,arring sides do"bts their
ne"tralit*# The* are o+ten &a"ght in the iddle ,hen &ease7res &ollapse
and the* soeties have been deliberatel* atta&.ed# >* $;;: ore than
$%G;; pea&e.eepers had died in the line o+ d"t*#
The Se&"rit* Co"n&il grants a"thorit* +or pea&e.eeping issions% "s"all*
+or several onths% altho"gh the Co"n&il &an rea"thori3e issions +or
an* *ears# The UN does not have its o,n ar*% so the Se&"rit* Co"n&il
borro,s +or&es +or ea&h ission +ro the ilitar* and poli&e personnel o+
eber &o"ntries# The Se&"rit* Co"n&il also &hooses a single &oander%
and the +or&es operate "nder UN &oand# The +or&es operate onl* i+ the
parties in &on?i&t agree to their presen&e# Th"s% the s"&&ess o+ a
pea&e.eeping ission depends "pon the &ooperation o+ the opposing
parties#
2ea&e.eeping +or&es are +"nded b* spe&ial +ees paid b* UN ebers# The
9eneral 8ssebl* "st approve the +"nds# Toda*% la&. o+ +"nds is the
single greatest &onstraint in the "se o+ pea&e.eeping +or&es# 8s
pea&e.eeping operations have e'panded% the* have re!"ired ore and
ore one*#
UN pea&e.eepers ,on the Nobel 2ea&e 2ri3e in 19BB in re&ognition o+ their
s"&&esses# In the earl* $1st &ent"r* the UN had nearl* 9;%;;; troops +ro
11$ &o"ntries in alost $; separate pea&e.eeping issions in regions o+
the ,orld in&l"ding So"th 8sia% the (iddle )ast% )astern )"rope% and 8+ri&a#
In E"l* $;;: the UN Se&"rit* Co"n&il a"thori3ed a pea&e.eeping +or&e o+
$<%;;; +or the Dar+"r region o+ S"dan# It be&ae the UN/s largest
pea&e.eeping +or&e#
See also United Nations 2ea&e.eeping @or&es#
8$
2ea&e
)n+or&eent
In addition to pea&e.eeping issions% the UN &an also a"thori3e pea&e
en+or&eent operations# Unli.e pea&e.eeping issions% ,hi&h help ,illing
parties aintain an e'isting pea&e agreeent% pea&e en+or&eent
operations see. to repel international aggression% "sing ilitar* +or&e i+
ne&essar*# Under &hapter : o+ the UN &harter% the Se&"rit* Co"n&il a*
a"thori3e eber &o"ntries to ta.e ilitar* a&tion in response to
international brea&hes o+ the pea&e# The UN/s +o"nders initiall* envisioned
&hapter : as the teeth in the UN &harter#
8n earl* e'aple o+ the UN/s role in pea&e en+or&eent &ae in 195;%
,hen North 6orea invaded So"th 6orea% starting the 6orean 4ar# The UN
Se&"rit* Co"n&il &ondened the invasion and a"thori3ed a "ltinational
+or&e% led b* the United States% to repel the atta&.# This resol"tion ,as onl*
possible be&a"se the USSR bo*&otted the Se&"rit* Co"n&il eeting to
protest the UN/s re+"sal to re&ogni3e the &o"nist governent o+ China#
4hen the USSR ret"rned to the Se&"rit* Co"n&il% it "sed its veto to prote&t
its all*% North 6orea# 8+ter the 6orean 4ar% the Cold 4ar prevented +"rther
UN pea&e en+or&eent operations#
The UN again a"thori3ed a pea&e en+or&eent ission in 199;% ,hen Ira!
invaded 6",ait# 8+ter Ira! re+"sed to &opl* ,ith UN deands to
,ithdra,% the UN la"n&hed a ilitar* operation to e'pel Ira! +ro 6",ait#
This operation ,as again led b* the United States% and it in&l"ded a vast
&oalition o+ +or&es +ro an* UN eber &o"ntries (see 2ersian 9"l+ 4ar)#
UN=sponsored pea&e en+or&eent operations reain rare% ho,ever%
be&a"se o+ the diK&"lt* o+ getting all 7ve o+ the veto=,ielding great
po,ers to agree to ilitar* a&tion#
8G
8rs
Control
The UN &harter a"thori3es the Se&"rit* Co"n&il to plan +or ,orld,ide
disaraent and ars &ontrol# To help a&hieve those goals% the UN has
sponsored ars &ontrol negotiations in 9eneva% S,it3erland% +or de&ades#
The 9eneral 8ssebl* also held a spe&ial session on disaraent in E"ne
19B$# None o+ these UN a&tivities have had "&h dire&t e5e&t on a&t"al
arsenals#
Instead% d"ring the Cold 4ar% the ost iportant ars &ontrol agreeents
,ere rea&hed b* &o"ntries negotiating dire&tl* ,ith ea&h other% parti&"larl*
b* the United States and Soviet Union# 8t that tie% ars &ontrol ,as
doinated b* the n"&lear ars ra&e bet,een the s"perpo,ers# The United
States and the Soviet Union rea&hed several iportant agreeents% and
then other &o"ntries signed on# )'aples in&l"de the 19<G Fiited Test
>an Treat*% the 19<: O"ter Spa&e Treat*% the 19<B Nonproli+eration Treat*%
and the 199; Conventional @or&es in )"rope Treat*# In soe instan&es the
9eneral 8ssebl* rati7ed these agreeents# >"t in none o+ these &ases
did the UN pla* a aIor role#
8+ter the 1991 2ersian 9"l+ 4ar% UN agen&ies ass"ed a lead role in
en+or&ing a Se&"rit* Co"n&il resol"tion to disar Ira! o+ ,eapons o+ ass
destr"&tion# I8)8 inspe&tors "n&overed and disantled Ira!/s se&ret
n"&lear ,eapons progra% and other UN ,eapons inspe&tors onitored
the destr"&tion o+ sto&.piles o+ &hei&al and biologi&al ,eapons# Ao,ever%
in 199B Ira! anno"n&ed it ,o"ld no longer &ooperate ,ith the UN# In $;;$%
in response to rene,ed U#S# e5orts to en+or&e Ira!i disaraent% the
Se&"rit* Co"n&il approved a resol"tion ,arning o+ Cserio"s &onse!"en&esD
i+ Ira! did not disar# 4eapons inspe&tions res"ed% b"t U#S# a"thorities
&harged that Ira! ,as not &ooperating +"ll* and ,as hiding banned
,eapons# In (ar&h $;;G% a+ter diploati& tal.s bro.e do,n% the United
States led a ilitar* assa"lt on Ira!# Ao,ever% U#S# +or&es +ailed to 7nd an*
eviden&e that Ira! had ,eapons o+ ass destr"&tion% and s"bse!"ent
investigations revealed that "&h o+ the pre,ar intelligen&e abo"t Ira!Qs
,eapons progras ,as ?a,ed# See U#S#=Ira! 4ar#
>
)&onoi& and So&ial
Developent
The se&ond aIor +"n&tion o+ the UN is to proote e&onoi& and so&ial
developent ,orld,ide# The UN engages in a *riad o+ a&tivities and
sponsors a large n"ber o+ agen&ies to eet this goal# The UN/s )&onoi&
and So&ial Co"n&il ()COSOC) oversees these a&tivities#
>
1
)&onoi&
Developent
The UN operates "nder the prin&iple that prooting e&onoi& and so&ial
developent ,ill help bring abo"t lasting ,orld pea&e# The organi3ation/s
&harter &alls on the UN to proote +"ll eplo*ent +or all% higher
standards o+ living% and e&onoi& and so&ial progress# 8s a res"lt% the UN
devotes a aIor proportion o+ its sta5 and b"dget to e&onoi&
developent progras ,orld,ide# The 9eneral 8ssebl* has re&ogni3ed
the need to restr"&t"re international e&onoi& relations to help developing
&o"ntries and has re&oended a series o+ steps aied at red"&ing the
gap bet,een ,ealth* and poor &o"ntries#
The UN operates an* progras and spe&ial agen&ies to proote
e&onoi& developent and provide assistan&e and te&hni&al e'pertise to
developing &o"ntries# One o+ those progras is the United Nations
Con+eren&e on Trade and Developent (UNCT8D)# (an* developing
nations rel* on in&oe +ro trade to s"pport their e&onoi& developent
e5orts at hoe and are espe&iall* v"lnerable to pri&e ?"&t"ations on
international ar.ets and other trade probles# UNCT8D ,as +o"nded in
the 19<;s to help negotiate international trade agreeents that stabili3e
pri&es and proote trade ,ith developing &o"ntries# D"ring the 19:;s the
9eneral 8ssebl* in&l"ded those goals in its &all +or a Ne, International
)&onoi& Order to proote gro,th in developing &o"ntries# >"t developing
&o"ntries have little po,er in the international e&ono*% and as a res"lt
UNCT8D has been largel* ine5e&tive in advan&ing their interests in
international trade#
Other e5orts in&l"de the United Nations Developent 2rogra (UND2)%
,hi&h &oordinates all UN e5orts in developing nations# It is +"nded thro"gh
vol"ntar* &ontrib"tions and has tho"sands o+ proIe&ts operating aro"nd the
,orld# UND2 is the ,orld/s largest international agen&* providing
developent assistan&e on te&hni&al iss"es# T,o related agen&ies are the
United Nations Ind"strial Developent Organi3ation and the United
Nations Instit"te +or Training and Resear&h#
UN progras o5er several advantages in prooting e&onoi&
developent# 9overnents o+ developing nations see the UN as a +riend o+
the developing ,orld% not as an o"tsider threatening their a"thorit* or as a
reinder o+ &olonial r"le# (an* UN e'perts and vol"nteers are theselves
+ro other developing &o"ntries# UN ,or.ers ,ho &oe +ro the
developing ,orld a* be ore sensitive to lo&al &onditions and to the
pit+alls o+ developent assistan&e than their &o"nterparts +ro ore
,ealth* &o"ntries# The UN &an also organi3e its assistan&e on an
international s&ale% avoiding d"pli&ation o+ e5orts# Soe iss"es% s"&h as
prevention and treatent o+ aIor diseases and environental prote&tion%
parti&"larl* bene7t +ro the UN/s international approa&h#
8 aIor disadvantage o+ the UN developent progras is that their
+"nding largel* depends on vol"ntar* &ontrib"tions +ro ,ealth* nations#
)a&h progra has to soli&it &ontrib"tions to &arr* on its a&tivities% and
&ontrib"tions &an be abr"ptl* &"t o5 i+ the progra displeases a donor
governent# In addition% progras soeties la&. the eK&ien&* and
reso"r&es that governents and b"sinesses in ,ealth* &o"ntries ta.e +or
granted# This has given the progras a rep"tation +or being ineK&ient and
b"rea"&rati&#
The UN also helps 7nan&e developent thro"gh the International >an. +or
Re&onstr"&tion and Developent% better .no,n as the 4orld >an.# The
4orld >an. ,as &reated in 1944 to help developing nations get +"nding +or
proIe&ts# The ban. grants loans to eber &o"ntries to 7nan&e spe&i7&
proIe&ts and this in t"rn en&o"rages +oreign investing# 8 related agen&*%
the International (onetar* @"nd (I(@)% ,as &reated at the sae tie to
proote international &ooperation on onetar* iss"es# It en&o"rages a
stable% orderl* pattern o+ onetar* e'&hange rates bet,een nations#
>
$
Aealt
h
#nfant &ainations in Afria
8t a R,andan health &enter% in+ants re&eive va&&inations against in+e&tio"s diseases#
The 4orld Aealth Organi3ation% an agen&* o+ the United Nations% ,or.s to provide
basi& va&&inations to "nderserved pop"lations in 8+ri&a and else,here#
>ett* 2ress14ood7n Cap R 8sso&iates12NI
The UN has re&ogni3ed that ade!"ate health and &ontrol o+ disease are
essential to e&onoi& and so&ial developent# The 4orld Aealth
Organi3ation (4AO) is the leading UN agen&* to address global health
&on&erns# Its goal is to iprove the health o+ all people% and it does this
thro"gh a n"ber o+ global health progras# 4AO epideiologists help
tra&. o"tbrea.s o+ ne, diseases and epidei&s# @or e'aple% 4AO ,as
instr"ental in diagnosing and &ontaining the spread o+ severe a&"te
respirator* s*ndroe (S8RS) in $;;G# 4AO also helps deliver basi&
i"ni3ations to "nderserved pop"lations# One o+ the greatest
a&&oplishents o+ the 4AO ,as the eradi&ation o+ sallpo'% a viral
disease that on&e devastated h"ans aro"nd the globe#
The UN has also ta.en a&tion to &obat the ,orld,ide epidei& o+
a&!"ired i"node7&ien&* s*ndroe (8IDS)# In 1995 it established the
Eoint United Nations 2rogra on AI018IDS (UN8IDS) to &oordinate the
international response to the disease# In $;;;% the United States led a
spe&ial session o+ the Se&"rit* Co"n&il to address the global threat +ro
8IDS% and the 9eneral 8ssebl* held a spe&ial session on 8IDS the
+ollo,ing *ear# Sessions s"&h as these +o&"sed global attention on the
disease and helped to ,in &oitents o+ reso"r&es to the UN8IDS
progra#
>
G
)nvironen
t
The United Nations )nvironent 2rogra (UN)2) en&o"rages and
&oordinates so"nd environental pra&ti&es thro"gho"t the ,orld# It
grapples ,ith ,a*s to approa&h environental probles on an
international level% provides e'pertise to eber &o"ntries% onitors
environental &onditions ,orld,ide% develops environental standards%
and re&oends alternative energ* so"r&es#
UN)2/s ,or. is g"ided b* prin&iples adopted at the 199$ UN Con+eren&e on
)nvironent and Developent% also .no,n as the )arth S"it# The
s"it% ,hi&h too. pla&e in Rio de Eaneiro% >ra3il% ,as the largest s"&h
&on+eren&e ever held% attra&ting ,ith ore than 1;; national leaders# It
,as the third international environental &on+eren&e hosted b* the UN#
The 7rst UN environent &on+eren&e too. pla&e in Sto&.hol% S,eden% in
19:$# It adopted general environental prin&iples% s"&h as the idea that
one &o"ntr*/s a&tions sho"ld not &a"se environental daage to another#
It also raised a,areness abo"t the international aspe&ts o+ environental
daage# 8 se&ond &on+eren&e ,as held in Nairobi% 6en*a% in 19B$# Nairobi
is the head!"arters o+ the UN )nvironent 2rogra#
The 199$ )arth S"it ,as larger and ore abitio"s than its
prede&essors# Its aIor thee ,as s"stainable e&onoi& developent%
eaning developent that does not "se "p or destro* so an* o+ the
,orld/s nat"ral reso"r&es that it &annot be s"stained over tie# The
eeting prod"&ed an overall plan% &alled 8genda $1% in ,hi&h large
developing &o"ntries proised to develop their ind"stries ,ith an e*e
to,ard prote&ting the environent# Ind"striali3ed &o"ntries pledged to
help the do that# The )arth S"it also prod"&ed aIor treaties on
biodiversit* and global ,aring% altho"gh the latter treat* la&.ed
en+or&eent provisions#
In $;;$% UN)2 sponsored the 4orld S"it on S"stainable Developent in
Eohannesb"rg% So"th 8+ri&a# This &on+eren&e so"ght to help developing
&o"ntries "ndergo ind"striali3ation ,itho"t haring the environent# >"t
progress on environental iss"es is slo, be&a"se proposed sol"tions
&ontin"e to pit the interests o+ poorer developing &o"ntries against those o+
ri&her ind"striali3ed nations# (ost developing &o"ntries &annot a5ord to
b"ild an environentall* so"nd ind"strial base% ,hile ind"striali3ed
&o"ntries are "n,illing to absorb the entire &ost o+ environental re+or#
>
4
Other )&onoi& and So&ial
2rogras
The UN operates a host o+ other e&onoi& and so&ial progras# The United
Nations Children/s @"nd (UNIC)@) addresses the needs o+ &hildren
,orld,ide# The International Fabor Organi3ation (IFO) advo&ates +or
,or.ers/ rights# The United Nations )d"&ational% S&ienti7&% and C"lt"ral
Organi3ation (UN)SCO) helps &o"ntries iprove ed"&ation and litera&*%
prootes ethi&s in s&ien&e% and ,or.s to preserve &"lt"ral diversit*# The
United Nations 2op"lation @"nd prootes +ail* planning% sa+e
pregnan&ies and &hildbirths% and reprod"&tive health in developing
&o"ntries% and it helps &o"ntries +or"late pop"lation poli&ies# The United
Nations OK&e on Dr"gs and Crie helps &o"ntries 7ght illi&it dr"gs% &rie%
and terroris# The UN has an organi3ation% &oission% or spe&iali3ed
agen&* to address nearl* ever* so&ial iss"e on the global agenda#
C
A"an
Rights
One o+ the UN/s aIor goals "nder its &harter is to proote and en&o"rage
respe&t +or h"an rights and +"ndaental +reedos +or all people%
regardless o+ ra&e% se'% lang"age% or religion# >"t on&e again% the UN/s
e5e&tiveness in prooting its agenda is liited b* its la&. o+ a"thorit* over
eber nations#
8+ter the atro&ities &oitted b* the 9erans in the Aolo&a"st% the
sla"ghter o+ Ee,s that o&&"rred d"ring 4orld 4ar II% the UN adopted a
Universal De&laration o+ A"an Rights# The de&laration ,as adopted on
De&eber 1;% 194B% ,hi&h is no, &elebrated ann"all* as A"an Rights
Da*# It pro&lais that Call h"an beings are born +ree and e!"alD and
establishes basi& rights +or all people and nors +or the behavior o+
governents in an* areas# @or e'aple% it sa*s that all people have the
right to libert*% religio"s and politi&al +reedo% ed"&ation% and e&onoi&
,ell=being# It bans tort"re and states that all people have the right to
parti&ipate in their governents# The de&laration does not have the +or&e
o+ la,% ho,ever% and sees to have had little visible e5e&t on the UN/s
eber &o"ntries# 9overnents ,ith poor h"an rights re&ords% s"&h as
China% &riti&i3e the UN/s attepts to proote h"an rights% sa*ing that
s"&h a&tions inter+ere ,ith their internal a5airs#
Until $;;< the UN operated a Coission on A"an Rights# In $;;< this
&oission ,as repla&ed ,ith a A"an Rights Co"n&il# The ,or. o+ the
previo"s &oission had been largel* dis&redited be&a"se &o"ntries
.no,n to violate h"an rights had be&oe ebers# 8s ebers the*
o+ten blo&.ed the &oission +ro &ens"ring the +or their h"an rights
ab"ses# The re+ored A"an Rights Co"n&il ,as &reated to address this
proble# The UN 9eneral 8ssebl* no, ele&ts individ"al &o"ntries to the
&o"n&il b* aIorit* vote# 2revio"sl*% ebership on the &o"n&il ,as
allo&ated b* region# The &o"n&il also revie,s the h"an rights re&ords o+
eber &o"ntries% and s*steati& violators o+ h"an rights &an be
s"spended +ro the &o"n&il b* a t,o=thirds vote o+ the 9eneral 8ssebl*#
The &o"n&il also eets ore +re!"entl* than the &oission did# The
&o"n&il eets three ties a *ear +or a total o+ ten ,ee.s% &opared ,ith
the &oission/s single session o+ si' ,ee.s ea&h *ear# The &o"n&il has
the abilit* to eet !"i&.l* to address a h"an rights eergen&*# The
p"rpose o+ the &o"n&il is to onitor h"an rights ab"ses in &o"ntries and
address &oplaints abo"t h"an rights violations#
The UN also operates the oK&e o+ Aigh Coissioner +or A"an Rights#
The 9eneral 8ssebl* &reated this position in 199G# The &oissioner
oversees all the UN/s h"an rights progras% ,or.s to prevent h"an
rights violations% and investigates h"an rights ab"ses# The &oissioner
also has the po,er to p"bli&i3e ab"ses ta.ing pla&e in an* &o"ntr*% b"t
does not have the a"thorit* to stop the# Ao,ever% ost p"bli&it* abo"t
h"an rights ab"ses does not &oe +ro the UN b"t +ro rival &o"ntries
or +ro nongovernental organi3ations% s"&h as 8nest* International#
The UN has also dra,n "p +o"r international &onventions (treaties) on
h"an rights% ,hi&h are legall* binding b"t hard to en+or&e# The
&onventions address the probles o+ geno&ide% ra&ial dis&riination% &ivil
and politi&al rights% and e&onoi& and so&ial rights# The treaties have been
rati7ed b* onl* abo"t hal+ o+ the ,orld/s nations# The United States has
onl* rati7ed the &onvention on geno&ide and has de&lined to rati+* the
others# Other &o"ntries have also re+"sed to sign the &onventions% &iting
&on&erns abo"t the spe&i7& ters o+ the &onventions and the loss o+
a"thorit* that s"&h treaties ipl*#
D"ring the Cold 4ar% 4estern &o"ntries &ontin"all* &riti&i3ed nations "nder
Soviet r"le +or their la&. o+ respe&t +or h"an rights% s"&h as +reedo o+
e'pression and +air ele&tions# >"t the UN pla*ed a sall role in these
arg"ents be&a"se o+ the Soviet Union/s veto po,er% and be&a"se an*
other national governents did not g"arantee h"an rights in their o,n
doesti& politi&s# The ost iportant Cold 4ar pa&t regarding h"an
rights% the 19:5 Aelsin.i 8&&ords% a diploati& agreeent bet,een G5
&o"ntries that en&o"raged h"an rights% ,as negotiated o"tside the UN
+rae,or.#
One o+ the UN/s ost visible re&ent a&tivities regarding h"an rights has
been the &reation o+ spe&ial ,ar &ries trib"nals to prose&"te those
responsible +or atro&ities &oitted d"ring the &ivil ,ars in the +orer
-"goslavia% R,anda% and Sierra Feone# These trib"nals% established b* the
Se&"rit* Co"n&il in 199G% 1994% and $;;$% respe&tivel*% operate
independentl* o+ the UN (see 4ar Cries Trials)# The UN also pla*ed an
iportant role in the &reation o+ the International Criinal Co"rt (ICC) to
prose&"te ,ar &riinals% altho"gh the ICC is not a UN organ#
D
A"anitarian
8ssistan&e
Sin&e the end o+ the Cold 4ar the UN has be&oe in&reasingl* involved in
providing h"anitarian assistan&e to people in need# 8ll too +re!"entl*% the
h"anitarian &rises to ,hi&h the UN responds are &a"sed b* international
&on?i&t# The UN &an also respond to h"anitarian &rises &a"sed b* nat"ral
disasters s"&h as ?oods or h"rri&anes# Con?i&ts and ,ars a* &reate
re+"gee &rises% as ,hen people ?ee their hoes +or +ear o+ perse&"tion or
har# 8gen&ies s"&h as the OK&e o+ the United Nations Aigh
Coissioner +or Re+"gees (UNACR) and the 4orld @ood 2rogra (4@2)
&an obili3e international assistan&e in a short tie +rae to respond to a
&risis#
%ood Aid 'istribution in Afghanistan
Residents o+ a reote o"ntain village in northern 8+ghanistan &l"ster aro"nd
tr"&.s distrib"ting sa&.s o+ ,heat as part o+ the United Nations 4orld @ood 2rogra#
Relie+ ,or.ers distrib"ted re&ord ao"nts o+ +ood aid in the ipoverished% ,ar=torn
&o"ntr* a+ter the &ollapse o+ the Taliban regie in De&eber $;;1% I"st as the &old
,inter onths ,ere a.ing +ood even s&ar&er#
>"llit (ar!"e318214ide 4orld 2hotos
In&reasingl*% UN agen&ies ,or. ,ith nongovernental organi3ations
(N9Os) that provide relie+ and assistan&e% as ,ell as ,ith the aid agen&ies
o+ governents% to &oordinate a global response to h"anitarian &rises#
@or e'aple% in 1999 ebers o+ the North 8tlanti& Treat* Organi3ation
(N8TO) began to bob the @ederal Rep"bli& o+ -"goslavia (see Serbia and
(ontenegro) to protest its treatent o+ ethni& 8lbanians in the provin&e o+
6osovo# The &on?i&t &reated a assive ?o, o+ re+"gees o"t o+ 6osovo and
into the neighboring provin&e o+ (ontenegro and the &o"ntries o+ 8lbania
and (a&edonia# These governents ,ere not able to absorb the large
n"ber o+ re+"gees# International aid agen&ies% led and &oordinated b* the
UN% responded to the &risis and ,ere able to ho"se% +eed% and &are +or the
tho"sands o+ re+"gees ,ho had ?ed the 7ghting#
Noodle %atory( North Korea
4or.ers &"t and dr* +resh noodles in a +a&tor* in North 6orea# The noodle +a&tor* is
s"bsidi3ed b* the United Nations 4orld Aealth Organi3ation (4AO) as part o+
international h"anitarian relie+ e5orts to address North 6orea/s &hroni& +ood
shortages#
R)UT)RS
)
Developent o+ International
Fa,
The UN pla*s an iportant role in the developent o+ international la,#
@orall*% the UN &an prod"&e international la, in t,o ,a*s# Se&"rit*
Co"n&il resol"tions are binding on all UN ebers and have the +or&e o+
international la,# De&isions b* the 4orld Co"rt are also binding as
international la,# Thro"gh these t,o bodies% the UN has been responsible
+or the developent o+ a signi7&ant bod* o+ international la,# Ao,ever%
"&h o+ this la, deals ,ith spe&i7& iss"es o+ pea&e and se&"rit*Jthe
Se&"rit* Co"n&il/s ain +o&"sJand be&oes obsolete a+ter the &risis in
!"estion has been resolved# @or e'aple% Se&"rit* Co"n&il resol"tions
prohibit Ira! +ro invading its neighbors and possessing ,eapons o+ ass
destr"&tion# @ollo,ing the U#S#=Ira! 4ar% ho,ever% "&h o+ this la, be&ae
obsolete be&a"se it pertained to a regie no longer in po,er#
In+orall*% the UN also has a large role in the developent o+ international
la,# The standing &oittees o+ the 9eneral 8ssebl* and the standing
UN &oissions and +"n&tional agen&ies ro"tinel* hold global &on+eren&es
on topi&s s"&h as ars &ontrol% the environent% and h"an rights# These
large diploati& sessions o+ten prod"&e the ideas and earl* oent" +or
international treaties that are not +orall* part o+ the UN s*ste b"t o,e
their e'isten&e to UN dis&"ssion o+ an iss"e# Treaties s"&h as the 19<B
N"&lear Nonproli+eration Treat*% the 199: 6*Sto 2roto&ol on greenho"se
gases% and the 199B Roe Stat"te approving the International Criinal
Co"rt ,ere the topi& o+ UN deliberations be+ore the* be&ae treaties in
their o,n right#
T,o UN &oissions are spe&i7&all* &harged ,ith developing and
&odi+*ing international la,# The UN/s International Fa, Coission%
&reated in 194:% st"dies iportant !"estions o+ international la, and
prepares dra+ts o+ treaties &odi+*ing these topi&s# Over the *ears% topi&s
have in&l"ded the la, o+ the sea% diploati& relations and i"nit*%
treaties bet,een nations% shared nat"ral reso"r&es% nationalit* and
statelessness% relations bet,een nations and international organi3ations%
and an* other iss"es# The UN/s Coission on International Trade Fa,%
&reated in 19<<% dra+ts te'ts on la,s &on&erning international &oer&e
and e&onoi& developent# These &oissions s"bit their te'ts and
re&oendations to the 9eneral 8ssebl*% ,hi&h a* then &all an
international diploati& &on+eren&e to in&orporate the te'ts into a treat*#
@
De&oloni3atio
n
8t the end o+ 4orld 4ar II (19G9=1945)% the great po,ers held vast &olonial
epires in the developing ,orld# One goal o+ the UN &harter ,as
decolonizationJending the pra&ti&e o+ &olonialis# The Tr"steeship Co"n&il
,as established as the UN organ to aid in the de&oloni3ation pro&ess# 8s
&olonies gained their independen&e in the id=$;th &ent"r*% one o+ their
7rst steps ,as to Ioin the UN# This a&t anno"n&ed their arrival on the
international stage as a +"ll=?edged eber o+ the international
&o"nit*# The Tr"steeship Co"n&il served as a transitional a"thorit* to
help a &o"ntr* a.e the transition +ro &olon* to independent nation# In
1994 the last &olon* gained its independen&e and the Tr"steeship Co"n&il
s"spended its operations#
0II
IN@FU)NC) 8ND
)@@)CTI0)N)SS
The UN/s in?"en&e on international politi&s is signi7&ant and &annot be
ignored# The ain goal o+ the UN/s +o"nders ,as to avoid a third ,orld ,ar%
and in that respe&t% the organi3ation has s"&&eeded# The UN has pea&e+"ll*
resolved n"ero"s international disp"tes sin&e its +o"nding and has
established a set o+ r"les +or the "se o+ +or&e in the &onteporar* ,orld#
8ltho"gh these r"les are not al,a*s +ollo,ed% the UN has nevertheless
established itsel+ as a signi7&ant pla*er on the ,orld stage#
The UN has been involved in ever* aIor ,ar and international &risis sin&e
4orld 4ar II in one +ashion or another# It a"thori3ed the international
&oalitions that +o"ght the 6orean 4ar (195;=195G) and the 2ersian 9"l+ 4ar
o+ 1991# 8 UN resol"tion &reated the state o+ Israel in 194B% and the UN has
been both a +or" +or debate and an a&tive ediator in the 8rab=Israeli
&on?i&t# In the C"ban (issile Crisis o+ 19<$% the United States "sed the UN
as a +or" to &hallenge the Soviet Union in +ront o+ the ,hole ,orld#
Sin&e the end o+ the Cold 4ar% the UN has asserted the right o+ the
Se&"rit* Co"n&il to be the sole bod* ,ith the po,er to de&lare international
"ses o+ ilitar* +or&e legitiate# Ao,ever% this &laied a"thorit* does not
al,a*s ,or.# In soe &ases% the UN a* +ail to "ster s"pport +or a +or&e
to intervene in a violent &on?i&t# @or e'aple% la&.ing s"pport +or
intervention +ro UN eber nations% the UN +ailed to stop the 1994
geno&ide in R,anda that .illed h"ndreds o+ tho"sands o+ &ivilians# In other
&ases% great po,ers s"&h as the United States ta.e a&tion on their o,n
,hen the* &annot get the UN to grant the a"thorit* the* ,ish# In $;;G the
United States so"ght b"t did not re&eive e'pli&it Se&"rit* Co"n&il approval
o+ ilitar* a&tion against Ira!# The United States nevertheless led an
invasion o+ Ira!% inviting the UN to pla* a role in post,ar h"anitarian
assistan&e and r"nning ele&tions +or a ne, governent (see U#S#=Ira! 4ar)#
Certain tensions &onstrain the UN/s in?"en&e and e5e&tiveness# The 7rst is
the tension bet,een the UN/s role as an a"tonoo"s a&tor and its role as a
&olle&tion o+ nations# The UN &an &all on eber nations +or a&tion% b"t it
has a hard tie en+or&ing its o,n resol"tions be&a"se it is also &oitted
to the prin&iple o+ sovereignt*% ,hi&h asserts ea&h &o"ntr*/s right to set its
o,n poli&ies# The UN re!"ires eber nations to &ontrib"te to its
pea&e.eeping operations and relie+ issions% b"t ,hen no nation ,ants to
&ontrib"te% it is an ipotent bod*# On the one hand% the UN has a andate
to ,or. on its o,n to proote the val"es o+ its &harter# On the other hand%
the UN Charter is a treat* aong nations# Th"s% the UN &annot do an*thing
,itho"t the e'pressed approval o+ its ebers% parti&"larl* the great
po,ers# The UN/s a"thorit* &oes +ro the &o"ntries that Ioin the
organi3ation% sign the &harter% and provide the UN ,ith the reso"r&es it
needs to a&&oplish its ission#
The UN also +a&es the tension o+ the gap bet,een the developed and
developing ,orld# The developing ,orld represents the aIorit* o+ the UN/s
ebers% both in ters o+ n"ber o+ &o"ntries and global pop"lation# The
developed ,orld% ean,hile% &ontrols the aIorit* o+ 7nan&ial and ilitar*
reso"r&es available to the UN# Developing &o"ntries ,ant the &han&e to
b"ild their so&ieties% b"t to do this the* need help +ro the ri&her% alread*
developed &o"ntries% an* o+ ,hi&h are rel"&tant to spend their reso"r&es
on others# The str"ggle to set priorities and allo&ate s&ar&e reso"r&es is a
&onstant tension ,ithin the UN#
There is a &onstant tension bet,een the International Fa, o+ the UN
Charter and the diploa&* that the eber nations &ond"&t on a dail*
basis# The UN Charter onl* has val"e to the e'tent that ebers +ollo, its
provisions# Nations &an ignore eleents o+ the &harter and &an also ,or.
o"tside the &harter# 2ea&e.eeping% +or e'aple% is never entioned in the
Charter b"t has be&oe a .e* UN diploati& +"n&tion# Tr*ing to aintain
the integrit* o+ international la, ,hile still pla*ing e5e&tive diploa&* that
satis7es the needs o+ the eber &o"ntries &ons"es "&h o+ the da*=to=
da* b"siness o+ the UN#
@inall*% a longstanding tension e'ists bet,een the UN and the United
States% the ,orld/s ost po,er+"l nation# The UN &onstrains the United
States b* &reating the one &oalition that &an rival U#S# po,erJthat o+ all
other nations# In addition% the United States has a strea. o+ isolationis in
its +oreign poli&* that r"ns &o"nter to the idea o+ the UN# >"t the UN also
bene7ts the United States in an* ,a*s# It apli7es U#S# po,er be&a"se
the United States "s"all* leads the UN &oalition# It helps .eep ,orld pea&e%
,hi&h the United States is not ri&h or strong eno"gh to do b* itsel+# 8nd it
helps .eeps the ,orld stable% providing a good &liate +or global e&onoi&
gro,th#
0III
TA) @UTUR) O@ TA) UNIT)D
N8TIONS
Sin&e its &reation in 1945% the UN has done "&h to proote international
&ooperation in e&onoi& and so&ial goals% and to a lesser e'tent% ,orld
pea&e# The end o+ the Cold 4ar and ne, possibilities +or &ooperation
aong the ,orld/s aIor po,ers has given the UN an opport"nit* to
reali3e the original vision o+ its +o"nders# The UN no, has a &han&e to
be&oe an international organi3ation that &an e5e&tivel* aintain ,orld
pea&e ,ithin the liits o+ a s*ste ,here individ"al nations aintain their
o,n a"thorit* and independen&e#
Constantl* &hallenged% the UN reains the onl* +or" ,here all the
nations o+ the ,orld &an gather to dis&"ss pressing iss"es o+ pea&e and
se&"rit*# The UN/s greatest asset reains its abilit* to spea. as the ,orld/s
voi&e% o5ering legitia&* and g"idan&e on the paths nations +ollo, to solve
their probles# Despite the &hallenges it +a&es% the UN ,ill li.el* pla* an
in&reasingl* &entral role in international politi&s in the &oing de&ades#
Contrib"ted >*H
2eter Ao,ard
)irosoft * +narta * ,--./ L 199G=$;;B (i&roso+t Corporation# 8ll
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