MODULE 1: UNITED NATIONS
York, except for the International Court of Justice,
Brief history
 After WWI, the countries do not want to suffer
another global conflict, hence, the formation of
League of Nations – a coalition dedicated to
preventing the outbreak of wars.
o After decades, League of Nations was
found to be unfitting for its purpose;
some believe that it is because of the
unwillingness of US to join
(Isolationism) and World War 2 broke
out.
o Months before the end of WW2, the
global leaders convened to create an
international organization effective to
impede the occurrence of war – the
United Nations was born.
 October 24, 1945 – the UN was established; it
was then followed by the ratification of the UN
Charter led by the 5 main countries:
o US
o UK
o France
o China
o Soviet Union
 January 10, 1946 – the General Assembly had
first convened at the Methodist Central Hall in
Westminster
o January 17, 1946 – One week after the
GA, it was followed by the first meeting
of the Security Council
o January 24, 1946 – adoption of the first
UN resolution on the establishment of a
commission to deal with the problems
raised by the discovery of atomic energy
(UN SC and Canada)
 UN started with 51 states; decolonization and
independence movements improved the
numbers of UN members.
o Today, it has a total of 193 member
states
6 Principal Organs of the UN
*These organs are the overseer of the UN’s main
function*
*All are located at the UN Headquarters in New
which is located at Hague, Netherlands*
 General Assembly
o Largest body/organ of the UN,
represented by leaders of each member
state
o The primary deliberative body of the UN
and where the highest profile diplomacy
take place (annual sessions are joined by
ambassadors and heads of state)
o Assigned on matters regarding
international peace, admission of
member states, and the budget of the
organization
o 2/3 majority vote in every crucial
decision is a requisite, while simple
majority on some less important issues
deemed by the GA
o Led by a president, with a one-year term.
This is to give chance to those
ambassadors from smaller states to lead
on the international level
 Security Council
o Assigned on the maintenance of peace
and security, especially on the
containment of wars (Notably, recent
wars only happen on a regional level and
not on a global scale)
o There are only 15 members for the SC,
10 states are rotating and elected for 2-
year term, while 5 states of which have
permanent seats namely:
 US
 UK
 France
 Russian Republic (obtained
the seat of the former SU)
 People’s Republic of China
o SC’s resolutions are binding to all
member states, unlike GA Resolutions
that are reliant on good faith of the
member states
o 5 permanent member states have a veto
power

 Economic and Social Council
o Mandated on matters involving
economy, social welfare, environment,
and international development
o Currently, it has 54 members elected by
the GA, good for 3 years (18 seats each
year)
o It has subsidiary bodies including
regional commissions, criminal justice
commission, women’s rights
commission, geographical naming
commissions, and economic, social and
cultural rights commission
 International Court of Justice (The Hague)
o The UN’s primary judicial body
o Rule on matters concerning international
law and advisory opinions are included
in its jurisdiction
o It is composed of 15 judges, nominated
by the Permanent Court of Arbitration
o Judges are expected not to hold any
political, administrative or professional
office on their 9-year term
o The ICJ may form a panel of 3 judges in
dealing with special cases and it can
carry the weight of the full court (en
banc)
o The ICJ cannot compel the appearance
of a state, but it must rely on the state’s
consent
 The Secretariat
o Boots-on-the-ground organ of the UN
o Led by the UN Secretary General and
responsible for the daily business of the
UN
o Secretary General is nominated by the
SC and subsequently elected by the GA
for a renewable 5-year term
o Assisted by thousands of staff that are
tasked to carry out the UN missions
globally
 Trusteeship Council
o Tasked to maintain and supervise the 11
Trust Territories of the UN under the
lead of 7 member states
o Mandated to guide territories towards
independence (standing on their own
rights)
o It halted its operations in 1994 since the
11 trust territories had attained self-
governance or independence
o Though inactive, the council still elects
its president in case there is a need to be
convened
o There are also plans/proposal to revamp
its mandate due to long inactivity,
especially on environmental stewardship.
To this day, no decision has made.
How does UN foster development?
 Improved mandate of UN over time (Based on
UN Charter:
o Maintain international peace and security
o Develop friendly relations among
nations
o Achieve international cooperation in
solving international problems
o Be a center for harmonizing the actions
of nations in attainment of common ends
 Some of the humanitarian, environmental and
peacekeeping missions of UN are:
o Providing food to 90 million people
in over 75 countries
o Assisting more than 34 million
refugees
o Authorizing 71 international
peacekeeping missions
o Working with 140 nations to
minimize climate change
o Assisting about 50 countries per
year with their elections
o Providing vaccinations for 58
percent of children in the world
o Helping about 30 million women a
year with maternal health efforts
o Protecting human rights with 80
treaties and declarations
 United Nations is also the lead agency for
international development.
 o Through various UN agencies (e.g.,  2000-2015 – Millennium Development Goals
UNDP, UNHCR, etc.), it provides (MDGs)
assistance to counties in developing  2016-2030 – Sustainable Development Goals
policies, leadership skills, partnering (SDGs)
abilities, institutional capabilities, and to o The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
build resilience in achieving the current Development, adopted by all United
SDGs. Nations Member States in 2015,
 UN’s Agenda for Development: provides a shared blueprint for peace and
o Development is one of the main prosperity for people and the planet, now
priorities of the United Nations. and into the future. At its heart are the 17
Development is a multidimensional Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
undertaking to achieve a higher quality which are an urgent call for action by all
of life for all people. Economic countries - developed and developing -
development, social development and in a global partnership. They recognize
environmental protection are that ending poverty and other
interdependent and mutually reinforcing deprivations must go hand-in-hand with
components of sustainable development. strategies that improve health and
o Sustained economic growth is essential education, reduce inequality, and spur
to the economic and social development economic growth – all while tackling
of all countries, in particular developing climate change and working to preserve
countries. Through such growth, which our oceans and forests.
should be broadly based so as to benefit
all people, countries will be able to
improve the standards of living of their
people through the eradication of
poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy,
the provision of adequate shelter and
secure employment for all and the
preservation of the integrity of the
environment.
o [Political] Democracy, respect for all
human rights and fundamental freedoms,
including the right to development,
transparent and accountable governance
and administration in all sectors of
society, and effective participation by
civil society are also an essential part of
the necessary foundations for the
realization of social and people-centered
sustainable development.
o The empowerment of women and their
full participation on a basis of equality
in all spheres of society is fundamental
for development."

Development Framework of UN overtime

 1960-1970 – First Development Decade

 1971-1980 – Second Development Decade
 1981-1990 – Third Development Decade
 1991-1999 – Human Development Reports
References:

Dag Hammarskjöld Library. (n.d.). UN

Documentation: Development.
https://research.un.org/en/docs/dev#:~:text=
%22Development%20is%20one%20of
%20the,reinforcing%20components%20of
%20sustainable%20development.

History.com Editors.(2018). United Nations.

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-
ii/united-nations?
fbclid=IwAR3u_v5sVsgARoo6rZ86w_Au2
xPHTq32EXelUNx5sppTA17VN6IaM9yQ
G3s

United Nations Department of Economic and Social

Affairs. (n.d.). The 17 Goals.
https://sdgs.un.org/goals

United Nations Development Proramme. (n.d.).

UNDP-About Us.
https://www.undp.org/about-us?
fbclid=IwAR2YEhU6vEEOByxKAr9w-
5qkHNJxKyPRzMYpG8t7KhacY4IZSuyQ8
4r8Gc8