United Nations (UN)

The United Nations

United Nations (UN), intergovernmental organization established on October 24, 1945. The
United Nations (UN) was the multipurpose international organization that was worldwide in
scope and membership. Its predecessor, the League of Nations, was created by the Treaty of
Versailles in 1919.

The League of Nations was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose
principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the
Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War.

The Establishment of the League of Nations

While the First World War was still in progress, the governments of both England and France
took steps towards the establishment of a new legal order designed to preserve the peace.
American President Woodrow Wilson instructed Edward M. House to draft a U.S. plan that
reflected Wilson’s own idealistic views (first articulated in the Fourteen Points of January
1918), as well as the work of the Phillimore Committee.

At the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, Wilson, Cecil, and Smuts put forward their draft
proposals. After lengthy negotiations between the delegates, the Hurst-Miller draft was
finally produced as a basis for the Covenant. After more negotiation and compromise, the
delegates finally approved of the proposal to create the League of Nations on January 25,
1919. The final Covenant of the League of Nations was drafted by a special commission, and
the League was established by Part I of the Treaty of Versailles. On June 28, 44 states signed
the Covenant, including 31 states that took part in the war on the side of the Triple Entente or
joined it during the conflict.

Despite Wilson’s efforts to establish and promote the League, for which he was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in October 1919, the United States did not join. Their objections were
based on the fact that by ratifying such a document, the United States would be bound by
international contract to defend a League of Nations member if it was attacked. They
believed that it was best not to become involved in international conflicts.

The League held its first council meeting in Paris on January 16, 1920, six days after the
Versailles Treaty. On November 1, the headquarters of the League was moved from London
to Geneva, where the first General Assembly was held on November 15.

The Success and the Failure of the League of Nations

The aftermath of the First World War left many issues to be settled, including the exact
position of national boundaries and which country particular regions would join. Most of
these questions were handled by the victorious Allied powers in bodies such as the Allied
Supreme Council. The Allies tended to refer only particularly difficult matters to the League.
This meant that during the early interwar period, the League played little part in resolving the
turmoil resulting from the war. The questions the League considered in its early years
included those designated by the Paris Peace treaties.

As the League developed, its role expanded, and by the middle of the 1920s it had become
the center of international activity. This change can be seen in the relationship between the
League and non-members. The United States and Russia, for example, increasingly worked
with the League. During the second half of the 1920s, France, Britain, and Germany were all
using the League of Nations as the focus of their diplomatic activity, and each of their foreign
secretaries attended League meetings at Geneva during this period. They also used the
League’s machinery to improve relations and settle their differences.

In addition to territorial disputes, the League also tried to intervene in other conflicts between
and within nations. Among its successes was its fight against the international trade in opium
and sexual slavery and its work to alleviate the plight of refugees, particularly in Turkey in
the period up to 1926. One of its innovations in this latter area was the 1922 introduction of
the Nansen passport, the first internationally recognized identity card for stateless refugees.

The League failed to intervene in many conflicts leading up to World War II, including the
Italian invasion of Abyssinia, the Spanish Civil War, and the Second Sino-Japanese War.

The onset of the Second World War demonstrated that the League had failed in its primary
purpose, the prevention of another world war. There were a variety of reasons for this failure,
many connected to general weaknesses within the organization, such as voting structure that
made ratifying resolutions difficult and incomplete representation among world nations.
Additionally, the power of the League was limited by the United States’ refusal to join.

The Formation of the United Nations

The UN was established after World War II with the aim of preventing future world wars,
and succeeded the League of Nations, which was characterized as ineffective. On 25 April
1945, 50 nations met in San Francisco, California for a conference and started drafting the
UN Charter, which was adopted on 25 June 1945. The charter took effect on 24 October
1945, when the UN began operations. The organization's objectives, as defined by its charter,
include maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering
humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development, and upholding international law. At its
founding, the UN had 51 member states; as of 2023, it has 193 – almost all of the world's
sovereign states.

The work of the United Nations covers five main areas and there are to

1. Maintain International Peace and Security

2. Protect Human Rights
3. Deliver Humanitarian Aid
4. Support Sustainable Development and Climate Action
5. Uphold International law
Preventive Diplomacy and Mediation

The most effective way to diminish human suffering and the massive economic costs of
conflicts and their aftermath is to prevent conflicts in the first place. The United Nations
plays an important role in conflict prevention, using diplomacy, good offices and mediation.

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Headquartered in Geneva, with many regional offices, the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights has lead responsibility in the UN system for the promotion and protection
of human rights.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights regularly comments on situations in the world
relating to human rights issues, and has the authority to investigate situations and publish
reports on them.

UN entities with a primary responsibility for delivering humanitarian aid

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Refugee Agency
(UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme
(WFP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have primary roles in the delivery
of relief assistance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) coordinates the response to humanitarian health
emergencies. Key entities working to support Sustainable Development and Climate Action.

UN High-Level Political Forum On Sustainable Development

The UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is the main global forum
for reviewing successes challenges. The Forum is convened under the auspices of both the
Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly, and its meetings alternate between
the two.

Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change (IPCC)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for
assessing the science related to climate change. Settling disputes between States.

International Recognition

The first reason why countries join the United Nations is for international recognition.
Essentially, being a member of the UN means a country is formally recognized on the world
stage. As almost every country in the world is a UN member, not being part of the UN shows
a country is basically illegitimate.

International recognition is vital for a country. It means other nations acknowledge the
government as the legitimate rulers and engage with them in an official capacity. UN
membership is a key part of being recognised as a country and this is a big reason why states
become UN members.
Being a UN member means a country is fully part of the international community. It can
participate in key global forums such as the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council.
It can also vote on UN resolutions. Taking part in the UN is an important way a country can
be seen as being part of the global community of nations.

The only countries in the world that not UN member states are the few countries that are not
recognized internationally. This means other countries do not formally acknowledge their
existence. Examples of these include Abkhazia, Somaliland and Transestria. As well as not
being recognized by other countries, not being members of the UN means these countries
essentially don’t’ exist.

Participate in International Diplomacy

The second reason why countries join the United Nations is to fully participate in
international diplomacy. The UN is the main global forum where nations aim to settler their
disputes through dialogue, without resorting to conflict. Countries need to participate in the
mechanisms of the UN in order receive the benefits that being part of the international
community brings.

The United Nations has a range of bodies that promote international diplomacy. These
include the General Assembly, Security Council and the Economic and Social Council.
Nations need to be part of the UN in order to have their voices heard in these forums.

International diplomacy is key to a nation’s success. Countries need to build partnerships and
alliances, as well as discuss disputes, build trade ties and court friendships. The United
Nations is the leading global organisation for international diplomacy. This is a major reason
countries join.

If a country is not part of the UN it is excluded from many of diplomatic meetings, decisions
and forums where key decisions are made. It also will struggle to build effective alliances and
be seen as a nation that fully participates in international diplomacy.

To Better Ensure Their Security

Many countries join the United Nations because they feel it enhances their security. The UN
does not directly provide security assistance to countries. However, being a member of the
UN means a country is formally part of the international community. This means other
nations are more likely to come to their defence or try to deter aggression against them.

Many countries face aggression from neighbouring states. Being a member of the UN gives
these countries mechanisms to garner international opinion. It also allows them to appeal for
international assistance. The UN is a forum where countries can highlight issues they are
facing that they may otherwise struggle to bring to the world’s attention.

UN peacekeepers are one of the key ways the United Nations helps build peace and security.
Being a UN member state allows a country to vote on the use of peacekeepers, as well as
offer to have their forces deployed. UN members facing internal security threats can also
benefit from the deployment of peacekeepers to help monitor peace agreements, protect
civilians and help bring an end to conflicts.

An important reason countries join the UN is to be integrated into the international

community and build relations with powerful allies that may come to their assistance in times
of need.

Access to United Nations Agencies

The United Nations runs specialized agencies that aim to promote global peace and security
and address development and humanitarian challenges. Being a UN member state allows
countries to participate in programmes ran by UN agencies and also means they can feed into
how and where these agencies do their work.

UN agencies cover a huge range of areas focusing on different global issues. These include
agencies such as UNHCR, World Food Programme and UNICEF that focus on humanitarian
and development work as well as agencies such the International Maritime Organization and
the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that focus on coordinating global travel
and communication. UN agencies such as WHO and UNESCO help governments in poorer
countries run effective services for their populations.

Specialist agencies are an important part of what the UN does. A big reason countries join the
United Nations is so they can benefit from the projects these agencies run. This is especially
true of poorer countries and nations that often face humanitarian crises.

UN agencies are a key part of the United Nations system. UN agencies do not operate in non-
UN member states and so receiving support from UN agencies can be seen as one reason why
countries join the UN.

Have A Greater Influence On World Affairs

The United Nations is among the most important and influential organisations in the world. A
major reason countries join the UN is to be part of this organisation. The UN has a major
impact on global affairs. By being a UN member state, countries can influence how the UN,
and often the international community, responds to events.

Many vital decisions about the world are made at the UN. From climate change policy to the
coordination of international aviation, from the protection of world heritage sites to the use of
military force. Every country that is a member of the UN has a chance to influence how
global challenges are addressed and how international policy is formulated. This is an
important reason countries join. If a country is not a member of the UN, its ability to
influence global affairs is reduced.

Joining the UN is especially advantageous for smaller countries. It allows them to play a
more equal role in how many global decisions are made, an amplifies their voice in the global
stage.

Receive Assistance From the UN

The United Nations is one of the main organisations providing assistance to poorer countries.
It also provides aid to countries affected by humanitarian crises. Joining the UN allows
countries to receive its support. It also gives countries a say on how and where UN assistance
is given.

Many poorer countries in the world receive substantial assistance from the United Nations.
This can include help with hosting large numbers of refugees, assistance with infrastructure
and development projects, or technical guidance on healthcare, education or creating a fairer
and more effective judicial system. Many countries become UN member states so they can
access these types of assistance.

When a country is affected by crises, conflicts or disasters, the United Nations provides
humanitarian aid. This help can be vital in allowing countries to recover by providing them
crucial financial and material resources. Being able to receive humanitarian and development
aid from the UN is an important reason many poorer countries become members.

The United Nations is one of the largest aid donors in the world. Countries join the United
Nations not only to ensure they receive assistance, but also to have a degree of influence over
how humanitarian and developed aid is distributed by the UN.

There are six principal organs of the United Nations. They are-

1. General Assembly
2. Security Council
3. Economic and Social Council
4. Trusteeship Council
5. International Court of Justice and
6. UN Secretariat

All were established in 1945 when the UN was founded.

UN's General Assembly

The UN General Assembly hosts a much-watched debate of world leaders each year.
Since its inception, the UN General Assembly, also known as UNGA, has been a forum for
lofty declarations, sometimes audacious rhetoric, and rigorous debate over the world’s most
vexing issues, including poverty, development, peace, and security. As the most
representative organ of the United Nations, the assembly holds a general debate in the
organization’s New York headquarters from September to December and convenes special
sessions at other times to address a range of issues.

The range of the General Assembly's jurisdiction is extremely broad. Besides its
powers of discussion and recommendation as to international disputes, it is specifically
charged with studying and making recommendations that will (1) promote international
cooperation and the development of a code of international law, (2) promote economic,
social, and cultural cooperation among the nations and the realization of basic human
freedoms everywhere, and (3) have general supervision over the trusteeship system in
nonstrategic areas.

What is the role of the UN General Assembly?

The UN General Assembly is the only universally representative body of the United
Nations. The other major bodies are the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council,
the Secretariat, and the International Court of Justice. As delineated in the Charter of the
United Nations, the function of the General Assembly is to discuss, debate, and make
recommendations on subjects pertaining to international peace and security, including
development, disarmament, human rights, international law, and the peaceful arbitration of
disputes between nations.

It elects the nonpermanent members of the Security Council and other UN bodies, such
as the Human Rights Council (HRC), and appoints the secretary-general based on the
Security Council’s recommendation. It considers reports from the other four organs of the
United Nations, assesses the financial situations of member states, and approves the UN
budget, its most concrete role. The assembly works with the Security Council to elect the
judges of the International Court of Justice.

There are 193 UN member states, each with a vote in the General Assembly. The
assembly’s president changes with each annual session and is elected by the body itself. The
president of the seventy-eighth session is Francis, who has spent nearly forty years as a
diplomat and currently serves as Trinidad and Tobago’s permanent trade representative to the
United Nations. The president is empowered to enforce rules of procedure, such as opening
debate, setting the agenda, limiting speaking times for representatives, and suspending or
adjourning debate.

The assembly has made an effort in recent years to make its work more substantive and
relevant. Resolution 59/313, adopted in 2005, established a more influential role for the
assembly’s president by granting the position the power to propose debates and expanding
the resources available to this office. In 2019, the assembly established an ad hoc working
group dedicated to revitalizing and reporting on the efficacy of the General Assembly. At the
same time, current Secretary-General António Guterres has called for broader action to
improve the UN system. During the 2021 General Assembly session, he presented the Our
Common Agenda report, which proposed sweeping actions to improve global cooperation,
including by upgrading the United Nations. In 2024, the General Assembly is expected to
hold a Summit of the Future that aims to create a so-called Pact for the Future that will
“reinvigorate the multilateral system and make it fit for the challenges of today and
tomorrow,” Guterres said.

(1)The General Assembly has the power to censure states for violating UN Charter principles.
For example, it can bar countries from serving on UN panels and kick countries out of the
UN Human Rights Council if they commit egregious human rights abuses.
In the 1960s, the assembly suspended the South African delegation from the United Nations
because the country was practicing apartheid, in violation of Security Council resolutions and
international law. South Africa was readmitted in 1994, following its democratic transition.
In 1992, after the dissolution of Yugoslavia, an assembly resolution denied Serbia and
Montenegro the automatic inheritance of the former Yugoslav seat, requiring them to reapply
for UN membership and forgo participation in assembly deliberations.

Israel was barred for many years from serving on UN commissions and panels because the
slots are allotted according to membership in the UN’s five regional groups. Arab states had
blocked Israel from membership in the Asia-Pacific Group, which includes other Middle
Eastern states. Israel was made a temporary member of the Western European and Others
Group in 2000 by the United States and some European countries, and became a permanent
member in 2014.

(2)In 2012, the General Assembly voted 133–12, with 33 abstentions, to denounce the Syrian
government for atrocities committed since the Syrian civil war started a year earlier. A
decade later, the General Assembly approved the creation of a new UN body to investigate
the whereabouts of the estimated one hundred thousand people who disappeared during the
conflict. In 2019, the General Assembly passed a nonbinding resolution condemning human
rights abuses against Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar. It passed 134–9, with 28 abstentions.

(3)In recent years, Russia has been the target of General Assembly resolutions. In 2014, the
body adopted a nonbinding resolution—passed 100–1, with 58 abstentions—declaring
Russia’s annexation of Crimea illegal. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the
General Assembly called an emergency session and voted 141–5, with 35 abstentions, to
condemn the invasion and demand that Russia immediately withdraw its forces. It later voted
to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. (Libya was the last country to lose its
seat on the council, in 2011.)

(4)Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1948, two years after the assembly convened
its inaugural session, it promulgated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which
contained thirty articles outlining global standards for human rights. A historic act, it
proclaimed the “inherent dignity” and “equal and inalienable rights of all members of the
human family.”

The seventy-seventh General Assembly session in 2022 was held as countries continued to
suffer from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and Russia’s war
in Ukraine. It focused on confronting these global challenges as well as renewing attention on
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to end poverty by 2030; and
preparing a Pact for the Future, to be unveiled in 2024. At the seventy-eighth General
Assembly meeting in September 2023, Session President Dennis Francis says he will
prioritize “peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability.”

Security Council
The United Nations Security Council deals with matters of international peace and security. It
has the authority to make decisions that member states are obligated to follow. The Security
Council can adopt legally binding resolutions that impose sanctions, authorize the use of
force, establish peacekeeping missions, and more. These decisions are based on provisions
outlined in the UN Charter.

The Security Council consists of five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United
Kingdom, and the United States) with veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected
for two-year terms. Decisions often involve negotiations, compromises, and diplomatic
efforts to achieve consensus among members.

The legal implications of Security Council decisions vary. For example, sanctions and
embargoes imposed by the Security Council are legally binding on all member states. The use
of force, such as military intervention, can be authorized by the Security Council to maintain
or restore international peace and security. These actions are seen as upholding international
law, but debates sometimes arise about their legitimacy and interpretation.

The United Nations Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and
security. Its primary functions include:

Conflict Resolution: The Security Council addresses and resolves conflicts between states
that could threaten international peace and security. It can recommend peaceful solutions,
negotiate settlements, and impose sanctions to pressure parties to comply.
Peacekeeping: The Security Council can establish and authorize UN peacekeeping missions
to help countries in conflict maintain ceasefires, implement peace agreements, and stabilize
post-conflict situations.

Sanctions: The Security Council can impose economic, diplomatic, or military sanctions on
countries or entities that pose a threat to international peace. These sanctions aim to pressure
the target into changing their behavior.

Authorization of Military Action: In certain cases, the Security Council can authorize the
use of military force to restore or maintain peace. This action is usually taken when peaceful
measures have proven insufficient.

Counterterrorism: The Security Council addresses and combats threats posed by terrorism,
including adopting resolutions to prevent terrorist activities, freeze assets of terrorist groups,
and implement measures to prevent the financing of terrorism.

Non-Proliferation: The Security Council addresses the proliferation of nuclear, chemical,

and biological weapons. It can impose sanctions on states or entities involved in such
activities and work to prevent the spread of these weapons.

Protection of Civilians: The Security Council focuses on the protection of civilians in armed
conflicts, advocating for adherence to international humanitarian law and addressing issues
such as refugee crises and human rights abuses.
Prevention of Genocide and Atrocities: The Security Council is responsible for preventing
and responding to cases of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic
cleansing. It can establish international criminal tribunals to hold individuals accountable for
such crimes.

Conflict Prevention: The Security Council actively engages in conflict prevention by

identifying potential threats to peace and taking measures to prevent the escalation of
conflicts before they become full-blown crises.

Humanitarian Access: The Security Council can demand access for humanitarian assistance
to areas affected by conflict or natural disasters, ensuring that aid reaches those in need.

The decisions and actions of the Security Council are legally binding on UN member states,
and its work contributes to the maintenance of global peace and security.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

The United Nations Economic and Security Council is one of the six principal organsof the
United Nations responsible for coordinating the economicand social fields of the social
organization .

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the United Nations' central platform for
reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable development. A gift from Sweden,
originally designed by the Swedish architect Svem Markelius. Renovated in 2013, the
Chamber features the new curtain 'Diaologos' by Ann Edholm

The Council has 54members ,elected by the General Assembly for three-years terms.It meets
throughout the year and hold a major session in July,during which a high -level meeting of
Ministers discusses major economic,social and humanitarian issues. It is the central platform
for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and
coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. It is also responsible for the
follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.

By Executive Order, the NEC has four key functions: to coordinate policy-making for
domestic and international economic issues; to give economic policy advice to the President;
to ensure that policy decisions and programs are consistent with the President's economic
goals; and to monitor implementation of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
chamber at United Nations headquarters. The Founder is Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar and the
Type is the principal organ of the United Nations as well as the Legal status is
ActiveHeadquartersNewYork City, United States; Geneva, Switzerland

The Trusteeship Council

The UN Charter established the Trusteeship Council as one of the main organs of the United
Nations, and assigned to it the task of supervising the administration of Trust Territories
placed under the International Trusteeship System. The main goals of the International
Trusteeship System were to promote the advancement of the inhabitants of Trust Territories
and their progressive development towards self-government or independence.

The Trusteeship Council is made up of the five permanent members of the Security Council
and there are China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United
States.

There were eleven trust territories under the administration of the UN Trusteeship Council.

1. Western Samoa
2. Tanganyika
3. Rwanda-Urundi
4. Cameroons under British administration
5. Cameroons under French administration
6. Togoland under British administration
7. Togoland under French administration
8. New Guinea
9. Nauru
10. Strategic Trust Territory/ Trust territory of the Pacific Islands
11. Italian Somaliland

The United Nations trust territories were the successors of the remaining League of Nations
mandates, and came into being when the League of Nations ceased to exist in 1946. All the
trust territories were administered through the United Nations Trusteeship Council and
authorized to a single country. The concept is distinct from a territory temporarily and
directly governed by the United Nations. All trust territories have either attained self-
government or independence.

The aims of the Trusteeship System have been fulfilled to the extent that all Trust Territories
have attained self-government or independence, either as separate States or by joining
neighbouring independent countries.

Under the Charter, the Trusteeship Council is authorized to examine and discuss reports from
the Administering Authority on the political, economic, social and educational advancement
of the peoples of Trust Territories and, in consultation with the Administering Authority, to
examine petitions from and undertake periodic and other special missions to Trust Territories.

At its seventy-third session in 2021, the Trusteeship Council elected Nathalie Broadhurst
Estival of France as its President and James Kariuki of the United Kingdom as its Vice
President. The Trusteeship Council will meet again in December 2023.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations
(UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in
April 1946.
The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six principal
organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (United States of
America).

The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to
it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized
United Nations organs and specialized agencies.

The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the
United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a Registry, its
administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French.

Example of ICJ: Corfu Channel case

The Corfu Channel case was the first public international law case heard before the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) between 1947 and 1949, concerning state responsibility
for damages at sea, as well as the doctrine of innocent passage. A contentious case, it was the
first of any type heard by the ICJ after its establishment in 1945.

In 1946, during the Greek civil war, a series of three encounters took place in the Corfu
Channel, between Albania and the United Kingdom. On 15 May, the cruisers Orion and
Superb passed through the northern part of the Corfu Channel Albanian shore batteries
opened fire on the two ships, coming within 200 yards (180 m) of the squadron, but striking
neither vessel. The United Kingdom lodged a formal protest, demanding an apology from
Albania stated that the ships had violated Albanian territorial waters, and asserted that
passage through the Corfu Channel required Albanian permission. On 2 August, the United
Kingdom stated that Royal Navy ships would return any fire in the future.

The narrowness of the Corfu Channel and rocky shallows north of the island effectively
pushed ships to the edge of Albania's maritime border, occasionally over the line sometimes
to within a mile of shore. Given the Albanian defenses, the tensions prompted by their
increasingly anti - Western ruler and a British government eager to reassert a strong naval
role in the region, a clash was perhaps inevitable .On 12 and 13 November, the Royal Navy
undertook a mine clearance operation in the Corfu Channel, Operation Retail, which took
place in Albanian territorial waters without advance permission from that country.
Subsequently, the Albanian government formally complained to the United Nations,
describing the operation as an incursion into Albanian territorial waters.

On 22 October, a Royal Navy flotilla composed of cruisers Mauritius and Leander, and
destroyers Saumarez and Volage, entered the Corfu Channel. The ships were at Action
Stations, with orders to return fire if they were attacked. Their guns were not loaded , and
were in a neutral position - trained fore and aft , rather than aimed at the shore .At 2:53 p.m. ,
Saumarez struck a mine and was heavily damaged ; thirty - six people aboard were killed .
Volage took her in tow, only to strike another mine at 4:16 p.m. .; eight people were killed. A
total of forty - four people died and forty - two others were injured, and Saumarez was
damaged beyond repair .Shore batteries in the vicinity were observed by the ships, but neither
side took any action.

On 9 December, the United Kingdom demanded reparations from Albania. Albania denied
involvement in the laying of mines, blaming Greece. In January 1947, the United Kingdom
attempted to involve the United Nations Security Council. The Soviet Union objected, but the
Security Council heard the British complaint .A fact - finding committee consisting of Polish,
Australian and Colombian representatives reached no conclusions despite ten meetings .A
Soviet veto, supported by Poland, blocked a resolution that would have accused Albania of
indirect responsibility for the minefield. The Security Council passed a resolution on 9 April
1947, with the Soviet Union and Poland abstaining, recommending that the United Kingdom
and Albania resolve the dispute in the International Court of Justice .This recommendation
was made pursuant to Article 36, paragraph 3 of the United Nations Charter .On 22 May, the
United Kingdom brought suit against Albania. The ICJ, being permanently in session, was
available to begin hearing the case immediately. Despite having a long backlog of matters for
consideration, such as a request for an advisory opinion on Article 4 of the United Nations
Charter, the Corfu Channel case was considered first.

The UN Secretariat (One of the principle organs of the UN)

The Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General, UN secretariats and tens of thousands of

international UN staff members who carry out the substantive and administrative work of the
United Nations as mandated by the General Assembly and the Organization's other principal
bodies. At its head is the Secretary-General, who provides overall administrative guidance.

The Secretary-General is Chief Administrative Officer of the Organization, appointed by the

General Assembly in accordance with Article 97 of the charter, on the recommendation of the
Security Council for a five-year, renewable term. The Secretary-General's selection is
therefore subject to the veto of any of the five permanent members of the Security Council.
The Secretary-General is also a symbol of the Organization's ideals, and an advocate for all
the world's peoples, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Much of the UN Secretariat is located in New York City, USA. The UN also has three major
Offices outside of its Headquarters and five Regional Economic Commissions. The main
functions of the Secretariat are to gather and prepare background information on various
issues so that government delegates can study the facts and make recommendations, to help
carry out the decisions made by the different organs of the United Nations and to organize
international conferences.

UN staff members are recruited internationally and locally, and work in duty stations and on
peacekeeping missions all around the world. But serving the cause of peace in a violent world
is a dangerous occupation. Since the founding of the United Nations, hundreds of brave men
and women have given their lives in its service.

The total population of the staff of the global Secretariat as of 31 December 2021 is 35,762.
This can be found in the report "Composition of the Secretariat: staff demographics - Report
of the Secretary-General" which contains a demographic analysis of the staff of the
Secretariat.

The current Secretary-General of the United Nations is Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres
GCC GCL is a Portuguese politician and diplomat. Since 2017, he has served as secretary-
general of the United Nations, the ninth person to hold this title. He served as president of the
Socialist International from 1999 to 2005, and was the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees from 2005 to 2015. Guterres was elected secretary-general in October 2016,
succeeding Ban Ki Moon at the beginning of the following year.

International law is necessary for the nation, but if international law compare to municipal
law, municipal law is stronger than international law because the states look forward their
national interest. If international law deviate the principles of municipal law, we obey only
municipal law. International law solves international problems. Likewise municipal law
solves domestic problems. Therefore, both international law and municipal law are essential.