1. The
United Nations is an association of states which have pledged themselves to
maintain international peace and security and cooperate in saving international
political, economic, social, natural and humanitarian problems towards
achieving this end. The name ‘United Nations’ was coined by President Franklin
D Roosevelt and was first used in the declaration of January 1, 1942, called ‘Declaration
of the United Nation’, when representatives of 26 nations pledged the support
of their governments to continue fighting the Axis powers until they were
finally defeated. Prior to that, a meeting between Franklin D Roosevelt,
President of the United States and Winston Churchill Prime Minister of Great
Britain resulted a signing of the Atlantic Charter on August 14, 1941 which
laid down a set of principles for world peace and cooperation among nations as
well as not to extend their territories and promote every peoples right to
independents and estimation,3 Two years later (October 1943), he leader again
conferred, this time with Josheph Stalin of Russia, in Teheran (Iran) and
agreed on the need for an effective instrument for maintaining international peace.
2. At
the Dumbarion Oarks Conference in Washington ,
D.C. US Britain United states Yalta
3. The
world body was formed on the “ashes” of is predecessor, the league of Nations,
created in 1920 in the aftermath of word war (1914-1918), with the same
objective of maintaining world peace.
4. In
1945, representatives from 50 nations met in San Francisco (USA) to phrase the
basic character for a world organistion which would “save succeeding generation
from the scourge of war ….” The charter was signed on June 26, 1945 by these nation. Poland
5. Preliminary
drafts of the charter, which had been worked by specialists, were drafted in
the final form at San Francisco October 24, 1945 . This day is now the
official birthday of the UN and is celebrated each year as the United Nations
Day throughout the world.
6. The
specific purposes of the UN, as outlined in the charter, are to (1) maintain
international peace and security, (2) Develop friendly relations among nations,
based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of
peoples, (3) Cooperate in finding a solution for international political,
social, economic, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect
for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and (4) Serve as a centre for
coordinating the actions of nations to attain these common goals.
7. To
maintain peace and security in the world, the UN adopts various measures such
as (i) appointing a body of persons to help in bringing about an agreement
between the opposing nations in their dispute; (ii) sending investigation
missions to troubled areas to gain first-hand information; (iii) securing
agreements to reduce armaments and work for disarmaments; and (iv) preventing
genocide by appealing to member countries to observe principles enunciated in
the Universal Declaration of Human rights.
UN STRUCTURE
8. General Assembly : The General Assembly is the main
deliberative body of the United Nations and consists of all members of the UN.
While each member-Nation can send five delegates and six alternates to the
Assembly, it has only one vote. A two-thirds majority is needed to pass
resolutions on important questions such as recommendation on peace and
security, admission of new members, electing members to the councils, budget
considerations, and so forth. Other questions are decided by a simple majority
vote. No member – nation in the General Assembly has a veto power.
9. The
Assembly meets regularly once a year (beginning on the third Tuesday of
September) and also holds special or emergency sessions, whenever necessary. As
the “town meeting” of the world, the General Assembly can discuss any issue in
any area except those issues on the Security Council agenda. When, however, the
Security Council is unable to reach a decision on political action, under the
“Uniting for Peace” resolution (adopted by the General Assembly in November
1950), on a simple majority vote, it can drop the issue from its agenda. The
General Assembly can then deal with the problem and make its recommendations.
10. The
General Assembly receives and makes recommendations on reports from the
Economic and Social Council and Trusteeship Council. In this capacity, the
Assembly can begin studies on, and offer plans for international cooperation in
politics, law, economics, social welfare, education, health and human rights.
On the recommendation of the Security Council, the General Assembly elects the
Secretary-General. Voting separately, the Security Council and the General
Assembly elect the judges of the International Court of Justice. The Assembly
votes on new members approved by the Security Council and can also expel or
suspend member-countries. The Assembly also elects the non-permanent members of
the Economic and Social Council, as well as certain members of the Trusteeship
Council.
11. Security Council : The Security
Council has the basic responsibility for the maintenance of international peace
and security. It is also responsible for carrying out the functions of the UN
in trust territories classed as “Strategic Areas” although originally made up
of 11 members the strength of the Council has been rasied by an amendment to
the Charter, to 15 members five of which-the United States, Britain, China,
France and Russia- are permanent members . Its ten non-permanent members are
elected for a two-year term. Retiring members are not eligible for immediate
re-election. The presidency of the Security Council is alternated on a monthly
basis by its member-states (in English
alphabetical order)
12. Each member of the Security Council has a
vote .In voting on substantive rather than procedural measures, all permanent
member must vote “Yes” if the measure is to pass. A single negative vote (veto) by a permanent member
automatically prevents the proposal from being approved “ Substantive” measures
are those which require action by member
states, thus involving political
decisions; “procedural” measure pertain to decision on the internal
functioning of the Council work may be okayed by nine votes. The ten non permanent member of the Security Council
do not have the veto power. Members of
the council must always be represented
at UN headquarter since the Council can
be called into session any time in a matter of hours.
13. When
a complaint is brought before the Security Council, the Council usually
recommended negotiation or mediation as a means of setting the dispute. If this fails and fighting breaks out
Security Council has the power to take collective action in recommending diplomatic
and economic sanctions. Armed forces supplied member nations may be called to repeat
aggressor or act as a buffer until the issue is setter. As mentioned in the
preceding paragraphs Security Council
also recommends (to the General Assembly) new nations for members and name its candidate for Secretary General.
Along with General Assembly, it elects judges to the International Court of
Justice. It has two standard committee, one for considering the admission new
members and the Committee of Experts on Rules of procedure.
14. Economic and Social Council :
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), reporting to the General Assembly
works on economic, social cultural and humanitarian problems. It is made up of representative of 54 members
states (elected by a two thirds majority of the General Assembly). Any country,
not a member of ECOSOC, involved in a problem under discussion is invited to
participate without the right to vote.
At least two regular sessions of
ECOSOC are held each year one at UN
headquarters in New York Geneva Switzerland
15. ECOSOC
has established five Regional Economic Commissions. These are ECE (Economic Commission for
Europe- Geneva) ; ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the pacific Bangkok Latin America and the Caribbean Santiago Chile
16. Trusteeship
Council The Trusteeship Council prepare people for self government or
independence . Membership consists of
permanent members of the security council plus those nations which administer
trust territories and the needed
additional members to maintain an equal balance between administering and non
administering antics. The later are elected by the General
assembly. The trusteeship Council
supervises the administration of various territories governed by nations designated by the UN as trustees. The administrative power and the Council see
to it that power and the Council see to it that social economic and
educational progress is made and that
the territories are prepared for
effective self government.
17. Since
all 11 trust territories have attained their
to self determination the work of the Council has been suspended and is
under review. The UN Secretary General Kofu Anna suggested
in July 1947 that is should be used as a forum to exercise their trusteeship for the global commons
environment and resource system.
resource systems.
18. International
Court of Justice The Internal;
Court of Justice established by the UN Charter settles internal legal problems.
All members of United Nations come under the rules of this court although they
are not required to bring cases before it.
The Court is made up of 15 judges chosen without regard to
nationality who are elected by the
General Assembly and the Security Council No two judges may represent the same
country, but judges can when their nine year term expires be re-elected.
19. Case
may be referred to the Court by member nations involved in a dispute in which
case the Courts decision is binding upon them. Advisory opinions may be requested by the UN itself,
in which case the Courts opinion must be accepted by a two thirds majority
vote. All questions are decided by
majority vote of the judges present.
Where voters are equal the President of the Court casts the deciding
vote.
20. The President and Vice -President of the Court
are elected for three years and may when their term expires, be
re-elected. The Court is permanently in
session at The Hague Netherlands
21. Secretariat
: The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General. He is appointed by the General Assembly on
the recommendation of the Security Council for a term of five years and is the
chief administrative officer of the United Nations. He also has the political
responsibility to carry out the aims of the Charter. The Secretary General may bring any matter
before the Security Council which he
considers a threat to international peace. He presides a Secretary General or
authorizes a deputy to do Security
Council which she considers at threat to
international peace. He presides as
Secretary General or authorizes a deputy
to do so over all meetings of the
General or authorizes a deputy to do so, over all meetings of the
General Assembly and over major UN
organs. He must also carry out all functions entrusted to him by these organs
and submit an annual report to the General Assembly on the work of the UN.
22. Offices
of the secretary-general consist of the Executive Office; Deputy
Secretary-General Under-Secretary for General Assembly Affairs; Under
-Secretary for Special Political Affairs and Legal Affairs; Offices of the
Controller of Personnel. The Secretariat is organised into administrative
units, each of which is headed by an Under-Secretary. These include the
following: Department of Political and Security Council Affairs; Department of
Political and Security Council Affairs, Department of Economic and Social
Affairs; Department of Trusteeship and information from Non-Self Governing
Territories Geneva
The Secreatary-General is assisted by a Deputy
Secretary-General, 12 Under-Secretaries General and over 12
Assistant-Secretaries General. The first Secretary-General was Trygve Halvdan L
(