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United NationsUnited NationsGlobal IssuesGlobal Issues

How the UN WorksHow the UN Works Established on 24 October 1945Established on 24 October 1945

51 countries were committed to preserving 51 countries were committed to preserving peace through international cooperationpeace through international cooperation

UN Membership: 192 countriesUN Membership: 192 countries

States agree to accept obligations of the States agree to accept obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out , an international treaty that sets out basic principlesbasic principles

How the UN WorksHow the UN Works According to the Charter the UN has 4 According to the Charter the UN has 4

basic principles:basic principles:1. Maintain international peace and security1. Maintain international peace and security2. Develop friendly relations among nations2. Develop friendly relations among nations3. Cooperate in solving international problems 3. Cooperate in solving international problems

and promote respect for human rightsand promote respect for human rights4. Be the center for harmonizing the actions of 4. Be the center for harmonizing the actions of

nations nations

How the UN WorksHow the UN Works The UN is not a world governmentThe UN is not a world government It does not make lawsIt does not make laws Large or small, rich or poor, and with Large or small, rich or poor, and with

differing political views and social differing political views and social systems:systems:• All member states have a voiceAll member states have a voice

• All member states have a voteAll member states have a vote

Main BodiesMain Bodies General Assembly (New York)General Assembly (New York) Security Council (NY)Security Council (NY) Economic and Social Council (NY)Economic and Social Council (NY) Trusteeship Council (NY)Trusteeship Council (NY) Secretariat (NY)Secretariat (NY) International Court of Justice (Netherlands)International Court of Justice (Netherlands)

General AssemblyGeneral Assembly The main deliberative organ of the UNThe main deliberative organ of the UN Composed of all member statesComposed of all member states Each member has one vote.Each member has one vote. Decisions on important issues require two Decisions on important issues require two

thirds majority votethirds majority vote• Peace and SecurityPeace and Security• Admissions of new membersAdmissions of new members• Budget mattersBudget matters

Decisions on other issues: simple majorityDecisions on other issues: simple majority

Functions and Powers Functions and Powers

Maintain international peace and security Maintain international peace and security (disarmament)(disarmament)

Make recommendations to the Security councilMake recommendations to the Security council Promote international political cooperationPromote international political cooperation Develop international lawDevelop international law Promote human rightsPromote human rights Over see international collaboration in the Over see international collaboration in the

economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, and economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, and educational and health fieldseducational and health fields

Functions and PowersFunctions and Powers Receive and consider reports from the Security Receive and consider reports from the Security

Council and other UN organsCouncil and other UN organs Consider and approve UN budgetConsider and approve UN budget Establish financial assessments of Member Establish financial assessments of Member

StatesStates Elect non-permanent members to SC and other Elect non-permanent members to SC and other

UN councils and organsUN councils and organs Appoint Secretary GeneralAppoint Secretary General

General AssemblyGeneral Assembly Subsidiary Organs

Committee on Information

Human Rights CouncilHuman Rights Council

CandidaciesCandidacies

Security CouncilSecurity Council Primary responsibility to maintain peace and Primary responsibility to maintain peace and

securitysecurity A representative of each member must be A representative of each member must be

present at all times at the UN Headquarterspresent at all times at the UN Headquarters 15 Council Members15 Council Members Five permanent members:Five permanent members:

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

“Non Violence”

Security CouncilSecurity Council Ten non-permanent members elected by the General Ten non-permanent members elected by the General

Assembly for two year termsAssembly for two year terms• BelgiumBelgium• Congo (Republic of the)Congo (Republic of the)• GhanaGhana• IndonesiaIndonesia• ItalyItaly• PanamaPanama• PeruPeru• QatarQatar• SlovakiaSlovakia• South AfricaSouth Africa

Each member has one voteEach member has one vote

Japanese Peace Bell

Security CouncilSecurity Council In the event of fighting the Council:In the event of fighting the Council:

• Tries to secure a ceasefireTries to secure a ceasefire• May send peace keeping missionMay send peace keeping mission• Impose economic sanctionsImpose economic sanctions• Order an arms embargoOrder an arms embargo• Rare occasions “all means necessary”Rare occasions “all means necessary”

The Council makes recommendations to the The Council makes recommendations to the General Assembly on:General Assembly on:• appointment of Secretary Generalappointment of Secretary General• admission of new Members to the UNadmission of new Members to the UN

Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council Council has 54 membersCouncil has 54 members

• Elected by the General AssemblyElected by the General Assembly• Three year termsThree year terms

Serves as central forum for discussing Serves as central forum for discussing international economic and social issuesinternational economic and social issues

Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council This Council is responsible for:This Council is responsible for:

• Promoting higher standards of livingPromoting higher standards of living• Full employmentFull employment• Economic and social progressEconomic and social progress• Identifying solutions to international economic, Identifying solutions to international economic,

social and health problemssocial and health problems• Facilitating international cultural and Facilitating international cultural and

educational cooperationeducational cooperation• Encourage universal respect for human rights Encourage universal respect for human rights

and fundamental freedomsand fundamental freedomsECOSOCECOSOC

Trusteeship CouncilTrusteeship Council Suspended operation 1 Nov, 1994Suspended operation 1 Nov, 1994 Palau: last remaining UN trust territoryPalau: last remaining UN trust territory Council amended rule to meet annuallyCouncil amended rule to meet annually Meet when required by President, General Meet when required by President, General

Assembly, Security Council or a majority of membersAssembly, Security Council or a majority of members Established to promote the advancement of Established to promote the advancement of

developing countries towards self-government or developing countries towards self-government or independence.independence.

China, France, Russian Federation, UK and USChina, France, Russian Federation, UK and US

Secretariat Secretariat International staff working in duty stations International staff working in duty stations

around the worldaround the world Carry out diverse day to day work of the Carry out diverse day to day work of the

UNUN Survey economic and social trendsSurvey economic and social trends Prepare studies on human rights and Prepare studies on human rights and

sustainable developmentsustainable development Inform the media about work of the UNInform the media about work of the UN

SecretariatSecretariat Organize international conferencesOrganize international conferences Interpret speechesInterpret speeches Translate documentsTranslate documents Staff 8,900 under a regular budget Staff 8,900 under a regular budget

from some 170 countriesfrom some 170 countries Take oath not to seek or receive Take oath not to seek or receive

instructions from any governmentinstructions from any government

International Court of JusticeInternational Court of Justice Hears cases involving legal disputes Hears cases involving legal disputes

among governmentsamong governments Clarifies questions of international lawClarifies questions of international law Interprets the UN CharterInterprets the UN Charter Composed of 15 judges, elected to office Composed of 15 judges, elected to office

for 9 year terms by UN GA&SCfor 9 year terms by UN GA&SC Official languages are English and FrenchOfficial languages are English and French

Specialized AgenciesSpecialized Agencies Linked to the UN but remain autonomous Linked to the UN but remain autonomous

(independent)(independent) ILOILO – International Labor Organization: improve – International Labor Organization: improve

working conditions and employment agenciesworking conditions and employment agencies WHOWHO – World Health Organization: solve health – World Health Organization: solve health

problems, health education, immunizationsproblems, health education, immunizations The World BankThe World Bank – provides loans and economic – provides loans and economic

assistance to nationsassistance to nations WTOWTO – World Trade Organization: oversees – World Trade Organization: oversees

world tradeworld trade