Development of the United NationsDevelopment of the United Nations

Current Secretary General Current Secretary General Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moon

http://www.un.org/http://www.un.org/ http://http://www.un.org/aboutun/charterwww.un.org/aboutun/charter//

What is the United NationsWhat is the United Nations The UN was created in The UN was created in

response to WWII after response to WWII after the failure of the the failure of the League of NationsLeague of Nations

Out of WWII, came a Out of WWII, came a need for a worldwide need for a worldwide forum where nations forum where nations would be able to would be able to communicate communicate peacefullypeacefully

Today it’s comprised of Today it’s comprised of 191 member nations191 member nations

The UN CharterThe UN Charter

In 1945, representatives from 50 In 1945, representatives from 50 countries met in San Francisco at the countries met in San Francisco at the UN Conference on International UN Conference on International Organization to draw up the UN Organization to draw up the UN Charter Charter

The UN officially came into existence The UN officially came into existence on October 24, 1945on October 24, 1945• United Nations Day is now United Nations Day is now

celebrated on this day. celebrated on this day.

What is its FunctionWhat is its Function

Promote international cooperation Promote international cooperation Maintain peace and security throughout Maintain peace and security throughout

the worldthe world Develop friendly relations amongst Develop friendly relations amongst

nationsnations Cooperate in solving international Cooperate in solving international

problemsproblems Promote respect for human rightsPromote respect for human rights Be a center for harmonizing the actions of Be a center for harmonizing the actions of

nationsnations

Organs of the UNOrgans of the UN

General Assembly General Assembly Security CouncilSecurity Council Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council Trusteeship CouncilTrusteeship Council The SecretariatThe Secretariat The International Court of JusticeThe International Court of Justice

• Also known as The HagueAlso known as The Hague

General AssemblyGeneral Assembly

““Parliament of Nations”Parliament of Nations” Each member has one voteEach member has one vote Decision on key issues such as Decision on key issues such as

international peace and international peace and security and admitting new security and admitting new members are decided by two-members are decided by two-thirds majoritythirds majority

All other votes are decided by All other votes are decided by simple majoritysimple majority

Holds annual sessions from Holds annual sessions from September to DecemberSeptember to December

If necessary emergency If necessary emergency sessions can be called such as sessions can be called such as during September 11during September 11thth

Has six main committees who Has six main committees who carry out various tasks when carry out various tasks when the Assembly is not meetingthe Assembly is not meeting

Security CouncilSecurity Council

Fifteen Council membersFifteen Council members—five that are —five that are permanentpermanent• China China • FranceFrance• Russian FederationRussian Federation• United KingdomUnited Kingdom• United StatesUnited States

Other Council members Other Council members are elected by the are elected by the General Assembly for General Assembly for two year termstwo year terms

Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council

Coordinates the economic and social Coordinates the economic and social work of the United Nations and the UN work of the United Nations and the UN family of organizationsfamily of organizations

Plays key role in fostering international Plays key role in fostering international cooperation for developmentcooperation for development

Has 54 members, elected by General Has 54 members, elected by General Assembly for three-year termsAssembly for three-year terms

Trusteeship CouncilTrusteeship Council Was established to Was established to

provide international provide international supervision for 11 supervision for 11 Trust Territories Trust Territories administered by the administered by the member statesmember states

Ensure that adequate Ensure that adequate steps were taken to steps were taken to prepare the prepare the Territories for self-Territories for self-government or government or independenceindependence

The HagueThe Hague Known as the Known as the

International Court of International Court of Justice, or the World Justice, or the World CourtCourt

Is the main justice Is the main justice organ of the UNorgan of the UN

Participation by states Participation by states in a proceeding is in a proceeding is voluntary, but if a state voluntary, but if a state agrees to participate, it agrees to participate, it is obligated to comply is obligated to comply with the Court’s with the Court’s decisiondecision

The SecretariatThe Secretariat

Carries out the substantive Carries out the substantive and administrative work of and administrative work of the United Nations as the United Nations as directed by the General directed by the General Assembly, Security Council, Assembly, Security Council, and the other organs.and the other organs.

At its head is the Secretary-At its head is the Secretary-General, who provides General, who provides overall administrative overall administrative guidanceguidance

Duty stations include the Duty stations include the UN headquarters in New UN headquarters in New York, as well as Geneva, York, as well as Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi, and other Vienna, Nairobi, and other locations.locations.

The UN FamilyThe UN Family Consists if 14 independent organizations also Consists if 14 independent organizations also

known as “specialized agencies” which are known as “specialized agencies” which are linked to the UN through cooperative linked to the UN through cooperative agreementsagreements

They have wide-ranging international They have wide-ranging international responsibilities in the economic, social, cultural, responsibilities in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health-related fieldseducational, and health-related fields

All these organizations have their own governing All these organizations have their own governing bodies, budgets, and secretariats.bodies, budgets, and secretariats.

Together, they provide technical assistance and Together, they provide technical assistance and other forms of practical help in virtually all other forms of practical help in virtually all economic and social areaseconomic and social areas

Governing Body: 2 main branchesGoverning Body: 2 main branches

11stst Branch- Branch--- -- Security Council with 11 Security Council with 11 (now 15) members with veto power(now 15) members with veto power• U.S.U.S.• USSR/Russia todayUSSR/Russia today• UKUK• FranceFrance• ChinaChina

22ndnd Branch- Branch--- General Assembly---- General Assembly--all all member nations have equal member nations have equal representationrepresentation

History of U.N.History of U.N. 1945—U.N. chartered in San Francisco as 1945—U.N. chartered in San Francisco as

an international peacekeeping an international peacekeeping organization with enforcement provisions.organization with enforcement provisions.

1948—The U.N. established the 1948—The U.N. established the World World Health OrganizationHealth Organization in Genevain Geneva. This . This welfare pact, rather than the peace welfare pact, rather than the peace aspect, has become more successful.aspect, has become more successful.

1949– U.N. building completed in New York 1949– U.N. building completed in New York City and has become the City and has become the World HeadWorld Head quarters. quarters.