Contemporary World recurrent issue.

The dependency on
voluntary contributions can lead to financial
Motion: This house believes that United instability and restrict the UN's ability to
Nations has failed. carry out its mandates effectively.
Inadequate response to humanitarian
AGREE- UN HAS FAILED crises: Despite having agencies and
programs dedicated to addressing
Here are some reasons why the UN has humanitarian emergencies, the UN has
been perceived as having failed in certain faced criticism for its delayed or insufficient
aspects: responses to crises, such as the Rohingya
refugee crisis or the humanitarian situation
Ineffective resolution of conflicts: The UN in Venezuela.
has faced criticism for its inability to prevent Lack of accountability: There have been
or effectively resolve numerous conflicts concerns about the lack of accountability for
around the world. Examples include the human rights abuses committed by some
ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and member states. In some instances,
South Sudan. The Security Council's veto countries with poor human rights records
power of the permanent members, which have been elected to important UN bodies,
can hinder decisive action, is often cited as raising questions about the organization's
a factor. commitment to its own principles.
Lack of enforcement mechanisms: While Geopolitical biases: The UN has been
the UN can pass resolutions and sanctions, accused of being influenced by geopolitical
it often lacks the means to enforce them. biases and power dynamics, with certain
This has resulted in instances where regions or countries receiving more
resolutions are disregarded or violated attention and support than others. This
without facing significant consequences, perception of bias undermines the credibility
undermining the UN's authority. and effectiveness of the organization.
Political divisions and power struggles: The
UN consists of member states with diverse
interests and ideologies, leading to political U.N. Failures
divisions that hamper collective decision- Some of the more well-known U.N. efforts
making. These divisions, especially among that ended in failure or a publicized scandal
the five permanent members of the Security include:
Council, can hinder the organization's ability
to respond effectively to global challenges. The 1994 Rwanda Mission: During this
Inefficient bureaucracy: The UN's undertaking, the U.N. tried to stop the
bureaucratic structure and decision-making Rwandan genocide, but the Hutus
processes have been criticized for being slaughtered nearly a million members of the
slow, cumbersome, and overly bureaucratic. Tutsi minority.
This can impede the organization's ability to
address urgent issues in a timely manner. Cholera in Haiti: After the 2010 earthquake,
Limited financial resources: The UN relies U.N.-led Nepali aid workers were blamed for
heavily on contributions from member spreading cholera throughout Haiti. More
states, and funding shortfalls have been a than 10,000 people died from the outbreak.
 to be Reformed- Volume 19 The United
Oil for Food Program: This initiative was Nations Organization: What Future?)
designed to allow Iraq to sell oil through the - [ ] UNESCO awarded its 2005 José Martí
U.N. in exchange for food and medicine. International Prize to Venezuelan President
But, accusations surfaced that much of the Hugo Chávez.
money was funneled to the Iraqi - [ ] The Martí prize is intended to recognize
government and to U.N. officials. those who have contributed to the “struggle
for liberty” in Latin America. Chávez is
Sexual abuse allegations: In early 2005, clearly not among this group, and the award
U.N. peacekeepers were accused of rape or was a major embarrassment to the United
paying for sex in the Republic of Congo. Nations, illustrating a longstanding lack of
Similar allegations of sexual misconduct moral clarity within the world body on issues
were also reported in Cambodia, Haiti and of individual freedom and liberty.
other countries. C. Peacekeeping Failures: The Congo
Peacekeeping Scandal (reference: The
Crisis in South Sudan: A U.N. peacekeeping Decline and Fall of the United Nations: Why
mission, which was established in 2011, the U.N. has Failed and How it Needs to be
was unsuccessful at protecting civilians Reformed- Volume 19 The United Nations
from death, torture or rape in South Sudan. Organization: What Future?)

A. Human Rights Failure (reference: The - [ ] The U.N.’s human rights failure has
Decline and Fall of the United Nations: Why been compounded by a series of
the U.N. has Failed and How it Needs to be peacekeeping scandals, from Bosnia to
Reformed- Volume 19 The United Nations Burundi to Sierra Leone. By far the worst
Organization: What Future?). instances of abuse have taken place in the
[Link] Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.N.’s
df second largest peacekeeping mission, with
- [ ] The United Nations has let down 16,000 peacekeepers.
millions of the world’s weakest and most - [ ] Personnel from the U.N. Mission in the
vulnerable people in Africa and the Balkans. Democratic Republic of the Congo stand
- [ ] There are echoes of Bosnia and accused of at least 150 major human rights
Rwanda today in the killing fields of Darfur violations. The crimes involve rape and
in the Sudan, a tragedy that the U.N. initially forced prostitution of women and young girls
refused to catego- rize as genocide. More across the country, including inside a
than 200,000 people have lost their lives, refugee camp in the town of Bunia in
many of them at the hands of the northeastern Congo. The alleged
Janjaweed militias, backed by the perpetrators include U.N. military and
Sudanese government. civilian personnel from Nepal, Morocco,
Tunisia, Uruguay, South Africa, Pakistan,
and France.
B. UNESCO and Hugo Chavez (reference: D. Corruption: The-Oil-for-Food Scandal
The Decline and Fall of the United Nations: (reference: The Decline and Fall of the
Why the U.N. has Failed and How it Needs United Nations: Why the U.N. has Failed
and How it Needs to be Reformed- Volume
19 The United Nations Organization: What respond to genocides and mass atrocities,
Future?) such as the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and
- [ ] The scandal surrounding the U.N.- the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.
administered Oil-for-Food program has also Sources:
done immense damage to the world * Luck, E. C. (2017). The UN Security
organization’s already shaky credibility. Council: From the Cold War to the 21st
- [ ] The Oil-for-Food program became the Century. Routledge.
hottest investigative issue on Capitol Hill in * Weiss, T. G., Forsythe, D. P., Coate, R.
a generation. Investigators examined huge A., & Pease, K. A. (2014). The United
amounts of evidence relating to corruption, Nations and Changing World Politics.
fraud, and bribery on an epic scale; French * Lack of accountability and
and Russian treachery; and the attempts of transparency: The UN has faced allegations
a brutal totalitarian regime to manipulate of corruption, mismanagement, and a lack
members of the U.N. Security Council. of transparency in its operations and
E. Ineffectiveness in resolving decision-making processes.
conflicts: The UN has been criticized for its Sources:
inability to effectively address and resolve * Weiss, T. G., & Daws, S. (Eds.). (2018).
various conflicts around the world. The Oxford Handbook on the United
Examples include ongoing conflicts in Syria, Nations. Oxford University Press.
Yemen, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. * Malone, D. M. (Ed.). (2014). The UN
Source: Security Council: From the Cold War to the
* Betts, A. (2019). The UN's Unfinished 21st Century.
Business: Reforming the United Nations for *
the Twenty-First Century. Brookings F. UNCLOS Arbitration Case: (Permanent
Institution Press. Court of Arbitration. (2016). The South
* Limited enforcement China Sea Arbitration (The Republic of the
capabilities: The UN's lack of enforcement Philippines v. The People's Republic of
mechanisms and the veto power held by the China). Retrieved from
five permanent members of the Security [Link]
Council (China, France, Russia, the United /175/2016/07/[Link])
Kingdom, and the United States) have
hindered its ability to take decisive action in In 2013, the Philippines initiated an
response to global crises. arbitration case against China under the
Sources: United Nations Convention on the Law of
* Weiss, T. G., & Daws, S. (Eds.). (2018). the Sea (UNCLOS). The case aimed to
The Oxford Handbook on the United clarify maritime entitlements and resolve
Nations. Oxford University Press. disputes in the South China Sea, including
* Thakur, R. (2017). The United Nations, the West Philippine Sea.
Peace and Security: From Collective
Security to the Responsibility to Protect. - [ ] UNCLOS serves as the primary
Cambridge University Press. international legal framework governing
* Failure to prevent genocides maritime rights and obligations, including
and mass atrocities: Critics argue that the the delimitation of maritime boundaries. The
UN has failed to prevent or effectively UN has played a role in promoting and
upholding the principles and provisions of resolution to the conflict. However, their full
UNCLOS in the context of the West implementation has faced significant
Philippine Sea disputes. challenges and setbacks.
- [ ] Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) * Peacekeeping and Monitoring:The OSCE,
Arbitration Case: with UN support, has deployed the Special
In 2016, the PCA issued a landmark ruling Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) to
in the arbitration case brought by the monitor the situation on the ground and
Philippines against China regarding the facilitate dialogue. While the SMM has
West Philippine Sea disputes. The tribunal played a critical role in reporting on
ruled in favor of the Philippines on several developments and supporting the peace
key issues, including the invalidity of process, a lasting solution has not been
China's "nine-dash line" claim. However, achieved.
China rejected the ruling and has not * Diplomatic Efforts: The UN has been
implemented it. Despite the arbitration involved in diplomatic efforts to resolve the
ruling, tensions and disputes in the West conflict, including through the engagement
Philippine Sea persist. China continues to of the Secretary-General and other high-
assert its claims and expand its presence in level officials. However, finding a political
the region through the construction of settlement that satisfies all parties involved
artificial islands and military installations. has proven to be a complex and ongoing
The Philippines and other countries in the process.
region have called for the peaceful
resolution of the disputes based on
international law, including UNCLOS.
Source: DISAGREE- UN SUCCEEDED
* Permanent Court of Arbitration. (2016). UN 4 MAIN GOALS (source: History
The South China Sea Arbitration (The Channel website)
Republic of the Philippines v. The People's [Link]
Republic of China). Retrieved from d-nations#section_3
[Link]
/175/2016/07/[Link] 1. Maintain international peace and security;
2. Develop friendly relations among nations;
G. The war in Eastern Ukraine, which began 3. Achieve international cooperation in
in 2014, remains ongoing, with periodic solving international problems; and
escalations and a fragile ceasefire in place. 4. Be a center for harmonizing the actions of
While the UN has been actively involved in nations in the attainment of these common
addressing the crisis, a comprehensive ends.
settlement has not yet been achieved. Here
are some key points: Here are some reasons why the UN can be
* Minsk Agreements:The UN, along with the considered a success, supported by
Organization for Security and Cooperation credible sources:
in Europe (OSCE), has supported the
implementation of the Minsk Agreements. Promotion of peace and security: The UN
These agreements, signed in 2014 and has played a crucial role in preventing and
2015, aimed to facilitate a peaceful resolving conflicts, and maintaining
international peace and security. According this regard. The UN Human Rights Council
to a study published in the Journal of and its mechanisms monitor human rights
Conflict Resolution, peacekeeping missions situations, conduct investigations, and
led by the UN have a positive impact on provide a platform for advocacy.
reducing conflict recurrence rates and Source: Office of the United Nations High
preventing the escalation of violence. Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Source: Fortna, V. P. (2004). Does (n.d.). About the Human Rights Council.
peacekeeping keep peace? International
intervention and the duration of peace after Environmental stewardship: The UN has
civil war. Journal of Conflict Resolution, been instrumental in addressing global
48(6), 731-754. environmental challenges. The United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Development and poverty reduction: The Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris
UN has made significant contributions to Agreement, negotiated under the auspices
global development efforts, including of the UN, have brought together nations to
poverty reduction, education, and take collective action on climate change
healthcare. The Millennium Development mitigation and adaptation.
Goals (MDGs), which were set by the UN in Source: United Nations Framework
2000, resulted in notable achievements, Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
such as halving extreme poverty rates and (n.d.). About the Convention.
achieving gender parity in primary education
in many regions. Multilateral cooperation: The UN provides a
Source: United Nations Development platform for nations to come together,
Programme (UNDP). (2015). The discuss, and cooperate on global issues.
Millennium Development Goals Report Multilateralism, facilitated by the UN, has
2015. been essential in tackling complex
challenges such as nuclear non-
Humanitarian assistance: The UN has been proliferation, arms control, and trade
at the forefront of providing humanitarian aid negotiations.
in response to crises and disasters Source: United Nations. (n.d.). What is
worldwide. The World Food Programme multilateralism?
(WFP), a UN agency, has been instrumental
in addressing hunger and malnutrition. In While every organization has its flaws and
2020 alone, WFP provided assistance to shortcomings, the majority of international
nearly 100 million people in 88 countries. leaders and experts agree that the U.N.
Source: World Food Programme (WFP). continues to play a critical role in securing
(2021). WFP in 2020: Year in Review. peace, stability and prosperity throughout
the world.
Promotion and protection of human rights:
The UN has played a vital role in promoting A. U.N. Successes (
and protecting human rights globally. The [Link]
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, d-nations#section_3)
adopted by the UN General Assembly in Since its inception, the United Nations has
1948, serves as a foundational document in performed numerous humanitarian,
environmental and peace-keeping an immunization campaign, the WHO
undertakings, including: declared smallpox extinct.
* Providing food to 90 million people in over
75 countries D. Protecting the Ozone: (source: Time
* Assisting more than 34 million refugees Magazine) [Link]
* Authorizing 71 international peacekeeping nations-achievements/
missions
* Working with 140 nations to minimize In 1987, the U.N. Environment Program
climate change sponsored a conference of 24 nations to
* Assisting about 50 countries per year with pledge to take action against the
their elections deterioration of the ozone layer at the time.
* Providing vaccinations for 58 percent of After nearly five years of talks, the group
children in the world produced the Montreal Protocol — a treaty
* Helping about 30 million women a year to reduce the emissions of
with maternal health efforts chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, on a broad
* Protecting human rights with 80 treaties scale.
and declarations
E. United Nations Sustainable
B. Saving the Pyramids: (source: Time Development Goals (SDGs):
Magazine) [Link] The SDGs are a set of 17 goals
nations-achievements/ adopted by UN member states in 2015,
- [ ] UNESCO, the U.N.’s cultural agency, aiming to address global challenges such as
has a list of World Heritage Sites that it poverty, inequality, climate change, and
deems culturally significant and will take more. Progress towards achieving these
steps towards preserving or protecting. The goals varies across regions and issues.
area around the Giza pyramids and Sphinx Source:
in Egypt is one such site. When construction United Nations. (2021). Sustainable
began on an eight-lane highway a mile Development Goals: Knowledge Platform.
south of the Sphinx and three great Retrieved from
pyramids in 1995, the impending change [Link]
threatened the architectural site and its
ancient structures. UNESCO dispatched an F. United Nations Development
expert mission to Egypt to meet with Programme (UNDP):
government authorities about diverting the The UNDP has played a vital role in
highway, which the officials agreed to do. supporting development efforts globally.
Through various initiatives and partnerships,
C. Eradicating Smallpox: (source: Time the UNDP has contributed to poverty
Magazine) [Link] reduction, sustainable development, gender
nations-achievements/ equality, and the achievement of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The World Health Organization, a U.N. Source:
agency, led the global effort to eradicate the United Nations Development
disease. By 1980, after almost 13 years of Programme. (n.d.). About UNDP. Retrieved
from [Link]
G. Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (UDHR):
The UN played a central role in drafting
and adopting the UDHR in 1948. The
declaration serves as a foundational
document, setting out the fundamental
rights and freedoms to which all individuals
are entitled. It has been a cornerstone of
human rights protection worldwide.
Source:
United Nations. (1948). Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved
from [Link]
declaration-human-rights/

H. International Humanitarian
Aid and Assistance:
The UN, through agencies such as the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
and the World Food Programme (WFP),
provides crucial humanitarian aid and
assistance to populations affected by
conflicts, natural disasters, and other
emergencies around the world. These
efforts help save lives, alleviate suffering,
and support development in crisis-affected
regions.
Sources:
* United Nations Children's Fund. (n.d.).
About UNICEF. Retrieved from
[Link]
* World Food Programme. (n.d.). About Us.
Retrieved from [Link]