UNITED NATIONS:(3)
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization that aims to
maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among states,
promote international cooperation, and serve as a centre for coordinating global action.
Widely recognized as the world's largest international organization, it has 193 member
states, accounting for nearly all of the world's sovereign states.
Established after World War II to prevent future world wars, the United Nations
succeeded the League of Nations, which was seen as ineffective. In April 1945, delegates
of 50 nations met in San Francisco for a conference that led to the drafting of
the Charter of the United Nations, which was adopted on 26 June 1945. The charter
established the objectives of maintaining peace, protecting human rights,
delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development, and
upholding international law.
The United Nations headquarters is located in New York City; it has other offices
in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague. The UN comprises six principal
organizations: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social
Council, the International Court of Justice, the Secretariat, and the Trusteeship Council.
The United Nations System also includes specialized agencies such as the World Bank,
the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, UNESCO, and UNICEF.
he UN, after approval by the Security Council, sends peacekeepers to regions where
armed conflict has recently ceased or paused to enforce the terms of peace agreements
and to discourage combatants from resuming hostilities. Since the UN does not maintain
its own military, peacekeeping forces are voluntarily provided by member states. These
soldiers are sometimes nicknamed "Blue Helmets" because they wear distinctive blue
helmets.[141][142] Peacekeeping forces as a whole received the Nobel Peace Prize in
1988.[143]
UNESCO(3)
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO is
a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world
peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and
culture.[3][4] It has 194 member states and 12 associate members,[5] as well as partners in
the non-governmental, intergovernmental and private sector.[6] Headquartered in Paris,
France, UNESCO has 53 regional field offices[7] and 199 national commissions.[8][9]
UNESCO was founded in 1945 as the successor to the League of Nations' International
Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.[10] UNESCO's founding mission, which was
shaped by the events of World War II, is to advance peace, sustainable development and
human rights by facilitating collaboration and dialogue among nations.
CONTRIBUTIONS:
1. Education:
• Promoting access to quality education:
UNESCO works to ensure that everyone, particularly girls and women, have access to
quality education, from early childhood care to higher education.
• Developing educational tools and resources:
UNESCO develops and shares educational materials and resources to support teachers
and learners, including tools for distance learning and online education.
2. Science:
• Advancing scientific knowledge and innovation:
UNESCO supports research and innovation in various scientific fields to address global
challenges like climate change and sustainable development.
• Protecting biodiversity and natural resources:
UNESCO plays a role in protecting and preserving biodiversity and natural resources,
including through its work on World Heritage Sites and Global Geoparks.
3. Culture:
• Protecting cultural heritage:
UNESCO works to safeguard cultural heritage, including tangible sites like World Heritage
Sites and intangible heritage like traditional knowledge and practices.
• Promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue:
UNESCO promotes the equal dignity of all cultures and fosters understanding and
dialogue among different cultures and civilizations.
4. Communication and Information:
• Promoting freedom of expression and access to information:
UNESCO advocates for the right to freedom of expression and access to information,
ensuring that everyone has access to reliable and diverse sources of information.
• Building inclusive knowledge societies:
UNESCO works to build inclusive knowledge societies where information is accessible to
all and used to promote development and social progress.
• Supporting capacity building in the information sector:
UNESCO provides capacity building and support to the media, libraries, and other actors
in the information sector.
WHO(3)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United
Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and
emergencies.[2] It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has six regional
offices[3] and 150 field offices worldwide. Only sovereign states are eligible to join, and it
is the largest intergovernmental health organization at the international level.
The WHO's purpose is to achieve the highest possible level of health for all the world's
people, defining health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
CONTRIBUTIONS:
• Disease Eradication:
The WHO played a crucial role in eradicating smallpox and is actively working towards
the near-eradication of polio.
• Disease Control:
The organization leads global efforts to control and prevent communicable diseases like
HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as non-communicable diseases.
• Universal Health Coverage:
The WHO advocates for and supports efforts to expand universal health coverage,
ensuring that all people have access to necessary health services.
• Health Emergencies:
The WHO directs and coordinates global responses to health emergencies, including
pandemics, disease outbreaks, and natural disasters.
• Health Promotion:
The organization promotes healthier lives, from pregnancy care through old age, by
setting health goals and providing support to countries.
• Global Governance:
The WHO establishes international norms and standards, monitors health trends, and
coordinates multiple actors towards common health goals.
• Technical Support:
The WHO provides technical assistance to countries, helping them strengthen national
health services and improve public health practices.
• Research Agenda:
The WHO shapes the global health research agenda, setting priorities and promoting
scientific advancements in health.
UNICEF:(3)
UNICEF (/ˈjuːniˌsɛf/ YOO-nee-SEF), originally the United Nations International Children's
Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953,[a] is an agency of
the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental
aid to children worldwide.[4][5] The organization is one of the most widely known and
visible social welfare entities globally, operating in 192 countries and
territories.[6] UNICEF's activities include providing immunizations and disease
prevention, administering treatment for children and mothers with HIV, enhancing
childhood and maternal nutrition, improving sanitation, promoting education, and
providing emergency relief in response to disasters.[7]
CONTRIBUTIONS:
• Child Rights:
UNICEF works to ensure that all children have their rights respected, including the right
to survival, development, and protection.
• Health and Nutrition:
UNICEF provides immunizations, supports child health and maternal nutrition, and
addresses issues like HIV/AIDS.
• Education:
UNICEF promotes access to quality education for all children, focusing on girls' education
and life skills training.
• Water and Sanitation:
UNICEF works to improve access to safe water and sanitation, reducing the risk of
waterborne diseases.
• Protection:
UNICEF protects children from violence, abuse, and exploitation, including child labor
and armed conflict.
• Emergency Response:
UNICEF is on the ground in humanitarian crises, providing essential supplies and services
to affected children and families.
• Specific Programs:
UNICEF's efforts extend to various areas, including child health and nutrition, safe water
and sanitation, quality education, HIV prevention and treatment, and protection from
violence.
• Funding:
UNICEF is largely funded by donations from individuals, governments, and corporations,
allowing them to operate independently of UN budgets.
UNSC:
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of
the United Nations (UN)[1] and is charged with ensuring international peace and
security,[2] recommending the admission of new UN members to the General
Assembly,[3] and approving any changes to the UN Charter.[4] Its powers as outlined in
the United Nations Charter include establishing peacekeeping operations,
enacting international sanctions, and authorizing military action. The UNSC is the only
UN body with authority to issue resolutions that are binding on member states.
Like the UN as a whole, the Security Council was created after World War II to address
the failings of the League of Nations in maintaining world peace.
The UN's role in international collective security is defined by the UN Charter, which
authorizes the Security Council to investigate any situation threatening international
peace; recommend procedures for peaceful resolution of a dispute; call upon other
member nations to completely or partially interrupt economic relations as well as sea,
air, postal and radio communications, or to sever diplomatic relations; and enforce its
decisions militarily, or by any means necessary.
Permanent members – china , france, russia , uk , us (full form )
PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE UNSC:
1. Maintaining International Peace and Security
• The UNSC identifies threats to peace and acts to prevent conflicts.
• It can investigate disputes and recommend peaceful solutions.
2. Authorizing Peacekeeping Missions
• The Council can deploy UN peacekeeping forces to conflict zones to stabilize
situations and protect civilians.
• Examples include missions in Congo (MONUSCO), South Sudan (UNMISS), and
Cyprus (UNFICYP).
3. Imposing Sanctions
• The UNSC can impose economic sanctions, arms embargoes, or travel bans on
states or entities threatening peace.
• Examples include sanctions on North Korea (for nuclear proliferation) and Libya
(during the Gaddafi regime).
4. Authorizing Military Action
• In extreme cases, the UNSC can authorize military intervention under Chapter
VII of the UN Charter.
• Examples include the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq and the 2011 intervention in
Libya.
5. Addressing Humanitarian Crises
• The Council can take action in cases of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against
humanity.
• It established international tribunals (e.g., for Rwanda and former Yugoslavia).
6. Regulating Arms Control & Non-Proliferation
• The UNSC oversees compliance with non-proliferation treaties (e.g., Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty).
• It enforces resolutions against WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction), such as
those on Iran and North Korea.
7. Electing Judges to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
• Alongside the UN General Assembly, the UNSC elects judges to the ICJ.
8. Recommending New UN Members
• The UNSC assesses and recommends new countries for UN membership to the
General Assembly
SHOULD THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNSC BE EXPANDED BASED
ON THE POPULATION OF EACH COUNTRY:
The question of reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)—particularly
whether membership should be expanded based on population—is highly debated.
While population size is a relevant factor, it is not the only consideration for UNSC
membership.-
Arguments FOR Expanding UNSC Membership Based on Population
1. Better Representation of Global Demographics
o The current UNSC permanent members (P5: US, UK, France, China,
Russia) represent only about 26% of the world’s population.
o Countries like India (1.4 billion people), Nigeria (230 million), and Indonesia
(280 million) have no permanent seat, despite their large populations.
2. Reflecting 21st-Century Power Dynamics
o The P5 structure reflects post-WWII power dynamics, not today’s multipolar world.
o Emerging powers like India, Brazil, and African nations argue that their economic and
geopolitical influence justifies a seat.
Arguments AGAINST Expanding Based Solely on Population
1. Not All Large Countries Are Geopolitically Influential
o While India and Nigeria have huge populations, other factors (military
strength, economic power, diplomatic influence) also matter.
o Example: Japan and Germany are major economies but have small
populations compared to India.
2. Risk of Gridlock and Inefficiency
o Adding more permanent members (especially with veto power)
could paralyze decision-making.
o The UNSC already struggles with P5 vetoes (e.g., Russia blocking action on
Ukraine, US shielding Israel).