AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION
BY
SREELAKSHMI.K.K
UNITED NATIONS
The United Nations is an international
organization whose stated aims are facilitating
cooperation in international law, international
security, economic development, social progress,
human rights, and achievement of world peace. The
UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to
replace the League of Nations, to stop wars
between countries, and to provide a platform for
dialogue. It contains multiple subsidiary
organizations to carry out its missions.
OBJECTIVES OF THE UN
The objectives of the un are-
1. to promote world peace.
2. to protect human rights.
3. to help developing countries by funding.
4. to promote better relations between countries.
5. to promote social, economic and cultural
development.
6. to facilitate international law.
7. to facilitate international security.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the
United Nations and includes all its Members. It may discuss any
matter arising under the UN Charter and make recommendations
to UN Members. In the Assembly, each nation, large or small, has
one vote and important decisions are taken by a two-thirds
majority vote.
The Assembly meets every year from September to December.
Special sessions may be summoned by the Assembly, at the request
of the Security Council, or at the request of a majority of UN
Members.
The work of the General Assembly is also carried out by its six
main committees, the Human Rights Council, other subsidiary
bodies and the UN Secretariat.
SECURITY COUNCIL
The Security Council has primary responsibility under the Charter for
maintaining peace and security. It can be convened at any time,
whenever peace is threatened. Member States are obligated to carry out
its decisions. When a threat to peace is brought before the Council, it
usually first asks the parties to reach agreement by peaceful means. If
fighting breaks out, the Council tries to secure a ceasefire. It may then
send peacekeeping missions to troubled areas or call for economic
sanctions and embargoes to restore peace.
The Council has 15 members, including five permanent members: China,
France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United
States of America. The other 10 are elected by the General Assembly on
the basis of geographical representation for two-year terms. Decisions
require nine votes; except on procedural questions, a decision cannot be
taken if there is a negative vote by a permanent member . Many
countries want to expand the membership of the Council to include
new permanent and non-permanent members.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COUNCIL
The Economic and Social Council is the central body for
coordinating the economic and social work of the United Nations
and the UN family of organizations. It has 54 member nations
elected from all regions. As much as 70 per cent of the work of the
UN system is devoted to promoting higher standards of living, full
employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and
development. The Council recommends and directs activities aimed
at promoting economic growth of developing countries, supporting
human rights and fostering world cooperation to fight poverty and
under-development.
To meet specific needs, the General Assembly has set up a number of
specialized agencies, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations , the World Health Organization and the
UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and
programmes such as the UN Development Programme ,the UN
Children’s Fund and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees . The work of these agencies and programmes is
coordinated by ECOSOC.
TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL
The Trusteeship Council was assigned under the UN Charter
to supervise the administration of Trust Territories — former
colonies or dependent territories — which were placed under the
International Trusteeship System. The system was created at
the end of the Second World War to promote the advancement
of the inhabitants of those dependent Territories and their
progressive development towards self-government or
independence.
Since the creation of the Trusteeship Council, more than 70
colonial Territories, including all of the original 11 Trust
Territories, have attained independence with the help of the
United Nations. As a result, in 1994, the Council decided
formally to suspend its operation and to meet as and when
occasion might require.
SECRETARIAT
The Secretariat is made up of an international staff working at
UN Headquarters in New York, as well as UN offices in Geneva,
Vienna, Nairobi and other locations. It consists of departments
and offices with a total staff of around 16,000, drawn from some
175 countries. Including civil staff in peacekeeping missions the
total number comprises approximately 30,000 staff. Staff members
carry out the substantive and administrative work of the United
Nations as directed by the General Assembly, the Security Council
and the other organs.
The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General. He is appointed
by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security
Council for a five-year term. As the chief administrative officer of
the Organization, the Secretary-General directs its work. He is also
responsible for implementing decisions taken by the various organs
of the United Nations.
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF
JUSTICE
The International Court of Justice is the UN’s main judicial organ.
Presiding over the ICJ, or “World Court”, are 15 judges, each from a
different nation, elected by the General Assembly and Security
Council. The Court settles legal disputes between nations only and
not between individuals, in accordance with international law. If a
country does not wish to take part in a proceeding it does not have
to do so, unless required by special treaty provisions. Once a country
accepts the Court's jurisdiction, it must comply with its decision.
The seat of the International Court of Justice is at The Hague in the
Netherlands. The offices of the Court occupy the “Peace Palace”,
which was constructed by the Carnegie Foundation, a private non-
profit organization, to serve as the headquarters of the Permanent
Court of International Justice, the predecessor of the present Court.