Canada and the World

The United Nations The United Nations was formed in 1945 as a direct replacement to the failed League of Nations It is an international organization designed to promote - International Law - International security - Economic Development - Social Progress - Human Rights - World peace Currently, it has 192 members – almost every nation in the world The United Nations' system is based on five principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Secretariat, and the International Court of Justice

The General Assembly The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. Comprising all 193 Member States of the UN, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of international issues including peace and security.

The Security Council The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

The Economic and Social Council The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the United Nations’ central platform for reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable development.

The Secretariat The Secretariat — an international staff working in duty stations around the world — carries out the diverse day-to-day work of the Organization. It services the other principal organs of the United Nations and administers the programs and policies laid down by them.

The International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, is the main judicial organ of the UN. Its 15 judges are elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council, voting independently and concurrently. The Court decides disputes between countries, based on the voluntary participation of the States concerned. If a State agrees to participate in a proceeding, it is obligated to comply with the Court's decision. The Court also gives advisory opinions to the United Nations and its specialized agencies.

Lester Pearson University Professor, Diplomat and future Prime Minster Pearson was one of the most influential Canadians of the 20 th century He was important in the creation of NATO and the United Nations Pearson dream for Canada was for it to become a “Middle Power,” with an independent voice, that would work for Multi-Lateral (Many Country) solutions to world issues Truly, Pearson did more than anyone to make Canada what it is today (in terms of its international reputation)

The Suez Canal The Suez Canal is a man made waterway that cuts trough Egypt and connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean It was built in 1869 by the French In 1888, control of the canal was given to Britain Basically a short-cut that saves approx miles The canal was vital to British trade and naval power

The Suez Canal Crisis In 1956, Egypt takes control of the canal by force In response, Israel, Britain and France invade Egypt Egypt was a major trading partner and ally of the USSR The possibility of a large war breaking out was growing by the day. Lester Pearson was able to solve the Suez Crisis by creating the United Nations Emergency Force – an international group of soldiers, under the command of the UN, that would supervise the withdrawal of enemy troops and ensure that the canal remain neutral and open to all Lester Pearson was credited with “saving the world” and given the Nobel Peace Prize

Peacekeeping Pearson’s “Emergency Force” was the worlds first “peacekeeping” mission Since then, the United Nations has sent peacekeepers all over the world to help end hostilities and protect innocent civilians Canada has been deeply involved in peacekeeping since the beginning and has taken part in many missions Peacekeeping is not perfect – there have been many difficulties and failures – but its overall impact has been positive

AcronymMission nameStart dateClosing date UNTSOUnited Nations Truce Supervision OrganizationMay 1948Present UNMOGIPUnited Nations Military Observer Group in India and PakistanJanuary 1949Present UNEF IFirst United Nations Emergency ForceNovember 1956June 1967 UNOGILUnited Nations Observation Group in LebanonJune 1958December 1958 ONUCUnited Nations Operation in the CongoJuly 1960June 1964 UNSFUnited Nations Security Force in West New GuineaOctober 1962April 1963 UNYOMUnited Nations Yemen Observation MissionJuly 1963September 1964 UNFICYPUnited Nations Peacekeeping Force in CyprusMarch 1964Present DOMREPMission of the Representative of the Secretary-General in the Dominican RepublicMay 1965October 1966 UNIPOMUnited Nations India-Pakistan Observation MissionSeptember 1965March 1966 UNEF IISecond United Nations Emergency ForceOctober 1973July 1979 UNDOFUnited Nations Disengagement Observer ForceJune 1974Present UNIFILUnited Nations Interim Force in LebanonMarch 1978Present UNGOMAPUnited Nations Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and PakistanMay 1988March 1990 UNIIMOGUnited Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer GroupAugust 1988February 1991 UNAVEM IUnited Nations Angola Verification Mission IJanuary 1989June 1991 UNTAGUnited Nations Transition Assistance GroupApril 1989March 1990 ONUCAUnited Nations Observer Group in Central AmericaNovember 1989January 1992 UNIKOMUnited Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation MissionApril 1991October 2003 MINURSOUnited Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western SaharaApril 1991present UNAVEM IIUnited Nations Angola Verification Mission IIJune 1991February 1995 ONUSALUnited Nations Observer Mission in El SalvadorJuly 1991April 1995 UNAMICUnited Nations Advance Mission in CambodiaOctober 1991March 1992 UNPROFORUnited Nations Protection ForceFebruary 1992March 1995 UNTACUnited Nations Transitional Authority in CambodiaMarch 1992September 1993 UNOSOM IUnited Nations Operation in Somalia IApril 1992March 1993 ONUMOZUnited Nations Operation in MozambiqueDecember 1992December 1994 UNOSOM IIUnited Nations Operation in Somalia IIMarch 1993March 1995 UNOMURUnited Nations Observer Mission Uganda-RwandaJune 1993September 1994 UNOMIGUnited Nations Observer Mission in GeorgiaAugust 1993June 2009

UNOMILUnited Nations Observer Mission in LiberiaSeptember 1993September 1997 UNMIHUnited Nations Mission in HaitiSeptember 1993June 1996 UNAMIRUnited Nations Assistance Mission for RwandaOctober 1993March 1996 UNASOGUnited Nations Aouzou Strip Observer GroupMay 1994June 1994 UNMOTUnited Nations Mission of Observers in TajikistanDecember 1994May 2000 UNAVEM IIIUnited Nations Angola Verification Mission IIIFebruary 1995June 1997 UNCROUnited Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in CroatiaMay 1995January 1996 UNPREDEPUnited Nations Preventive Deployment ForceMarch 1995February 1999 UNCPSGUN Civilian Police Support GroupJanuary 1998October 1998 MINURCAUnited Nations Mission in the Central African RepublicApril 1998February 2000 UNOMSILUnited Nations Observer Mission in Sierra LeoneJuly 1998October 1999 UNMIKUnited Nations Interim Administration Mission in KosovoJune 1999Present UNAMSILUnited Nations Mission in Sierra LeoneOctober 1999December 2005 UNTAETUnited Nations Transitional Administration in East TimorOctober 1999May 2002 MONUCUnited Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the CongoNovember 1999June 2010 UNMEEUnited Nations Mission in Ethiopia and EritreaJuly 2000July 2008 UNMISETUnited Nations Mission of Support in East TimorMay 2002May 2005 UNMILUnited Nations Mission in LiberiaSeptember 2003Present UNOCIUnited Nations Operation in Côte d'IvoireApril 2004Present MINUSTAHUnited Nations Stabilization Mission in HaitiJune 2004Present ONUBUnited Nations Operation in BurundiJune 2004December 2006 UNMISUnited Nations Mission in the SudanMarch 2005Present UNMITUnited Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-LesteAugust 2006Present UNAMIDAfrican Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in DarfurJuly 2007Present MINURCATUnited Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and ChadSeptember 2007Present MONUSCO United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo July 2010Present

#ThrowbackThursday The United Nations replaces the League of Nations The Untied Nations has the support of almost every Nation in the World Lester Pearson solves the Suez Canal Crisis by creating the world’s first “Peacekeepers” Peacekeepers have worked all over the world since then, helping to bring peace and stability to war-torn regions

Video: Documentary Title: Blue Vanguard: The Story of the first United Nations Emergency Force (1957)