1. The United Nations

2. I. The Creation of the United Nations
Background:
Clear L.O.N had failed
April 1945 in San Francisco 50 countries met to create the United Nations Charter
The UN became official on Oct (UN Day)
Goals of United Nations
Keep world peace by using the idea of collective security
Encourage cooperation among nations
Defend human rights
Promote equality
Improve the standard of living for all nations
UN Headquarters in NYC
These are testable & examinable
UN Flag

3. Structure of the UN in Brief…
Your textbook discusses the following…
General Assembly
The Security Council
The Secretariat
The International Court of Justice
The UN to-date includes 2 additional bodies…
UN Economic and Social Council
UN Trusteeship Council

4. II. Structure of the United Nations
General Assembly
Functions:
Provides a forum for members to launch initiatives on international questions of peace, economic progress, and human rights.
It can initiate studies; make recommendations; develop and codify international law; promote human rights; and further international economic, social, cultural, and educational programs.
Structure of the General Assembly:
Each member state is represented (there are 192 members to date)
Each member state has 1 vote
2/3rds is enough for a majority
UN General Assembly
Secretary General of UN: Antonia Guterres

5. Structure of UN continued…
The Security Council
Functions:
maintaining peace and security between nations.
has the power to make decisions which member governments must carry out under the United Nations Charter.
decisions of the Council are known as UN Security Council Resolutions.
Structure:
Post WWII consisted of 5 victors of the war as permanent
Republic of China (later the People's Republic of China)
French Republic
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (later the Russian Federation)
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America
10 other countries serve under 2 year terms & are elected by the General Assembly
UN Security Council Chambers

6. Structure of the UN Continued…
C. The International Court of Justice
Structure
Located at the “Peace Palace” at the Hague, Netherlands
AKA the “World Court”
composed of 15 permanent judges elected by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council
Judges serve for 9 years terms and may be re-elected.
Elections take place every 3 years
Function
Makes rulings on disputes
Gives legal advice to Security Council
Peace Palace, the Hague

7. III. Humanitarian Agencies of the UN
UNICEF
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund,
provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries
relies on contributions from govt’s and private donors
Its programs emphasize developing community-level services to promote the health and well-being of children.

8. Humanitarian Agencies of the UN continued…
World Health Organization
its mission "is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health".
major task is to combat disease, especially key infectious diseases.
Coordinates international efforts to monitor outbreaks of infectious disease such as SARS, malaria, and AIDS,
has programs to combat such diseases by developing and distributing vaccines

9. Humanitarian Agencies of the UN Continued…
International Labor Organization
seeks to strengthen worker rights, improve working conditions and living conditions, create employment, & provide information & training opportunities.
Programs include the occupational safety & health hazard alert system & the labor standards and human rights programs.

10. IV. Canada’s Contribution to the UN
John Humphries
Part of drafting original Charter
Lester B. Pearson
Solved problems faced by UN
He’ll come up again when we study our cold war crisis
Plays active role in
General Assembly
Security Council

11. Assignment In Counterpoints, Read P. 198-the top of p. 199
Do worksheet entitled, “Ex 1, The United Nations” (this will require your Student Workbook)
Due:_____________________________