1. The United Nation (UN)
An Introduction

2. The UN Founded in 1945 (after World War II) Goals:
To maintain international peace and security
To develop friendly relations among nations
Achieve international cooperation in solving international problems
Promote respect for human rights
Currently 193 member states
The UN was founded in 1945, after the end of World War II. The main goal back then was to maintain international peace and security, and this is still what the UN works toward today. Originally, 50 countries signed onto the charter. Today, the organization has 193 member states.

3. What is the UN? The UN is not a world government
It is up to the individual countries to choose to follow the agreements
It is an organization where the countries of the world meet, discuss and make agreements

4. Main Organs of the UN The General Assembly (GA)
The Security Council (SC)
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ)
The Secretariat

5. The General Assembly All 193 member states represented
One vote each, no matter their size
Main deliberative organ of the UN
Recommendations, not laws
All 193 member states are represented at the general assembly of the UN. The general assembly is the main deliberative organ of the UN, and the GA may discuss any matter under the UN charter (which has very broadly defined goals). When voting on resolutions, treaties, agreements, conventions, etc., all countries, no matter their size, have one vote.
General Assembly resolutions are only recommendations to the Member States, but as they represent the majority of the world’s view, they carry heavy moral weight and often lead countries to join international agreements called treaties, conventions, and protocols, etc., and, ultimately, have a positive influence in the world.

6. The Security Council Primary responsibility:
To uphold peace and security
15 member states
5 permanent (USA, China, France, Russia, the UK) with veto rights
10 non-permanent (temporary) without veto rights
Resolutions are legally binding
The primary responsibility of the Security Council is to uphold peace and security in the world, as they work under the UN charter.
There are 15 member states of the security council - 5 of them, USA, China, France, Russia and the UK, are permanent members. This means that they are always members of the security council and have been since the beginning), while the other 10 members are only there for a two-year period. 60 countries have never gotten a seat in the security council.
A resolution needs 9 votes to pass in the security council - unless one of the permanent members votes against it. The five permanent members have veto powers, meaning that if just one of them votes against any resolution, it cannot pass.
Securing USA, China, France, Russia and the UK permanent seats in the security council, and giving them veto powers was necessary in order to get these super powers to join the UN.
Unlike the resolutions of the General Assembly, which are “mere” recommendations for the countries, the resolutions that are passed in the security council are legally binding.

7. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
54 members
Working for higher standards of living, full employment, etc.
Promotes economic growth of developing country, supports human rights, fights poverty.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the central body for coordinating the economic and social work of the United Nations and the UN system.
The Council has 54 members which are chosen for equal geographical representation and serve a three-year term. Voting in the Council is by simple majority; each member has one vote.
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.

8. The International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Main judicial organ of the UN
Legal disputes between nations, not between individuals
Somewhat optional for the countries involved
Must comply once decision is accepted
Judges from different countries
The role of the International Court of Justice is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. Only states can submit disputes, not individuals.
Once a country signs the UN Charter (which they must do in order to become a member of the UN), they agree that they will comply with the decision the court makes if they are to be involved in a trial. However, since the countries involved with a case must consent to participating in the trial, it is rare for a decision not to be implemented.
The 15 judges of the ICJ are from different countries, and are elected by the General Assembly for a 9 year term.

9. Specialized Agencies and Funds & Programmes
WHO
UNESCO
UNICEF
UNDP
UNCHR
IAEA
These are a few of the specialized agencies or funds & programmes of the UN – we’ll take a brief look at each of these.

10. UN’s International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
The rights and wellbeing of every child
190 countries/territories
Education, health care, clean water, etc.
The United Nation’s International Children’s Relief Fund is better known as UNICEF.
UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to promote the rights and wellbeing of any child.
One way that they do so is by ensuring access to health care and education for the children.
UNICEF Responds to Cholera Outbreak in Haiti. UN Photo 2010

11. World Health Organization (WHO)
“The global guardian of public health”
The directing and coordinating authority on international health within the UN system
WHO Provides Vaccinations to Haitians at Port-au-Prince Stadium. UN Photo 2010
The World Health Oragnization sees itself as ”the global guardian for public health,” working through offices in more than 150 countries to ensure public health.
They do research related to public health, as well as provide healthcare when and where needed – like on the picture where WHO provided vaccinations to Haitians after the devastating earthquake in 2010.

12. UN Development Programme (UNDP)
More than 170 countries
Eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusions
Creating sustainable development results
The United Nation’s Development Programme works in more than 170 countries to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusions.
They help the countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.
UNDP Heads (left and right) visits a small-scale mango farm in Mali, run and owned by women. UN Photo 2010

13. UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
Inter-governmental body within the UN
Promoting and protecting human rights all over the world
47 member states elected at the GA
UNHRC in session. UN Photo 2015
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. The Council is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly.
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14. UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
”Peace must be established on the basis of humanity’s moral and intellectual solidarity”
Education, intercultural understanding, scientific cooperation, freedom of expression
Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, visits UNESCO World Heritage Site Taishan Mountain. UN Photo 2015
The United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was formed in 1958 because, after two world wars, they believed that political discussions and agreements, as well as economic agreements, were not enough to ensure peace in the world. UNESCO was found on a belief that ”peace must be established on the basis of humanity’s moral and intellectual solidarity.”
You may have heard the term “UNESCO world-heritage site” – these are sites that are thought to be of “outstanding value” for the world. But the cultural aspect of UNESCO is just a third of its objective.
UNESCO works for peace by mobilizing for education, building intercultural understanding, pursuing scientific cooperation and protecting freedom of expression.

15. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Science and technology-based organization
Global focal point for nuclear cooperation
Assists member states in using nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes
Develops nuclear safety standards
IAEA Fact-Finding Mission Assesses Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. UN Photo 2011
IAEA is an independent intergovernmental, science and technology-based organization, in the United Nations family, that serves as the global focal point for nuclear cooperation;
The organization assists its Member States, in the context of social and economic goals, in planning for and using nuclear science and technology for various peaceful purposes, including the generation of electricity, and facilitates the transfer of such technology and knowledge in a sustainable manner to developing Member States;
It also develops nuclear safety standards and, based on these standards, promotes the achievement and maintenance of high levels of safety in applications of nuclear energy, as well as the protection of human health and the environment against ionizing radiation;
Lastly, it verifies through its inspection system that States comply with their commitments, under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and other non-proliferation agreements, to use nuclear material and facilities only for peaceful purposes.
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16. Peacekeeping Operations
Non-use of force except in self-defense and defense of the mandate.
Provide security and the political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the transition from conflict to peace.
Peacekeepers at Mongolian Peace Operations Training Centre. UN Photo 2009
The UN has peacekeeping operations which are meant to help countries provide security and the political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace. The peacekeepers can be police, military observers or troops. The operations usually take place in the most physically and politically difficult environments, and are not without fatalities. However, the operations and the peacekeepers value the non-use of force except in self-defense.
Since 1948, the UN has engaged in 71 operations.