The United Nations Organization: Formation and Mission

Formation and Mission

• The United Nations (UN) was established in 1945 after the failure of the League of Nations (1926-1946).
• The UN's mission is driven by the goals and ideals outlined in its founding Charter.

Language and Structure

• The UN has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
• The Secretariat uses two working languages: English and French.
• The UN is composed of 193 member states.

Goals and Principles

• The UN has four main goals:
  • Maintain international peace and security
  • Foster friendly relations among nations
  • Collaborate in resolving international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems
  • Promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and protect the Earth and its environment
• Essential principles underlying the UN's purposes and functions:
  • Sovereign equality of its members
  • Disputes to be settled through peaceful means
  • Refrain from the threat or use of force in violation of the UN's purposes
  • Assist the organization in any enforcement actions under the Charter
  • Non-intervention in matters considered within the domestic authority of any state

UN Organs

• The six main organs of the UN are:

  General Assembly

  • Meeting of representatives of all member nations
  • One vote per nation
  • Meets once a year to discuss international problems, consider the UN budget, and elect the members of the Security Council

  Security Council

  • Charged with maintaining peace and security among countries
  • Most powerful body of the UN
  • Comprises five permanent members (United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China) and ten non-permanent members elected for two years by the General Assembly
  • Permanent members have the power to veto any decisions and prevent any action

  Secretariat

  • Headed by the Secretary-General
  • Consists of many employees
  • Secretary-General's duties:
    • Help resolve international disputes
    • Administer peacekeeping operations
    • Organize international conferences
    • Gather information on the implementation of Security Council decisions
    • Consult with member governments regarding various international relationships

  Trusteeship Council

  • Aims to help countries under foreign rule attain independence
  • Eleven such countries came under this system after World War II
  • By 1994, all Trust Territories had attained independence, with Palau being the last

  International Court of Justice

  • Principal judicial organ of the UN
  • Seat is in The Hague, Netherlands
  • Composed of 15 judges elected by the General Assembly

  Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

  • Assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development