United Nations Reviewer PDF

UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER United Nations (UN) is an international organization established on October 24, 1945. The United Nations (UN) was the second multipurpose international organization established in the 20th century that was worldwide in scope and membership. Brief History Its predecessor, th...

UNITED NATIONS REVIEWER United Nations (UN) is an international organization established on October 24, 1945. The United Nations (UN) was the second multipurpose international organization established in the 20th century that was worldwide in scope and membership. Brief History Its predecessor, the League of Nations, was created by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and disbanded in 1946. Despite the problems encountered by the League of Nations in arbitrating conflict and ensuring international peace and security prior to World War II, the major Allied powers agreed during the war to establish a new global organization to help manage international affairs. This agreement was first articulated when U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter in August 1941. The name United Nations was originally used to denote the countries allied against Germany, Italy, and Japan (Axis power). On January 1, 1942, 26 countries signed the Declaration by United Nations, which set forth the war aims of the Allied powers. Headquartered in New York City, the UN also has regional offices in Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi. Its official languages are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The UN's Membership has grown from the original 51 Member States in 1945 to the current 193 Member States. Among the founding member states of the UN, Switzerland, fearing that its status as a neutral country would be damaged, did not join the United Nations when it was created in 1945. The UN flag, adopted in 1947, consists of the official emblem of the organization (a circular world map, as seen from the North Pole, surrounded by a wreath of olive branches) in white centered on a light blue background. The Assembly designated October 24 as United Nations Day. United Nations military personnel are the Blue Helmets on the ground. They work alongside UN Police and civilian colleagues to promote stability, security, and peace processes; we protect personnel and property; we work with local communities, and security forces promote lasting peace. In many missions, protection of civilians is at the heart of our mandate. Blue Helmets are protecting populations against threats and contributing to a secure environment. Objectives of United Nations (UN) 1. Maintaining peace and security; (primary goal) 2. Developing friendly relations among countries based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of people; 3. Achieving worldwide cooperation to solve international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems; 4. Respecting and promoting human rights; and 5. Serving as a center where countries can coordinate their actions and activities toward these various ends. Principal Organs The United Nations has six principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat. 1. General Assembly The only body in which all UN members are represented, the General Assembly, exercises deliberative, supervisory, financial, and elective functions relating to any matter within the scope of the UN Charter. Its primary role, however, is to discuss issues and make recommendations, though it has no power to enforce its resolutions or to compel state action. Other functions include admitting new members; selecting members of the Economic and Social Council, the nonpermanent members of the Security Council, and the Trusteeship Council; supervising the activities of the other UN organs, from which the Assembly receives reports; and participating in the election of judges to the International Court of Justice and the selection of the secretary-general. The Assembly convenes annually and in special sessions, electing a new president each year from among five regional groups of states. 2. Security Council The UN Charter assigns to the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Security Council originally consisted of 15 members, five permanent and ten nonpermanent elected by the General Assembly for two- year terms. 3. Economic and Social Council Designed to be the UN’s main venue for the discussion of international economic and social issues. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) directs and coordinates the economic, social, humanitarian, and cultural activities of the UN and its specialized agencies. Established by the UN Charter, ECOSOC is empowered to recommend international action on economic and social issues; promote universal respect for human rights; and work for global cooperation on health, education, and cultural and related areas. 4. Trusteeship Council The Trusteeship Council was designed to supervise the government of trust territories and to lead them to self-government or independence. The trusteeship system, like the mandate system under the League of Nations, was established on the premise that colonial territories taken from countries defeated in war should not be annexed by the victorious powers but should be administered by a trust country under international supervision until their future status was determined. It was dissolved in 1994 after completing its mandate. 5. International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice, commonly known as the World Court, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, though the court’s origins predate the League of  Nations. The idea for the creation of an international court to arbitrate international disputes arose during an international conference held at The Hague in 1899. 6. Secretariat The secretary-general, the principal administrative officer of the United Nations, is elected for a five-year renewable term by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly and by the recommendation of the Security Council and the approval of its permanent members. The secretary-general serves as the chief administrative officer at all meetings and carries out any functions that those organs entrust to the Secretariat; he also oversees the preparation of the UN’s budget. The UN secretary-general is António Guterres. In September 2015, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goals build on the vital principle of “leaving no one behind” and emphasizes a holistic approach to achieving sustainable development for all. GOAL 1: No Poverty GOAL 2: Zero Hunger GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being GOAL 4: Quality Education GOAL 5: Gender Equality GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production GOAL 13: Climate Action GOAL 14: Life Below Water GOAL 15: Life on Land GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal Some Agencies and Organizations of the United Nations: FAO Headquarters: Rome, Italy The Food and Agriculture Organization leads international efforts to fight hunger. It also leads international efforts to improve nutrition and food security. Its Latin motto, fiat panis, translates to "let there be bread". ILO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland The International Labor Organization promotes international labor rights by formulating international standards on the freedom to associate, collective bargaining, the abolition of forced labor, and equality of opportunity and treatment. UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is the agency of the United Nations contributing to building peace through international cooperation in education, the sciences and culture. It seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world, considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. UNDP The United Nations Development Programme is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. UNDP helps countries to develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress. WHO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland The World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations system. The objective of WHO is to attain the highest possible level of health by all people. UNHCR Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees protects refugees worldwide and facilitates their return home or resettlement. UNIDO Headquarters: Vienna, Austria The United Nations Industrial Development Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. World Bank Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA The World Bank focuses on poverty reduction and the improvement of living standards worldwide by providing low-interest loans, interest-free credit, and grants to developing countries for education, health, infrastructure, and communications, among other things. UNHCR The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is responsible for helping the UN agency that helps refugees is UNHCR (also known as the UN Refugee Agency), which emerged in the wake of World War II to help Europeans displaced by that conflict. UNHCR's primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. In its efforts to achieve this objective, the Office strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, and to return home voluntarily. UNICEF The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.