Role of the United Nations (UN)
•In 1952 the UN condemned the apartheid system
•They continued to oppose it every year in the General Assembly
•1962 UN tried to organize economic sanctions against S.A.
•Many leading industrial nations refuse to participate
•In the 1980’s they declared apartheid to be a crime against humanity
•1961 Many in the British Commonwealth wanted to expel S.A., instead they withdrew
•They continued to oppose it every year in the General Assembly
•1962 UN tried to organize economic sanctions against S.A.
•Many leading industrial nations refuse to participate
•In the 1980’s they declared apartheid to be a crime against humanity
•1961 Many in the British Commonwealth wanted to expel S.A., instead they withdrew
Origins
•Sprung up after WWII on the basis of collective security
•The steps to its start:
•1941 Atlantic Charter
•26 nations declare the United Nations in 1942
•Dumbarton Oaks Conference in Washington DC draft details of a peace keeping organization
•Yalta - agreed that great powers should have a veto
•San Francisco, April 1945 write the United Nations Charter
•The steps to its start:
•1941 Atlantic Charter
•26 nations declare the United Nations in 1942
•Dumbarton Oaks Conference in Washington DC draft details of a peace keeping organization
•Yalta - agreed that great powers should have a veto
•San Francisco, April 1945 write the United Nations Charter
Structure
•The General Assembly:
•Controls the budget
•Appoints judges to the Court of Justice
•Decide on the use of force if Security Council failed to act
•Examples of this are:
•Suez, 1956
•Lebanon, 1958
•Congo, 1960
•Controls the budget
•Appoints judges to the Court of Justice
•Decide on the use of force if Security Council failed to act
•Examples of this are:
•Suez, 1956
•Lebanon, 1958
•Congo, 1960
The Security Council
•Originally 11 members (5 permanent:USA, Russia, G.B., France, and China)
•Now 15 members with Peoples Republic replacing Taiwan with the veto
•Purpose is to maintain world peace
•Now 15 members with Peoples Republic replacing Taiwan with the veto
•Purpose is to maintain world peace
The Secretariat
•Chief Administrative Officer of the UN is the Secretary General
•First 3 S.G.’s were:
•Trygve Lie, from Norway (USA and GB had proposed Lester Pearson but Russia opposed)
•Dag Hammarskjold, from Sweden, killed in a plane crash while trying to arrange a cease fire in the Congo
•U Thant, from Burma until 1971
•First 3 S.G.’s were:
•Trygve Lie, from Norway (USA and GB had proposed Lester Pearson but Russia opposed)
•Dag Hammarskjold, from Sweden, killed in a plane crash while trying to arrange a cease fire in the Congo
•U Thant, from Burma until 1971
International Court of Justice
•Located in the Hague also known as the World Court
•Makes rulings submitted by its members
•Gives legal advice to the Assembly and the Security Council
•Makes rulings submitted by its members
•Gives legal advice to the Assembly and the Security Council
Humanitarian Agencies of the United Nations
•FAO: Food and Agricultural Organization
•WHO: World Health Organization
•ILO: International Labour Organization
•IMF: International Monetary Fund
•UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
•UNICEF: United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
•WHO: World Health Organization
•ILO: International Labour Organization
•IMF: International Monetary Fund
•UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
•UNICEF: United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
Question: Do the United Nations actually have effective techniques?
Summary
The united nations was formed around the second world war. They step in to help with world affairs and set the standards. They have many branches that deal with the different sectors such as WHO and UNICEF.