What is the United Nations?
One of the core purposes of most non-governmental organizations is the education of their particular constituencies in the areas of their special interests. In the case of the Intercollegiate Defense of Equality and Solidarity, this includes educating and informing college and university students about the various human rights issues discussed at the United Nations. In order to adequately fulfil this task, it is important to be knowledgeable about the United Nations in general.
Founded in San Francisco in 1945 by 51 nations, the purpose of the United Nations is to “practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples.”1
Now, the United Nations consists of 193 member states, two permanent observer states, and six subsidiary organs that make up an internal structure. These six bodies are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.2 Each of these organs have subsidiary bodies, affiliated organizations, and programmes.
The General Assembly is appointed the task of deliberating on all topics related to the United Nations as well as writing policies and making decisions and on important topics. Most topics are related to peace and security, admission of new members, and budgetary matters. Depending on the type of questions being considered, decisions are reached by a simple or two-thirds majority. The current President is Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa.3
The Security Council is in charge of international peace and security. It consists of fifteen members, five of which are permanent: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The remaining ten members are elected by the General Assembly to two year terms. Each member is given one vote and minimum of seven votes is necessary to come to a decision, with veto power given to each of the five member states. Some would argue that these five nations enjoy this influence because of the large portion they contribute towards the budget4. Their work is very crucial as all members of the United Nations must agree to accept and enact the decisions of that the Security Council makes. This power to impose an obligation upon a nation is unique to the Security Council. The presidency of the Council is held by each of the members in turn for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the Member States names.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the body of the UN that is of most concern to IDEAS. The task of ECOSOC is to assist the General Assembly in promoting the economic and social well-being of all those living in the member states through information gathering and advising nations. According to the charter, these areas of economic and social well-being include health, education, economics, social and cultural issues, and the promotion of women in the world.1 The Council consists of 54 elected members who serve for three years each, and represent each of the geographical regions of the world. Leadership of the Council consists of five bureau members from each of the world regions, one of which serves a one-year term as the president of the Council. The president must be a representative of a small-midsized country. The Economic and Social Council also has the task of hosting and organizing functional and regional commissions. The Functional Commissions are: The Statistical Commission, The Commission on Population and Development, Commission for Social Development, Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable Development, and the United Nations Forum on Trees. Lastly, ECOSOC grants consultative status to non-governmental organizations as a way of including the public sector in their work. Today, there are close to 4,000 NGOs with this status, and an additional 31,000 NGOs involved in United Nations work.
The Trusteeship Council, consisting of representatives from the five permanent members of the Security Council, is rarely active anymore, but was a fundamental organ of the United Nations for a long time. Its purpose was to foster growth in the original eleven Trustee Territories. These territories were held under mandates by the League of Nations after the First World War, detached from their original jurisdiction as a result of the World War II, or voluntarily placed under the United Nations system by states responsible for administration5. The purpose of the Council is to assist the Territories in best providing for their people with the development of proper government and independence. Because it has not met in several years, its status considered inactive, although it can be called to meet at any time.
The International Court of Justice is the judicial branch of the United Nations, and is comprised of fifteen judges who are elected to nine year terms by the General Assembly and the Security Council. According to its website, its purpose is: “settling legal disputes between States submitted to it by them and giving advisory opinions on legal matters referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.”6 It may only entertain disputes brought to it by a member state, and its decisions are binding to all relevant parties. Located at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, is the only organ not located in New York City.
Finally, the Secretariat fulfils many various tasks including the day-to-day duties, assisting the other councils, implementing plans and programs, and conducting research and surveys. Communication including translations and the organization of conferences is also the work of the Secretariat. Headed by the Secretary-General who is recommended by the Security Council and elected by the General Assembly for a five year term, the Secretariat has many offices that help divide the work that this council accomplishes.
While this summary is not nearly sufficient, it will hopefully serve as a valuable resource for any looking to learn more about the United Nations.
1 United Nations, Charter of the United Nations, 24 October 1945, 1 UNTS XVI, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3930.html [accessed 21 October 2014]
2 Main Bodies. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.un.org/en/mainbodies/
3 About the General Assembly. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.un.org/en/ga/about/index.shtml
4 The United Nations and its problems. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/united_nations_problems.htm
5 The United Nations and Decolonization. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/its.shtml
6 International Court of Justice Practical Information. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.icj-cij.org/information/index.php?p1=7&p2=2
One of the core purposes of most non-governmental organizations is the education of their particular constituencies in the areas of their special interests. In the case of the Intercollegiate Defense of Equality and Solidarity, this includes educating and informing college and university students about the various human rights issues discussed at the United Nations. In order to adequately fulfil this task, it is important to be knowledgeable about the United Nations in general.
Founded in San Francisco in 1945 by 51 nations, the purpose of the United Nations is to “practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples.”1
Now, the United Nations consists of 193 member states, two permanent observer states, and six subsidiary organs that make up an internal structure. These six bodies are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.2 Each of these organs have subsidiary bodies, affiliated organizations, and programmes.
The General Assembly is appointed the task of deliberating on all topics related to the United Nations as well as writing policies and making decisions and on important topics. Most topics are related to peace and security, admission of new members, and budgetary matters. Depending on the type of questions being considered, decisions are reached by a simple or two-thirds majority. The current President is Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa.3
The Security Council is in charge of international peace and security. It consists of fifteen members, five of which are permanent: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The remaining ten members are elected by the General Assembly to two year terms. Each member is given one vote and minimum of seven votes is necessary to come to a decision, with veto power given to each of the five member states. Some would argue that these five nations enjoy this influence because of the large portion they contribute towards the budget4. Their work is very crucial as all members of the United Nations must agree to accept and enact the decisions of that the Security Council makes. This power to impose an obligation upon a nation is unique to the Security Council. The presidency of the Council is held by each of the members in turn for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the Member States names.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the body of the UN that is of most concern to IDEAS. The task of ECOSOC is to assist the General Assembly in promoting the economic and social well-being of all those living in the member states through information gathering and advising nations. According to the charter, these areas of economic and social well-being include health, education, economics, social and cultural issues, and the promotion of women in the world.1 The Council consists of 54 elected members who serve for three years each, and represent each of the geographical regions of the world. Leadership of the Council consists of five bureau members from each of the world regions, one of which serves a one-year term as the president of the Council. The president must be a representative of a small-midsized country. The Economic and Social Council also has the task of hosting and organizing functional and regional commissions. The Functional Commissions are: The Statistical Commission, The Commission on Population and Development, Commission for Social Development, Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable Development, and the United Nations Forum on Trees. Lastly, ECOSOC grants consultative status to non-governmental organizations as a way of including the public sector in their work. Today, there are close to 4,000 NGOs with this status, and an additional 31,000 NGOs involved in United Nations work.
The Trusteeship Council, consisting of representatives from the five permanent members of the Security Council, is rarely active anymore, but was a fundamental organ of the United Nations for a long time. Its purpose was to foster growth in the original eleven Trustee Territories. These territories were held under mandates by the League of Nations after the First World War, detached from their original jurisdiction as a result of the World War II, or voluntarily placed under the United Nations system by states responsible for administration5. The purpose of the Council is to assist the Territories in best providing for their people with the development of proper government and independence. Because it has not met in several years, its status considered inactive, although it can be called to meet at any time.
The International Court of Justice is the judicial branch of the United Nations, and is comprised of fifteen judges who are elected to nine year terms by the General Assembly and the Security Council. According to its website, its purpose is: “settling legal disputes between States submitted to it by them and giving advisory opinions on legal matters referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.”6 It may only entertain disputes brought to it by a member state, and its decisions are binding to all relevant parties. Located at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, is the only organ not located in New York City.
Finally, the Secretariat fulfils many various tasks including the day-to-day duties, assisting the other councils, implementing plans and programs, and conducting research and surveys. Communication including translations and the organization of conferences is also the work of the Secretariat. Headed by the Secretary-General who is recommended by the Security Council and elected by the General Assembly for a five year term, the Secretariat has many offices that help divide the work that this council accomplishes.
While this summary is not nearly sufficient, it will hopefully serve as a valuable resource for any looking to learn more about the United Nations.
1 United Nations, Charter of the United Nations, 24 October 1945, 1 UNTS XVI, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3930.html [accessed 21 October 2014]
2 Main Bodies. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.un.org/en/mainbodies/
3 About the General Assembly. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.un.org/en/ga/about/index.shtml
4 The United Nations and its problems. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/united_nations_problems.htm
5 The United Nations and Decolonization. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/its.shtml
6 International Court of Justice Practical Information. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.icj-cij.org/information/index.php?p1=7&p2=2