The United The United NationsNations

Why do we have the UN?Why do we have the UN? After World War I, the League of After World War I, the League of

Nations was created to prevent another Nations was created to prevent another world war.world war.

During World War II, the League of During World War II, the League of Nations was eliminated because it Nations was eliminated because it failed to prevent another war.failed to prevent another war.

In 1945, with the end of WWII nearing, In 1945, with the end of WWII nearing, the United Nations was created to the United Nations was created to replace the failed League of Nations.replace the failed League of Nations.

History of the United NationsHistory of the United Nations In 1945, San Francisco hosted the In 1945, San Francisco hosted the

United Nations Conference on United Nations Conference on International Organizations.International Organizations.

There were 50 countries represented There were 50 countries represented at the United Nations Conference at the United Nations Conference including: United States, France, including: United States, France, United Kingdom, Soviet Union (now United Kingdom, Soviet Union (now Russia), and China.Russia), and China.

These five countries are known as These five countries are known as the “Permanent Five” members.the “Permanent Five” members.

What does the United Nations Do?What does the United Nations Do? The UN was created to maintain The UN was created to maintain

international peace and international peace and security.security.

It also works to maintain friendly It also works to maintain friendly relationships between countries.relationships between countries.

Lastly, Lastly, it works to promote it works to promote economic development of economic development of member nations.member nations.

Who and Where?Who and Where? Almost all countries in the world Almost all countries in the world

are members of the UN.are members of the UN. There are currently 193 countries There are currently 193 countries

in the UN.in the UN. The headquarters is in New York The headquarters is in New York

City.City. The International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice

(ICJ) is located in The Hague in the (ICJ) is located in The Hague in the Netherlands.Netherlands.

UN World HeadquartersUN World HeadquartersNew YorkNew York

Parts of the United NationsParts of the United Nations1. 1. The General AssemblyThe General Assembly – the ‘town – the ‘town

meeting’ of the world.meeting’ of the world.

2. 2. UN Security CouncilUN Security Council – maintains world – maintains world peace (most powerful branch)peace (most powerful branch)

3. 3. Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council - works with - works with the UN’s economic, cultural, health and the UN’s economic, cultural, health and educational activities.educational activities.

4. 4. Trusteeship CouncilTrusteeship Council - territories- territories

5. 5. ICJICJ – – International Court of JusticeInternational Court of Justice

6. 6. The SecretariatThe Secretariat – administrative duties – administrative duties and can bring any topic before the SC.and can bring any topic before the SC.

International Court of JusticeInternational Court of JusticeThe Hague, NetherlandsThe Hague, Netherlands

The General AssemblyThe General Assembly Every member nation has a Every member nation has a

seat at the General Assembly.seat at the General Assembly. Brings up international issues Brings up international issues

that they want the Security that they want the Security Council to deal withCouncil to deal with

Holds elections for Security Holds elections for Security Council members and other Council members and other leadersleaders

The General AssemblyThe General AssemblyInside UN HeadquartersInside UN Headquarters

UN Security CouncilUN Security Council Made up of 15 countries:Made up of 15 countries:

• The “Permanent Five” countriesThe “Permanent Five” countries United States, Great Britain, Russia, France, ChinaUnited States, Great Britain, Russia, France, China

• 10 non-permanent countries 10 non-permanent countries Elected every two yearsElected every two years

The strong-arm of the UNThe strong-arm of the UN Maintains international peaceMaintains international peace How does it do this:How does it do this:

• Recommends peaceful negotiations (peace talks)Recommends peaceful negotiations (peace talks)• Can use Economic SanctionsCan use Economic Sanctions• Can use Military SanctionsCan use Military Sanctions

The UN Security CouncilThe UN Security CouncilInside World HeadquartersInside World Headquarters

SanctionsSanctions Sanctions are used to punish a Sanctions are used to punish a

country for violating international country for violating international law, or to force a country to law, or to force a country to follow a law.follow a law.

In order for sanctions to be used In order for sanctions to be used by the UN Security Council, ALL by the UN Security Council, ALL FIVE permanent members must FIVE permanent members must have a unanimous vote.have a unanimous vote.

Types of SanctionsTypes of Sanctions Diplomatic SanctionsDiplomatic Sanctions – removal – removal

of all political ties (like of all political ties (like embassies)embassies)

Economic SanctionsEconomic Sanctions – ban on all – ban on all trade with a country (except trade with a country (except food)food)

Military SanctionsMilitary Sanctions – using a – using a military to force compliance.military to force compliance.

Military SanctionsMilitary Sanctions UN PeacekeepersUN Peacekeepers – a group of armed – a group of armed

soldiers sent to a hostile area to promote soldiers sent to a hostile area to promote peace. They ARE NOT COMBAT TROOPS.peace. They ARE NOT COMBAT TROOPS.

These soldiers maintain peace. These soldiers maintain peace. They don’t go on combat missions.They don’t go on combat missions. They are not an ‘army’They are not an ‘army’

UN Military ForceUN Military Force – an army made up of – an army made up of soldiers from more than one UN country soldiers from more than one UN country that can serve as combat troops.that can serve as combat troops.• They are not very effective and are not used They are not very effective and are not used

very often.very often.

UN PeacekeepersUN PeacekeepersThey always wear They always wear blue beretsblue berets or or blue helmetsblue helmets

to identify themselves.to identify themselves.

Major UN MissionsMajor UN Missions East TimorEast Timor (Asia) – the UN supervised the (Asia) – the UN supervised the

independence of this countryindependence of this country IraqIraq (Middle East) – UN tried to cut all (Middle East) – UN tried to cut all

trade with Iraq after it failed to comply trade with Iraq after it failed to comply with international law, but some nations with international law, but some nations continued to trade with them.continued to trade with them.

SomaliaSomalia (Africa) – UN humanitarian (Africa) – UN humanitarian mission to get food and supplies to mission to get food and supplies to people in needpeople in need

HaitiHaiti (Caribbean) – UN helped strengthen (Caribbean) – UN helped strengthen government, army, and hold electionsgovernment, army, and hold elections

Strengths of the UNStrengths of the UN Provides a forum for almost all of the Provides a forum for almost all of the

world’s nations to discuss world’s nations to discuss international issuesinternational issues

Humanitarian effortsHumanitarian efforts• AIDSAIDS• Landmine removalLandmine removal• Food and supply organizationFood and supply organization

Peacekeeping forcesPeacekeeping forces Will get involved with messes that no Will get involved with messes that no

one else willone else will

Weaknesses of the UNWeaknesses of the UN Sanctions are only effective if ALL Sanctions are only effective if ALL

countries follow them (Iraq example)countries follow them (Iraq example) Military force is rarely used and is usually Military force is rarely used and is usually

ineffectiveineffective ALL permanent members of the security ALL permanent members of the security

council have to vote unanimously (one council have to vote unanimously (one country can stop a sanction)country can stop a sanction)

Inadequate funding by member nationsInadequate funding by member nations• 14 Countries Pay 85% of the subscriptions 14 Countries Pay 85% of the subscriptions

(membership fee)(membership fee) Big gap between developing and Big gap between developing and

industrialized nationsindustrialized nations

UN Universal Declaration of UN Universal Declaration of Human RightsHuman Rights

Adopted: December 10, 19481. We are all born free and equal2. Everyone has rights despite differences3. All have the right to live, and live in safety4. No one may enslave you5. No one may torture you6. You have rights no matter where you travel7. All are equal before the law8. Human rights are protected by law9. No one should be unfairly detained10. All have a right to a fair trial11. All accused are innocent until proven guilty12. All have a right to privacy13. All have the right to move freely14. All may enjoy asylum from persecution15. All have a right to nationality

16. All may marry and establish families17. All may own property18. All may think freely, including religion19. All may freely express opinions20. All may assemble peacefully21. All may participate in governing22. All have rights to dignity and social protections23. All have free choices of employment24. All have rights to rest and leisure25. All have the right to an adequate standard of living26. All have a right to education27. All have rights to intellectual property28. All have the right to a world that enables and protects rights29. All rights have responsibilities and can only be limited when infringing on others’ rights30. No one can take away your human rights