🇺🇳International Organization Unit 3 – UN System: Structure, Principles, Key Organs

Origins and Purpose

• Established in 1945 after World War II to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, and promote social progress, better living standards, and human rights
• Replaced the League of Nations, which had failed to prevent the outbreak of World War II
• Aimed to provide a platform for dialogue and cooperation among nations to prevent future conflicts
• Sought to promote economic and social development, particularly in developing countries, through various programs and agencies
• Committed to upholding international law and resolving disputes through peaceful means
• Envisioned as a global organization that could address a wide range of international issues, from security to human rights to environmental protection
• Reflects the aspirations of the post-war world for a more stable and prosperous international order

Core Principles and Values

• Sovereign equality of all member states, each having one vote in the General Assembly regardless of size or power
• Non-interference in the internal affairs of member states, except in cases of threats to international peace and security
• Peaceful settlement of disputes through negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, or judicial settlement
• Prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state
• Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination based on race, sex, language, or religion
• Promotion of social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom
• Cooperation in solving international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems
• Serving as a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of common ends

Main Organs and Their Functions

• General Assembly: Main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ; comprises all 193 member states; discusses and makes recommendations on any matter within the UN Charter
• Security Council: Primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security; comprises 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, US) and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms; can impose sanctions and authorize the use of force
• Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Coordinates the economic and social work of the UN and its specialized agencies; comprises 54 member states elected for three-year terms
• Trusteeship Council: Supervised the administration of trust territories; suspended operations in 1994 after the last trust territory (Palau) attained independence
• International Court of Justice (ICJ): Principal judicial organ; settles legal disputes between states and provides advisory opinions on legal issues referred by UN organs and agencies
• Secretariat: Carries out the day-to-day work of the UN as directed by the General Assembly, Security Council, and other organs; headed by the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council

Decision-Making Processes

• General Assembly resolutions are adopted by a simple majority (50% plus one) of members present and voting, except for important questions (e.g., peace and security, budgetary matters), which require a two-thirds majority
• Security Council decisions require the affirmative vote of nine members, including the concurring votes of all five permanent members (known as the "veto power")
• ECOSOC decisions are made by a simple majority of members present and voting
• ICJ judgments are binding on the parties to the case and are final without appeal; advisory opinions are not binding but carry significant legal weight
• Secretariat decisions are made by the Secretary-General and senior staff in accordance with the policies and directives of the other organs
• Consensus decision-making is often used in UN negotiations and conferences to reach agreements acceptable to all parties, even if not ideal for any one party

Peacekeeping and Security Operations

• UN peacekeeping operations are deployed to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for lasting peace; they are guided by three basic principles: consent of the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force except in self-defense and defense of the mandate
• Peacekeeping missions can include monitoring ceasefires, disarming and demobilizing combatants, facilitating peace processes, protecting civilians, delivering humanitarian assistance, and supporting post-conflict reconstruction and development
• Notable peacekeeping missions include UNEF (Sinai Peninsula), ONUC (Congo), UNIFIL (Lebanon), UNPROFOR (former Yugoslavia), UNOSOM (Somalia), UNMIK (Kosovo), and MONUSCO (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• The UN also conducts special political missions, which are civilian missions that support political processes, good governance, and peacebuilding in countries emerging from conflict or facing political instability (e.g., UNAMA in Afghanistan, UNSMIL in Libya)
• The Security Council can authorize the use of force under Chapter VII of the UN Charter in response to threats to international peace and security, such as aggression, genocide, or terrorism (e.g., the Gulf War, the intervention in Libya)
• The UN has also established international criminal tribunals to prosecute individuals responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)

Development and Humanitarian Work

• The UN system includes a wide range of specialized agencies, programs, and funds that work to promote sustainable development, reduce poverty, and provide humanitarian assistance
• The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is the largest UN agency working on development issues, with a presence in 170 countries; it focuses on poverty reduction, democratic governance, crisis prevention and recovery, and sustainable development
• The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) works to protect the rights of children, provide health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, and emergency relief
• The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, providing food assistance to over 80 million people in 80 countries each year
• The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) protects and assists refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, and stateless persons; it provides shelter, food, water, medical care, and other essential services
• The World Health Organization (WHO) directs and coordinates international health within the UN system, including monitoring health trends, setting norms and standards, providing technical support to countries, and leading the response to global health emergencies (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic)
• The UN also convenes major international conferences and summits to address global challenges and set international agendas, such as the Earth Summit (1992), the World Conference on Women (1995), and the Millennium Summit (2000), which adopted the Millennium Development Goals

Challenges and Criticisms

• The UN has been criticized for its inability to prevent or resolve some major conflicts, such as the Rwandan genocide, the Bosnian war, and the Syrian civil war
• The veto power of the five permanent members of the Security Council has been seen as an obstacle to effective action, as it allows them to block resolutions that go against their interests
• The UN has been accused of bureaucratic inefficiency, waste, and corruption, particularly in its peacekeeping operations and humanitarian programs
• Some countries have complained about the disproportionate influence of Western countries, particularly the US, in the UN system, and have called for a more balanced and representative global governance structure
• The UN has struggled to adapt to new global challenges, such as climate change, terrorism, and cyber threats, which require innovative and collaborative approaches
• The UN has been criticized for its selective application of human rights standards, with some countries using their influence to shield themselves or their allies from scrutiny or accountability
• The UN has faced financial difficulties due to the failure of some member states to pay their assessed contributions on time and in full, which has led to budget cuts and program reductions

Reform Efforts and Future Outlook

• There have been numerous proposals and initiatives to reform the UN system to make it more effective, efficient, and responsive to global challenges
• Reform efforts have focused on issues such as Security Council membership and working methods, management and accountability, system-wide coherence, and partnerships with civil society and the private sector
• In 2000, the UN adopted the Millennium Declaration, which set out a vision for a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world, and established the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to guide global development efforts until 2015
• In 2015, the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030
• The UN has also undertaken reforms to its peacekeeping operations, including measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, improve the safety and security of personnel, and enhance the effectiveness and accountability of missions
• The UN has sought to strengthen its partnerships with regional organizations, such as the African Union and the European Union, to address regional challenges and promote collective security
• The UN has also increased its engagement with civil society, the private sector, and other non-state actors to mobilize resources, expertise, and support for its work
• As the world faces new and complex challenges, such as climate change, pandemics, and rising inequality, the UN will need to continue to adapt and innovate to remain relevant and effective in the 21st century