the united nations. general the un → international organization committed to maintaining...
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THE UNITED NATIONS
General
The UN → international organization committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights
currently 193 member states (Croatia joined in 1992)
headquarters: New York Citysix official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English,
French, Russian and Spanishfinanced through contributions from its member
statesSecretay-General: Ban Ki-moon (since 2007)
History
founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries
the term “United Nations” was coined by F. D. Roosevelt (1942)
the aim → to maintain peace through international cooperation and collective security
The UN’s forerunner is the League of Nations established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles
Internal structure
six principal organs:
1. General Assembely (Opća skupština)2. Security Council (Vijeće sigurnosti)3. Economic and Social Council (Gospodarsko i
socijalno vijeće)4. International Court of Justice (Međunarodni sud
pravde)5. Secretariat (Tajništvo)6. Trusteeship Council (Starateljsko vijeće) -
inactive
The UN General Assembly
the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN
comprises all 193 member statesoversees the budgetdecides on the admission of new membersmeets in regular yearly sessions receives reports from other parts of the United
Nations and make recommendations on peace and security, budgetary concerns and the election, admission, suspension or expulsion of members
The UN Security Councilmaintains international peace and security15 members
5 permanent: China, France, Russia, UK, USA (veto powers)
10 non permanent – for two-years termthe presidency – rotated alphabetically each
monththe most powerful organ of the UN
→ the authority to issue bindingresolutions to member states
decisions include: - peacekeeping,- peace enforcement-missions- non-military pressure mediums
(trade embargos, economic sanctions) peacekeepers are soldiers
nicknamed "Blue Helmets“
The UN Economic and Social Council
the principal organ to coordinate the economic, social and related work of the UN and the specialized agencies and institutions raising the general standard of living,
solving economic, social and health problems, promoting human rights, culture and education, as well as humanitarian aid
54 members elected by the General Assembly for a three-year term
meets once a year in July for a four-week session
The UN Secretariat
administrative organ of the UN carries out the day-to-day work →
various tasks concerningall issues the UN deals with
Secretary General(the most important representative of the UN)
assisted by a staff of internationalcivil servants worldwide
it provides studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN bodies for their meetings NYC + main offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna
The International Court of Justice
the principal judicial organ of the UNbased in the Haguefunctions as universal court for international lawsettle legal disputes submitted to it by statesprovide advisory opinions on legal questionsthe 15 judges are elected
by the General Assemblyfor the term of nine years
renders judgementsby relative majority
The UN Trusteeship Council
it was established to supervise the administration of Trust Territories placed under the Trusteeship System
Trust Territories were former colonies under Trusteeship Council guaranteed that
appropriate measures were taken to prepare such Territories for autonomy or independence
its operation was suspended on 1 November 1994, with the independence of Palau
Other specialized agencies
each primary organ of the UN can establish various specialized agencies to fulfill its duties
autonomous organizations working with the UN and each other
today there are 17 agencies: UNESCO, IMF, WHO, FAO, UNHCR, UNOCD, UN-Habitat, UNAIDS, UNECE, UN-Women …
It’s your world!
The Charter of the United Nations
the foundational treaty of the UN signed on 26 June 1945 entered into force on 24 October 1945
all members are bound by its articlesobligations to the UN prevail
over all other treaty obligationsmost countries in the world
have now ratified the CharterThe statute of International Court
of Justice is an integral partof the Charter
CHAPTER I: PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES
Article 1
The Purposes of the United Nations are:
To maintain international peace and securityTo develop friendly relations among nationsTo achieve international co-operation in
solving international problemsTo be a centre for harmonizing the actions of
nations in the attainment of these common ends.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• one of the biggest UN achievements• adopted by the UN General Assembly on
December 10, 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris
• based on the experience of the Second World War
• represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are entitled
• consists of 30 articles • it is part of The International Bill of Human
Rights
The International Billof Human Rights
an informal name given to two international treaties and one General Assembly resolution established by the UN
It consists of:1. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(adopted in 1948), 2. the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (1966) with its two Optional Protocols3. the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (1966)The two covenants entered into force in 1976, after
a sufficient number of countries had ratified them.
Exercise
Match the words with their definitions:
Answers: 1c, 2d, 3b, 4e, 5a
1. BILL
2. DECLARATION
3. RESOLUTION
4. PREAMBLE
5. CHARTER
a) A set of basic laws, principles and rights that a country or organization is governed by.
b) A formal and official expression of opinion or will of a legislative body or assembled group.
c) A proposed law under consideration by a legislative body.
d) An official statement intended to create, preserve, assert, or testify to a right.
e) An introductory clause in a constitution, statute, or other legal instrument which states the intent of that instrument.
International human rights law
designed to promote and protect human rights at the international, regional and domestic levels
binding instruments: treaties and customary international law
international human rights law – in the context of ordinary life
international humanitarian law – during armed conflict
The UN CRC
the Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history
the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the text of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 1989
became legally binding in September 1990, after 20 states had ratified it
the USA and Somalia
Thank you!
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