The United Nations

1. The United Nations

2. History • Established on October 24, 1945 • 50 Original Members • 192 current members • ~195 fully independent countries in the world • Vatican City, Kosovo, Taiwan not members

3. Goals • World Peace • International desire to prevent another world war • “The United Nations is designed to make possible lasting freedom and independence for all its members” • ~Harry S. Truman

4. Organization • General Assembly • Security Council • Secretariat • International Court of Justice • Economic and Social Council • Specialized Institutions

5. General Assembly • Representatives of every member nation • Each rep gets one vote • “Important questions” require 2/3 majority for approval • recommendations on peace and security • election of members to organs • admission, suspension, and expulsion of members • budgetary matters

6. Security Council Members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf... The Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter.

7. SC Organization • 5 permanent members • GB, Russia, China, France, U.S • Hold veto power

8. 10 elected members from general assembly • 2 yr term • Azerbaijan, Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, Togo • Often put in uncomfortable positions – ex – France vs US in 2003 • Russia vs. Evderyone 2012 • Important matters require 9 votes

9. The Security Council may decide what measures not involving the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and it may call upon the Members of the United Nations to apply such measures. These may include complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations.

10. Should the Security Council consider that measures provided for in Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations.

11. SC enforces its decisions • Economic pressures • Sever diplomatic ties • Use of force • Demonstrations • Blockade • Other operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations.

12. Coalition forces • All member nations contribute

13. Secretariat • Bureaucracy • Day-to-day business • Keeps UN running

14. Secretary-General • Purpose • 5 yr term • Can be vetoed by permanent member of SC • Can personally mediate disputes • Brings matters before SC • Current position held by Ban Ki-moon • Republic of Korea

15. Economic and Social Council • 54 elected members • Handles economic issues and social matters

16. International Court of Justice • 15 judges elected by General Assembly • Nations bring cases against other nations • Oversee territories • Those taken in WWII • Last became a nation or part of nation in 1994

17. Current Peace Keeping Missions • Africa • Republic of South Sudan • Cote d’Ivoire • Abyei • Liberia • Western Sahara • Congo • Americas • Haiti • Asia and the Pacific • Timor • India and Pakistan • Afghanistan • Europe • Cyprus • Kosovo • Middle East • Lebanon