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!