Name: Keshav Agarwal

Class: X Section:
Roll No:
Subject: History/Civics
Topic: Contribution of the
Agencies of United Nations
Internal Examiner’s
Signature:
External Examiner’s
Signature:
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special
thanks of gratitude to my
History/Political Science teacher
“____________” for his/her able
guidance and support in completing
my project.

I would also like to extend my

gratitude to principal
“______________”
for providing me with all the facility
that was required.

INDEX
 Introduction
 Functions of the United Nations Organisation.
 Principles of the United Nations Organisation.
 Structure of the UNO
o General Assembly (GA)
o The Security Council
o Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
o The International Court of Justice
o Secretariat
 Specialized agencies
 The specialized agencies in brief
o UNICEF
o UNESCO
o WHO
 Conclusion
 Bibliography
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization aiming to
maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among
nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the
actions of nations. It is the world's largest, and most familiar, international
organization. The UN is headquartered on international territory in New York
City and has other main offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague.

The UN was established after World War II with the aim of preventing future
wars, succeeding the ineffective League of Nations. On 25 April 1945, At its
founding, the UN had 51 member states; with the addition of South Sudan in
2011, membership is now 193, representing almost all of the world's sovereign
states.

The functions of the United Nations Organization are as follows:

 To maintain security and international peace is at the forefront.

 To endeavour to develop good and friendly relations among the different

nations

 To ensure respect for human rights and that they are not violated and
the universal fundamental freedom is maintained

 To arbitrate and garner cooperation to solve problems of social,

economic, and cultural nature.
It’s main principles are:

 Most important is that all member nations have to settle their disputes
through a peaceful process.
  The member nations are based on sovereign equality.

 All member nations have to be faithful in fulfilling their obligations

towards the charter and they are to provide full cooperation and
assistance to the UN in actions taken by it in accordance with the
charter.

 The UN cannot intervene in matters which are within the jurisdiction of

any nation (Internal matters of the state).

 All member states are to desist from the use of threat or force against
other member states.
The UN has five principal organs:

 The General Assembly;
 The Security Council;
 The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC);
 The International Court of Justice; and
 The UN Secretariat. 

It took the role of peacekeeper of the world and assumed necessary powers to

avoid conflicts. The UN not only focuses on peace but also aims at promoting
sustainable development, upholding international laws and protecting human
rights through its various agencies or organisations each established because of a
particular role.

Due to the powers vested in its Charter and its unique international character, the
United Nations can take action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21st
century, such as:
 Peace and security
 Climate change
 Sustainable development
 Human rights
 Disarmament
 Terrorism
 Humanitarian and health emergencies
 Gender equality
 Governance
 Food production etc.
There are 14 important UN agencies-
 International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
 International Labour Organisation (ILO)
 International Monetary Fund (IMF)
 United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
 Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)
 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
 World Health Organisation (WHO)
 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
 International Development Association (IDA)
 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
 United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
 World Trade Organisation (WTO)
 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
 UN Women

Specialized agencies of the United Nations are carrying out operations to promote
multilateral cooperation from professional and technical viewpoints in an
extremely broad range of areas, such as labor, education, science, culture,
agriculture and public health.
UNICEF, also known as the United Nations Children's Fund, is a United
Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to
children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable
social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and
territories. UNICEF's activities include providing immunizations and disease
prevention, administering treatment for children and mothers with HIV,
enhancing childhood and maternal nutrition, improving sanitation, promoting
education, and providing emergency relief in response to disasters.

UNICEF is the successor of the United Nations International Children's Emergency

Fund also known as the UNICEF, created on December 11, 1946, in New York, by
the U.N. Relief Rehabilitation Administration to provide immediate relief to
children and mothers affected by World War II.

In 1950, its mandate was extended to address the long-term needs of children
and women, particularly in developing countries. In 1953, the organization
became a permanent part of the United Nations System, and its name was
subsequently changed to its current form, though it retains the original acronym

UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary contributions from governments and private

donors.

It is governed by a 36-member executive board that establishes policies, approves

programs, and oversees administrative and financial plans. The board is made up
of government representatives elected by the United Nations Economic and
Social Council, usually for three-year terms.

UNICEF's programs emphasize developing community-level services to promote

the health and well-being of children. Most of its work is in the field, with a
network that includes 150 country offices, headquarters and other facilities, and
34 "national committees" that carry out its mission through programs developed
with host governments. Seven regional offices provide technical assistance to
country offices as needed, while its Supply Division—based
in Copenhagen and New York—helps provide over $3 billion in critical aid and
services.

UNICEF is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child
are realized. The Agency has the global authority to influence decision-makers,
and the variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas
into reality. That makes UNICEF unique among world organizations, and unique
among those working with the young.

UNICEF believes that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of
human progress.  UNICEF was created with this purpose in mind – to work with
others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and
discrimination place in a child’s path.  The agency believes that together, we can
advance the cause of humanity.

UNICEF advocates for measures to give children the best start in life, because
proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s
future.

UNICEF promotes girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary

education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys.
Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and
better parents to their own children.
UNICEF acts so that all children are immunized against common childhood
diseases, and are well nourished, because it is wrong for a child to suffer or die
from a preventable illness.

UNICEF works to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it
is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. It helps
children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity.

UNICEF involves everyone in creating protective environments for children. The

agency is present to relieve suffering during emergencies, and wherever children
are threatened, because no child should be exposed to violence, abuse or
exploitation.

UNICEF upholds the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  The agency works to
assure equality for those who are discriminated against, girls and women in
particular. It also works for the Millennium Development Goals and for the
progress promised in the United Nations Charter. It strives for peace and security,
and work to hold everyone accountable to the promises made for children.

UNICEF is part of the Global Movement for Children – a broad coalition dedicated
to improving the life of every child.  Through this movement, and events such as
the United Nations Special Session on Children, it encourages young people to
speak out and participate in the decisions that affect their lives.

UNICEF has used a number of new communication tools to reach a greater

number of voices. For example, U-Report stands out as an excellent tool to
include the voices of children, youth, and civil society in national level dialogues.
Through a simple SMS-based platform – millions of users have signed up around
the world to report back on a broad range of issues affecting their lives. This
information is shared with Government partners as an additional way to take civil
society feedback into account.

The recently adopted UNICEF Strategic Plan 2018-2021 affirms a clear

commitment to enhancing multi-stakeholder partnerships, stating: “Reflecting the
people-centred nature of the 2030 Agenda, we will support innovative platforms
that strengthen collaboration with Governments as well as with civil society and
the private sector. We will build on recent progress in engaging citizens through
volunteerism, empowerment, participation and other means to strengthen
national ownership and capacity, and delivery of the sustainable development
agenda. We will also intensify collaboration through multi-stakeholder
partnerships at national, regional, and global levels, and assist in improving
mutual accountability for the Sustainable Development Goals in such
partnerships.” The new Strategic Plan commits that “Collaboration with civil
society partners will be increased, including engagement with non-governmental
organizations, community-based organizations, foundations and academic
institutions, to advocate and act on behalf of children.”
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It
seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences
and Culture.

As early as 1942, in wartime, the governments of the European countries, which

were confronting Nazi Germany and its allies, met in the United Kingdom for the
Conference of Allied Ministers of Education (CAME). The Second World War was
far from over, yet those countries were looking for ways and means to
reconstruct their systems of education once peace was restored. New
governments, including that of the United States, decided to join in. Upon the
proposal of CAME, a United Nations Conference for the establishment of an
educational and cultural organization was convened in London from 1 to 16
November 1945.  It gathered together the representatives of forty-four countries
who decided to create an organization that would embody a genuine culture of
peace. In their eyes, the new organization must establish the “intellectual and
moral solidarity of mankind” and, in so doing, prevent the outbreak of another
world war.

Located on the Place de Fontenoy, in Paris, the main building which houses the
Headquarters of UNESCO was inaugurated on 3 November 1958

“Political and economic arrangements of governments are not enough to secure

the lasting and sincere support of the peoples. Peace must be founded upon
dialogue and mutual understanding. Peace must be built upon the intellectual and
moral solidarity of humanity.”

In this spirit, UNESCO develops educational tools to help people live as global
citizens free of hate and intolerance. UNESCO works so that each child and citizen
has access to quality education. By promoting cultural heritage and the equal
dignity of all cultures, UNESCO strengthens bonds among nations. UNESCO fosters
scientific programmes and policies as platforms for development and
cooperation. UNESCO stands up for freedom of expression, as a fundamental right
and a key condition for democracy and development. Serving as a laboratory of
ideas, UNESCO helps countries adopt international standards and manages
programmes that foster the free flow of ideas and knowledge sharing.

UNESCO's founding vision was born in response to a world war that was marked
by racist and anti-Semitic violence. Sixty Three years on and many liberation
struggles later, UNESCO’s mandate is as relevant as ever. Cultural diversity is
under attack and new forms of intolerance, rejection of scientific facts and threats
to freedom of expression challenge peace and human rights. In response,
UNESCO's duty remains to reaffirm the humanist missions of education, science
and culture.

Education transforms lives and is at the heart of UNESCO’s mission to build peace,
eradicate poverty and drive sustainable development. 

UNESCO believes that education is a human right for all throughout life and that
access must be matched by quality. The Organization is the only United Nations
agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of education. It has been entrusted to
lead the Global Education 2030 Agenda through Sustainable Development Goal.
The roadmap to achieve this is the Education 2030 Framework for Action (FFA).

UNESCO provides global and regional leadership in education, strengthens

education systems worldwide and responds to contemporary global challenges
through education with gender equality an underlying principle.
Its work encompasses educational development from pre-school to higher
education and beyond. Themes include global citizenship and sustainable
development, human rights and gender equality, health and HIV and AIDS, as well
as technical and vocational skills development.
UNESCO is convinced that no development can be sustainable without a strong
culture component. Indeed only a human-centred approach to development
based on mutual respect and open dialogue among cultures can lead to lasting,
inclusive and equitable results.
To ensure that culture takes it rightful place in development strategies and
processes, UNESCO has adopted a three-pronged approach: it spearheads
worldwide advocacy for culture and development, while engaging with the
international community to set clear policies and legal frameworks and working
on the ground to support governments and local stakeholders to safeguard
heritage, strengthen creative industries and encourage cultural pluralism.

UNESCO renowned cultural conventions provide a unique global platform for

international cooperation and establish a holistic cultural governance system
based on human rights and shared values. These international treaties endeavour
to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage including
ancient archaeological sites, intangible and underwater heritage, museum
collections, oral traditions and other forms of heritage, and to support creativity,
innovation and the emergence of dynamic cultural sectors.

UNESCO works to assist countries to invest in science, technology and innovation

(STI), to develop national science policies, to reform their science systems and to
build capacity to monitor and evaluate performance through STI indicators and
statistics taking into account the broad range of country-specific contexts.
Linking science to society, public understanding of science and the participation of
citizens in science are essential to creating societies where people have the
necessary knowledge to make professional, personal and political choices, and to
participate in the stimulating world of discovery. Indigenous knowledge systems
developed with long and close interaction with nature, complement knowledge
systems based on modern science.

Science and technology empower societies and citizens but also involve ethical
choices. UNESCO works with its member States to foster informed decisions
about the use of science and technology, in particular in the field of bioethics.

Water is fundamental for life and ensuring water security for communities
worldwide is essential to peace and sustainable development. The scientific
understanding of the water cycle, the distribution and characteristics of surface
and groundwater, of urban water all contribute to the wise management of
freshwater for a healthy environment and to respond to human needs.

Scientific knowledge of the Earth’s history and mineral resources, knowledge of

ecosystems and biodiversity, and the interaction of humans with ecosystems are
important to help us understand how to manage our planet for a peaceful and
sustainable future.
On a daily basis, from its Headquarters and in the Field, UNESCO intervenes to
accompany its Member States and all its partners to better understand and
address the challenges of our more and more diversified societies, particularly
through its intergovernmental Programme for Management of Social
Transformations (MOST), its Youth Programme and the Culture of Peace and Non-
Violence Programme which include, inter alia, initiatives for democracy and global
citizenship, intercultural dialogue, peace-building.

Furthermore, UNESCO seeks to promote the development and the practice

of sporting activities, as well as the fight against doping to foster social integration
in different cultural and political contexts, recognizing that sport disregards both
geographical borders and social classes.

UNESCO also continues to build and reinforce linkages among ethicists, scientists,
policy-makers, judges, journalists, and civil society to assist Member States in
enacting sound and reasoned policies on ethical issues in science and technology.
UNESCO advances freedom of expression and the safety of journalists online and
off-line, notably in the framework of United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety
of Journalists. Moreover, the Sector combats online hate speech, as well as
disinformation and misinformation through awareness raising initiatives, steady
monitoring, capacity-building activities, and technical support to Member States.

UNESCO also supports universal access to information and knowledge through

promoting Open Solutions, including Open Educational Resources, access for
marginalized people, and multilingualism in the cyberspace.

The Organization develops media and information literacy curricula,

furthers gender equality in media operations and content, and
encourages pertinent media coverage of crisis and emergency situations. Through
its holistic approach, UNESCO contributes to media diversity and pluralism by
fostering diversity of content, audience, sources, and systems.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United
Nations responsible for international public health. Headquartered in Geneva,
Switzerland, it has six regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide. The WHO
was established on 7 April 1948.
The WHO's mandate includes advocating for universal health care,
monitoring public health risks, coordinating responses to health emergencies, and
promoting health and well-being. It provides technical assistance to countries,
sets international health standards, and collects data on global health issues.
The WHO has played a leading role in several public health achievements, most
notably the eradication of smallpox, the near-eradication of polio, and the
development of an Ebola vaccine. Its current priorities include communicable
diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, Ebola, COVID-19, malaria and tuberculosis; non-
communicable diseases such as heart disease and cancer; healthy diet, nutrition,
and food security; occupational health; and substance abuse.

The WHO's Constitution states that its objective "is the attainment by all people
of the highest possible level of health".

The WHO fulfills this objective through its functions as defined in its Constitution:
(a) To act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health
work;

(b) To establish and maintain effective collaboration with the United Nations,
specialized agencies, governmental health administrations, professional groups
and such other organizations as may be deemed appropriate;

(c) To assist Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services;

(d) To furnish appropriate technical assistance and, in emergencies, necessary aid
upon the request or acceptance of Governments;

(e) To provide or assist in providing, upon the request of the United Nations,
health services and facilities to special groups, such as the peoples of trust
territories;

(f) To establish and maintain such administrative and technical services as may be
required, including epidemiological and statistical services;

(g) to stimulate and advance work to eradicate epidemic, endemic and other
diseases;

(h) To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary,

the prevention of accidental injuries;

(i) To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary,

the improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation, economic or
working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene;

(j) To promote co-operation among scientific and professional groups which

contribute to the advancement of health;

(k) To propose conventions, agreements and regulations, and make

recommendations with respect to international health matters and to perform.

The WHO has defined its role in public health as follows:

 Providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in

partnerships where joint action is needed;
 Shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation,
and dissemination of valuable knowledge;
 Setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their
implementation;
 Articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options;
 Providing technical support, catalysing change, and building sustainable
institutional capacity;
 Monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends and
 CRVS (civil registration and vital statistics) to provide monitoring of vital
events (birth, death, wedding, divorce).
WHO addresses government health policy with two aims: firstly, "to address the
underlying social and economic determinants of health through policies and
programmes that enhance health equity and integrate pro-poor, gender-
responsive, and human rights-based approaches" and secondly "to promote a
healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and influence public policies
in all sectors so as to address the root causes of environmental threats to health”.

The organization develops and promotes the use of evidence-based tools, norms
and standards to support member states to inform health policy options. It
oversees the implementation of the International Health Regulations, and
publishes a series of medical classifications;

In terms of health services, WHO looks to improve "governance, financing,

staffing and management" and the availability and quality of evidence and
research to guide policy. It also strives to "ensure improved access, quality and
use of medical products and technologies".

The WHO along with the World Bank constitutes the core team responsible for
administering the International Health Partnership (IHP+). The IHP+ is a group of
partner governments, development agencies, civil society, and others committed
to improving the health of citizens in developing countries. Partners work
together to put international principles for aid effectiveness and development co-
operation into practice in the health sector.

Each year, the organization marks World Health Day and other observances

focusing on a specific health promotion topic. World Health Day falls on 7 April
each year, timed to match the anniversary of WHO's founding.

The other official global public health campaigns marked by WHO are World
Tuberculosis Day, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No
Tobacco Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Hepatitis Day, and World AIDS Day.
Each specialized agency operates autonomously under the UN's umbrella, with its
own governing body, procedural rules, membership, and funding mechanisms.

When the UNO was created during the 1940s, the initial member states
recognized that there were several problems poorly fitted to deliberations within
the General Assembly, ECOSOC, and several of the problems were extremely
technical. This was because the ability of communication systems needed the
cooperation of stakeholders not represented in those 3 bodies such as the
international labour law. Several of the specialised agencies predated the creation
of the international organization system.

So, the answer to this problem was the creation of specialised/expert and
technical agencies. The specialised agencies are tasked with raising these
problems, setting international standards, and implementing them around the
world. A key role of these agencies is international standard-setting.

Today, there are more than a dozen specialised and technical agencies. One of
ECOSOC’s mandates is coordinating international organization activities and
policies with the specialised agencies. The heads of the specialised agencies
conjointly meet with the Secretary-General frequently. Several specialised
agencies share resources and have interaction in joint work. The specialized
agencies along with the United Nations are often collectively called the United
Nations System.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

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