UNITED NATIONS

Definitions-:
UN National Day – 24th October 1945

Apartheid: a system of racial discrimination in South Africa, wherein only White people had political and
social rights and privileges (or) colored people had no rights and lived segregated from the Whites in
poor conditions

Child care centres: Centres which provide medical assistance to young mothers and their newborn
children

Embargo: Economic and diplomatic sanctions against a hostile or aggressive country meaning a ban on
economic trade or cordial relationships with that country

League of Nations: the first international peacekeeping organisation formed to prevent wars after the
devastation and destruction during World War I

Resolution: a formal statement, proposal or agreement by a group or council

Sweatshops: a factory or workshop, especially in the clothing industry, where manual workers are
employed at very low wages for long hours and poor conditions

Question and Answers-:

The beginning of the 20th century witnessed World War I, the horror and tragedy of which devastated
the world. Millions lost their lives while an equal number of people were maimed or injured. The
destruction was unimaginable. There was an overwhelming desire for an end to the war and
establishment of peace. The League of Nations was founded for this very purpose. Its opening session
was held in 1919.

Q – What was the League of Nations?

- The League of Nations was the first international organisation responsible for ensuring peace
and cooperation between nations of the world.

- In its early years, the League was able to maintain peace and prevent conflicts.

- However, in the 1930s its success waned as the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) gained
influence, which eventually led to the start of World War II in 1939.

Q – What measures were taken to avoid any more wars?

Preparations for such an organisation had begun long back in 1941, while the war was in full swing. To
avoid such a war in the future, the United Nations (UN) was formed. The American President, Franklin
Roosevelt first coined the term 'United Nations'.
Q – What is the Atlantic Chapter?

- On 14 August 1941, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt met
on board a battleship and signed the Atlantic Charter.

- Some of the proposals drafted in this Charter by Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt
became the basis for the establishment of the United Nations.

- In January 1942, 26 countries pledged their support to the Atlantic Charter by signing the
Declaration by United Nations.

- On 25 April 1945, the United Nations Conference on International Organization began in San
Francisco, and was attended by delegates of 50 nations involved in drafting the Charter of the
UN.

- The UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, which is celebrated as United Nations
Day all over the world.

Q – What is the United Nations?

The United Nations had began functioning with 51 nations as original members. However, the UN
Charter has made provisions for the admission of new members. The headquarters of the UN is in New
York, USA. The UN has adopted English, French, Chinese, Russian, Arabic and Spanish as its official
languages. Funds for the successful functioning of the UN are contributed by the member nations.

Q – What are the objectives of the UN?

- The preamble of the UN charter outlines the objectives of the UN. These are as follows:

- Maintenance of international peace and security

- Promotion of human rights for people all over the world

- Protection of future generations from the devastation of wars

- Establishment of equal rights for all persons

- Promotion of justice, freedom and social progress for all its member states

- Respect for international laws and international treaties

Q – What is the structure of the UN?

The UN has six principal organs-the General Assembly, the Security Council, the International Court of
Justice, the Economic and Social Council, the Secretariat and the Trusteeship Council.

Q – What is the General Assembly?

- This is the main deliberative assembly of the UN.

- All UN member states are members of the General Assembly. The Assembly meets once every
year. It is a kind of a parliament of nations.
 - Each member state has only one vote Decisions are made by a majority vote. But important
resolutions, such as those concerning peace and security issues, require a two-thirds majority.

Q – What is the function of General Assembly?

- Discusses issues relating to peace and security and recommends solutions

- Considers and approves the UN budget

- Elects non-permanent members of the Security Council, and members of the Economic and
Social Council

- Initiates studies to promote international political cooperation

Q – What is the Security Council?

This is often considered the most important organ of the UN. It has been given the responsibility of
maintaining peace and security among countries. While other organs of the UN can only make
'recommendations' to member states, the Security Council has the power to make binding decisions
that member states are required to carry out according to the terms of the Charter.

- There are 15 member countries that make up the Security Council Among these 15 countries,
five are permanent members-the USA, the UK, France, Russia and China.

- There are also 10 non-permanent members who are elected to the Security Council by the
General Assembly and their term lasts for 2 years.

Q – What is the veto power?

The five permanent members exercise a special power called the veto power. Veto is a negative vote by
any one of the permanent members. When a permanent member vetoes a resolution, it is cancelled.
This means that the consent of all five permanent members is necessary for all decisions made by the
Security Council of the UN.

Q – What is the function of Security Council

- Investigates any dispute which may lead to international tension and settles disputes through
mediation, negotiations and recommendations

- if the situation so demands, it imposes embargoes, which are economic or diplomatic sanctions
against aggressor countries.

- It meets as and when necessary.

- If all its measures fail, then the Security Council resorts to military action.

Q – What is the International Court of Justice?

- This is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. The Court comprises 15 judges who are
elected for a 9-year term.

- The judges are from different countries. No two judges can be from the same country.
 - The International Court of Justice has its headquarters at The Hague (Netherlands).

- Its function is to gives advice to the other organs of the UN and settles disputes among member
nations

Q – What is the Economic and Social Council?

This organ of the UN sets the General Assembly in promoting international and social cooperation and
development. It has 54 members, elected by the General Assembly for a 3-year term.

Q – What is the function of Economic and Social Council?

Looks after human rights issues and deals with problems related to health, employment, illiteracy, drugs
and social issues such as the status of women. Also, supervises the work done by the other UN bodies
such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), etc.

Q – What is the Secretariat?

- The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General who is elected for a term of 5 years by the
General Assembly.

- It is the duty of the Secretariat to organise conferences, draft reports and prepare estimates for
budget allocation.

- It provides studies, information and facilities needed by the UN member states for their
meetings. It also carries out tasks as directed by the UN General Assembly, Security Council and
other UN bodies.

Q – What is the function of the Secretariat?

Carries out day-to-day work of the UN and plays a dual role-as an administrator of the UN and a
diplomat and mediator addressing disputes between member states and finding consensus to global
issues.

Q – What is the Trusteeship Council?

This organ of the UN was created to supervise the administration of Trust Territories, which were not
completely independent. Hence, these territories were placed under the administration of seven
member states. By 1994, all Trust Territories attained independence or self-government.

Q – What is the function of Trusteeship Council?

Its operation was suspended in 1994. However, the Council can meet on the request of the General
Assembly or Security Council or if the situation demands.

Q – What are the functions of the UN today?

- The main function of the UN today is to maintain peace and security for all its member states
 - The UN has peacekeeping forces, which are made up of personnel from its member states.
These peacekeepers are often sent to regions where an armed conflict has recently ended to
discourage combatants from resuming war.

- The UN aims to protect human rights. It also provides technical assistance and helps to improve
judicial structures and draft constitutions,

- It provides food, drinking water, shelter as well as humanitarian services to people displaced by
war, famine and natural disasters

- The UN plays an integral part in social and economic progress through its United Nations
Development Programme

Q – What are the Achievements of the UN?

- The UN has not always been successful in its attempt to prevent wars. However, it has taken
effective action to restore peace

- The UN strives to protect and preserve human rights all over the world

- It imposed sanctions against South Africa, which helped in changing the policies of the South
African government to end apartheid.

- The UN has been successful in the areas of health, child welfare, labour and education through
its various agencies.

- There have been efforts to end the nuclear arms race and promote the use nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes.

Q – What is the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO)?

The UNESCO came into existence in November 1946. It has its headquarters in Paris, France. The
UNESCO's mission is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among
nations through education, science and culture.

Q – What is the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)?

Originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund the UNICEF was
established in 1946. Its main function was to provide food, clothing and healthcare to children who were
faced with famine and disease in the aftermath of World War II. The words “international” and
“emergency” were later dropped and it came to be known as the United Nations Children's Fund.

Q - What is the World Health Organization (WHO)?

WHO was established on 7 April 1948. This day is celebrated as world health day. The goal of this agency
is health for all

Q - What is the International Labor Organization?

ILO was founded in 1919 to promote rights at work and encourage decent employment opportunities