During World War II the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and their allies drew up plans for an international organization designed to keep peace in the world. At the end of the war representatives from 50 countries met to discuss plans for the organization. As a result, the United Nations (UN) was officially established on October 24, 1945. It replaced the League of Nations, a similar group formed after World War I. The United Nations has its headquarters in New York City. There are six official languages of the UN: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. In 2001, Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the United Nations received the Nobel prize for their peacekeeping efforts around the world. Functions of the United NationsThe main goals of the United Nations are to maintain international peace and security and to improve the lives of people all over the world. To accomplish this, the organization performs many different functions. Social programsOne focus of the United Nations is the issue of human rights. The organization tries to make sure that people everywhere are treated equally regardless of race, sex, language, or religion. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in 1948, describes the rights of all people throughout the world. The Commission on Human Rights meets regularly to discuss human rights issues. Another important function of the United Nations is its peacekeeping efforts. The United Nations tries to find peaceful solutions to disagreements between countries. If that fails, the organization may send in peacekeeping troops. United Nations troops have served all over the world, especially in the Middle East, where there have been many conflicts. In 1988, United Nations peacekeeping forces were awarded the Nobel prize for peace. The United Nations has also worked to end the use of nuclear weapons. It has organized conferences on disarmament and approved treaties banning such weapons. The United Nations has played an important role in helping refugees around the world. These are people who have left their countries to avoid danger or for political reasons. The group has given aid to thousands of refugees as well as cared for needy children in many countries. This aid has included providing health care, food, and shelter. The United Nations works with countries on many different environmental issues as well. For example, it has fought to clean up the Mediterranean Sea, protect water resources, and stop the destruction of forests. Economic aidSeveral agencies are responsible for offering economic assistance throughout the world. They have helped countries rebuild after wars, provided technical assistance to less-developed countries, and promoted trade and development. Many countries were created in the mid-20th century when colonies in Africa and Asia gained their independence. These countries in particular often needed help as they developed their own economies. International lawThe United Nations established the International Court of Justice to try legal disputes between countries. Any states—even nonmembers—may bring disputes to the court for judgment. Both parties must first agree to allow the court to try the case. OrganizationThere were 51 original members of the United Nations. In 2002 there were 191 member nations. The organization consists of six main groups and many smaller agencies. The six are the Security Council, General Assembly, Secretariat, International Court of Justice, Economic and Social Council, and Trusteeship Council. The Security CouncilThe Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. There are 15 members on the Security Council—five permanent and ten nonpermanent. The United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States have permanent seats. The nonpermanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. The Security Council investigates disagreements and suggests ways to resolve them peacefully. Countries are bound to follow the decisions made by the Security Council. The General AssemblyThe General Assembly, which meets annually, is the only body in which all members are represented. The General Assembly has no official power to enforce its decisions. Instead, it must influence nations by bringing public attention to the issues. The SecretariatThe Secretariat administers and coordinates the activities of the United Nations. It is headed by the secretary-general, who is elected by the General Assembly. The secretary-general is the chief spokesperson for the United Nations. In 1946, Trygve Lie of Norway was elected the first secretary-general. The seventh secretary-general, Kofi Annan of Ghana, took office in 1997. The International Court of JusticeAlso known as the World Court, the International Court of Justice is the main judicial organ of the United Nations. It is located in The Netherlands at The Hague. The court consists of 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council. The Economic and Social CouncilThe Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) coordinates the economic, social, humanitarian, and cultural activities of the United Nations. The General Assembly elects the 54 members of the Economic and Social Council to three-year terms. The Trusteeship CouncilThe Trusteeship Council used to supervise trust, or non-self-governing, territories. Because the last trust territory became self-governing in 1994, this council suspended operation. Specialized agenciesThe United Nations also includes special groups that are independent. The specialized agencies control their own budget and have their own board of directors. These agencies include: the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Two of the most powerful specialized agencies are the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Another specialized agency is the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This agency feeds children in more than one hundred countries around the world. In addition, UNICEF provides clothing and other needs, such as vaccinations, to poor children. |