LWR L5
Contemporary Global Governance
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE
UNITED NATIONS
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND
SECURITY
One of the primary purposes of the United
Nations is the maintenance of international
peace and security.
Since its creation, the UN has often b e en c
a l l ed u p on t o p r e v ent disputes from
escalating into war, to persuade opposing
parties to use the conference table rather
than force of arms, or to help restore peace
when armed conflict does break out.
The Council has established 28 new
peacekeeping missions since 1995,
including the United Nations Mission in
Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) in 2000;
● the United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL) in 2003;
● the United Nations Operation in Côte
d’Ivoire (UNOCI),
● the United Nations Stabilization
Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and
● the United Nations Operation in
Burundi (ONUB) in 2004;
● the United Nations Mission in the
Sudan (UNMIS) in 2005; and
● the United Nations Integrated
Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) in
2006.
-Many of these new missions have already
completed their mandates, including, most
recently, the missions in the Central African
Republic, Burundi and Sierra Leone.
Disarmament
Since the birth of the United Nations, the
goals of multilateral disarmament and arms
limitation have been central to its efforts to
maintain international peace and security.
The Organization has given highest priority
to reducing and eventually eliminating
nuclear weapons, destroying chemical
weapons and strengthening the prohibition
against biological weapons all of which pose
the greatest threat to humankind.
General As sembly adopted the
International Convention for the
Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism,
which was opened for signature in
September 2005.
Weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
Bilateral agreements on nuclear weapons
Multilateral agreements on nuclear weapons
and non-proliferation.
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
Nuclear-weapon-free zones the signing of
the 1967 Treaty for the Prohibition of
Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the
Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)
Preventing nuclear proliferation.
The International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA)
plays a prominent role in international
efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear
weapons
Small arms, light weapons and practical
disarmament
Anti-personnel mines In 1995, are view of
the Conv ent i on on Certain Conventional
Weapons (CCW) — also known as the
Inhumane Weapons Convention —
produced Amended Protocol II
Transparancy of military expenditures
Prevention of an arms race in outer
space
 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
the vast majority of the Organization’s
resources are in fact devoted to advancing
the Charter’s pledge to “promote higher
standards of living, full employment, and
conditions of economic and social progress
and development”.
The United Nations competitive advantage
The United Nations system has unique
strengths in promoting development:
• Its universality: all countries have a voice
when policy decisions are made.
• Its impartiality: it does not represent any
particular national or commercial interest,
and can thus develop special relations of
trust with countries and their people to
provide aid with no strings attached.
• Its global presence: it has the world’s
largest network of country offices for
delivering assistance for development.
• Its comprehensive mandate,
encompassing development, security,
humanitarian assistance, human rights and
the environment.
• Its commitment to “the peoples of the
United Nations”.
● United Nations Development
Program (UNDP) is the developing
countries’ development agency,
committed to making a pivotal
contribution to halving world poverty
by 2020.
● The World Bank, comprising the
International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD) and the International
Development Association (IDA)
● International Monetary Fund (IMF)
● United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD) helps
developing countries and economies
in transition promote foreign direct
inv e s tment and improve their
investment climate
Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO)
is the l ead agency for agr i cul tur e ,
forestry, fi she r i e s and rural development.
The United Nations Industrial
Developement organization (UNIDO)
is the specialized agency helping these
countries to pursue sustainable industrial
development in the new global environment.
International Labor Organization (ILO)
Its long and diverse work in the setting and
monitoring of labor standards in the
workplace has provided a framework of
international labor standards and guide lines
which have been adopted in national
legislation by virtually all countries.
International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO).
ICAO aims to meet the public’s need for the
safety, security, efficiency and continuity of
international civil aviation and to minimize
its adverse effects on the environment. It
also works to strengthen the law governing
civil aviation.
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
IMO’s objectives are improving the safety
of international shipping and preventing
marine pollution from ships. Key
environmental concerns being addressed
include the transfer of harmful aquatic
organisms in ballast water and sediments,
the emission of greenhouse gases from
ships, and ship recycling.
International Telecommunication Union
(ITU)
is the world’s oldest intergovernmental
organization, dating back to 1865. It
coordinates the public and private sector
stop provide telecommunications networks
and services.
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
works to improve international postal
services , provide postal customers in every
country with harmonized and simplified
procedures for their international mail, and
make available a universal network of up-to-
date products and services.
World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO),
is responsible for promoting the protection
of intellectual property all over the world
through cooperation among states.
Commission on Science and Technology
for Development
was established in 1992 to examine science
and technology questions and their
implications for development.
The World Food Program (WFP)
i s the United Nations front-line agency in
the fight against global hunger.
United Nations Human Sett lements
Program(UN-HABITAT)
promote socially and environmentally
sustainable towns and cities, with the goal
of providing adequate shelter for all.
United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
ensure that all children are enrolled in
school s that are childfriendly and have
trained teachers providing quality education.
United Nations University (UNU)
a bridge between the UN and the
international academic community a think-
tank for the United Nations system; a
builder of capacities, particularly in
developing countries; and a platform for
dialogue and new creative ideas.
Commission Population and
Development,
is charged with studying and advising
ECOSOC on population changes and their
effects on economic and social conditions.
Commission on the Status of Women,
under ECOSOC, monitors progres s
towards gender equality throughout the
world by reviewing implementation of the
platform for action that emerged from the
Fourth World Conference on Women
(Beijing, 1995)
United Nation’s fund (UNICEF)
acts to protect children’s right s to survival,
protect ion and development. It advocates
for full implementation of the Convention on
the Right of the Child and the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP).
As the environmental conscience of the UN
system, UNEP assesses the state of the
world’s environment and identifies issues
requiring international cooperation.
United Nations Forum on Forests,
a high level intergovernmental body
charged with strengthening long-term
political commitment for sustainable forest
management.

International Maritime Organization (IMO)
is the United Nations specialized agency
responsible for measures to prevent marine
pollution from ships and to improve the
safety of international shipping.
Meteorological Organization (WMO)
coordinates global scientific efforts to
provide timely and accurate information
relating to weather, climate, and the
hydrological and atmospheric environment.
United nations commision on International
Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea
International Seabed Authority
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Commi s s ion on the Limits of the
Continental Shel

HUMAN RIGHTS
Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
intended as a “common standard of
achievement for all peoples”

International Covenant on Economic,

Social and Cultural Rights
The human rights that the Covenant seeks
to promote and protect include:
● The right to work in just and
favorable conditions.
● The right to social protection, to an
adequate standard of living and to
the highest attainable standards of
physical and mental well-being.
● The right to education and the
enjoyment of benefits of cultural
freedom and scientific progress.
International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights

HUMANITARIAN ACTION
United Nations Emergency Relief
Coordinator
Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR)

INTERNATIONAL LAW
International Court of Justice
International Law Commission