UNITED NATIONS

Brief History of United Nations

• The United Nations (U.N.) is a global
diplomatic and political organization dedicated
to international peace and stability.
• Officially established in 1945
• Initially had just 51 member states
• today, the organization, which is
headquartered in New York City, has 193
members.
U.N. Bodies
 General Assembly: The General Assembly is the main
policymaking body of the U.N. that votes on decisions the
organization makes all 193 members are represented in this
branch.

 Security Council: This 15-member council oversees

measures that ensure the maintenance of international
peace and security. The Security Council determines if a
threat exists and encourages the parties involved to settle it
peacefully.
 Economic and Social Council: The Economic and Social
Council makes policies and recommendations regarding
economic, social and environmental issues. It consists of 54
members who are elected by the General Assembly for three-
year terms.

 Trusteeship Council: The Trusteeship Council was originally

created to supervise the 11 Trust Territories that were placed
under the management of seven member states. By 1994, all the
territories had gained self-government or independence, and the
body was suspended. But that same year, the Council decided to
continue meeting occasionally, instead of annually.
 International Court of Justice: This branch is
responsible for settling legal disputes
submitted by the states and answering
questions in accordance with international law.

• Secretariat: is made up of the Secretary-

General and thousands of U.N. staffers. Its
members carry out the daily duties of the U.N.
and work on international peacekeeping
missions.
The purpose or role of the United Nations
1. To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective
collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and
for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to
bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice
and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or
situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of
equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate
measures to strengthen universal peace;
3. To achieve international co-operation in solving
international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or
humanitarian character, and in promoting and
encouraging respect for human rights and for
fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to
race, sex, language, or religion; and
4. To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in
the attainment of these common ends
General Assembly
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the chief policy-making and
representative body of the UN.
 It is the only UN body where all the UN members are represented. So, all 193
member countries are represented here.
 The GA is headed by a President who is elected for a one-year tenure.
 The GA is headquartered in New York, USA.
 The UNGA meets once a year in September.
o This annual GA session happens in the General Assembly Hall in New York.
 The Assembly also meets at other times of the year depending on the tasks.
 The UNGA can make recommendations to countries on matters within its
competence.
Functions of the UNGA:
o Consider and approve the UN budget and establish the financial
assessments of member countries;
o Elect the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council and the
members of other UN organs and councils and, on the recommendation of
the UNSC, appoint the Secretary-General;
o Consider and make recommendations on the general principles of
cooperation for maintaining international security and peace, including
disarmament;
o Discuss any question relating to international peace and security;
o Discuss any question within the scope of the UN Charter;
o Conduct studies and make recommendations to encourage global political
cooperation, the codification and development of international law, the
realization of human rights & fundamental freedoms, and international
collaboration in the social, economic, cultural, humanitarian, health and
educational fields;
o Make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any situation that
might hamper the friendly relations between nations;
o Consider reports from the various UN organs.
Voting in the UNGA:

1.Every member has one vote in the GA.

2.Most questions are decided by a simple majority,
however, budgetary questions, election to the UNSC,
and ECOSOC require a 2/3rd majority vote.
3.In recent times, the UNGA has been striving to make
decisions based on consensus among all member
countries.
Security Council
• The primary responsibility of maintaining peace and security in the world lies with the
United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
1. The UNSC has 15 member states, five of whom are permanent members.
2. The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of two
years each, on a regional basis.
o Out of the 10 temporary members, five are from Asia or Africa, two are from Latin
America, one from Eastern Europe, and two from Western Europe or other regions.
o The five permanent member countries are the USA, the UK, France, Russia, and
China.
o Decisions are taken by the Council by vote, that is if 9 out of the 15 members vote
‘yes’. However, if any of the permanent members vote ‘no’, that is, use their veto
power, then the resolution is not passed.
 o Each of the permanent members possesses the Veto Power to any resolution of the
UNSC.
 This is seen as the most undemocratic feature of the UN.
 But, during the formation of the UN, the USA refused to be a part of the UN
unless it was given the power to veto.
 The League of Nations was an ineffective organization partly because of the
absence of the US. Hence, this condition of the US was accepted.
 Critics of the permanent members’ veto power also opine that it is this feature
that prevents many conflicts from being resolved.
The members of the UNSC must carry out the decisions taken by the Council; they are
legally binding.
The UNSC is headquartered in New York.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
• The ECOSOC is the main body responsible for coordination, policy
dialogue, policy review and recommendations on social, economic, and
environmental issues, and also the implementation of internationally
agreed development goals.
1. It serves as the central mechanism for activities of the UN system and its
specialized agencies in the economic, social, and environmental fields,
supervising subsidiary and expert bodies.
2. It is the UN’s pivotal platform for reflection, debate, and innovative
thinking on sustainable development.
3. The ECOSOC has 54 members that are elected by the General
Assembly.
4. Voting is by a simple majority and each member has one vote in
the ECOSOC.
5. The work of the UN’s specialized agencies like the FAO,
UNESCO, UNICEF, the ILO, etc. are coordinated by the ECOSOC.
6. The ECOSOC presidency is for one year, and it is headquartered
in New York.
Trusteeship Council
• The Trusteeship Council was established in 1945 under the UN Charter to
administer the 11 Trust Territories after the Second World War.
1. These were former colonies or dependent territories.
2. Since the Council was created, many territories have become independent
and are self-governing.
3. The last Trust Territory to become independent was Palau in 1994.
4. Hence, the Trusteeship Council suspended operations in 1994 and decided to
meet as and when the occasion arises.
International Court of Justice (ICJ)

• The ICJ is the chief judicial organ of the United Nations.

1. The ICJ’s seat is at The Hague, the Netherlands. (It is the only UN
principal organ not located in New York, USA.)
2. All 193 UN members are automatically a party to the ICJ.
3. ICJ’s functions:
o To settle in accordance with international law the legal disputes
submitted to it by States.
o To give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly
authorized international organs and agencies.
Secretariat
• The Secretariat comprises the UN Secretary-General and the thousands of
staff who work at the UN HQ in New York.
1. The Secretary-General is the chief administrative officer of the UN.
o The Secretary-General is appointed by the GA on the recommendation
by the UNSC.
o He/she has a five-year renewable tenure.
o The current and the ninth Secretary-General is a Portuguese national,
António Guterres.
o The Secretary-General can bring to the attention of the UNSC any issue
which can be a threat to international peace and security.
2. The staff who work at the Secretariat are hired internationally and also locally depending
upon the job.
3. They work at stations all over the world.
4. Their work ranges from peacekeeping operations, surveying economic and social trends,
mediating in international disputes, conducting international conferences to laying the
groundwork for international agreements.
5. The Secretariat has five regional commissions:
o ECA – Economic Commission for Africa
o ECE – Economic Commission for Europe
o ECLAC – Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
o ESCAP – Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
o ESCWA – Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Policy on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
• The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice acts
as the principal policymaking body of the United Nations in the
field of crime prevention and criminal justice. ECOSOC
provided for the CCPCJ's mandates and priorities in
resolution 1992/22, which include improving international
action to combat national and transnational crime and the
efficiency and fairness of criminal justice administration
systems. The Commission takes action through resolutions and
decisions.
• The CCPCJ is the forum where Member
States negotiate and agree on relevant
standards and norms. It also offers States a
forum for exchanging expertise, experience
and information to develop national and
international strategies, and to identify
priorities for combating crime.
• Standards and Norms- The United Nations is active in
developing and promoting universal principles in crime
prevention and criminal justice. Over the years a
significant body of related United Nations standards
and norms has emerged, covering a diversity of issues
including access to justice, treatment of offenders,
justice for children, victim protection, and violence
against women.
• Today, there are over 58 different instruments containing
standards and norms that relate to:
• Persons in custody, non-custodial sanctions, and restorative
justice;
• Justice for children;
• Crime prevention, violence against women and victim issues;
and
• Good governance, the independence of the judiciary and the
integrity of criminal justice personnel and access to legal aid.
Role of the CCPCJ in developing the United Nations standards and norms
• The CCPCJ is an essential mechanism for
practical collaboration among States on criminal
justice issues. Its mandate and priorities are to
improve international action to combat national
and transnational crime, and efficiency and
fairness of criminal justice administration
systems.
• As the principal policymaking body of the United
Nations in the field of crime prevention and
criminal justice, the CCPCJ is the forum where
Member States negotiate and agree on relevant
standards and norms. It also offers States a forum
for exchanging expertise, experience and
information to develop national and international
strategies, and to identify priorities for combating
crime.
• The standards and norms are a main pillar of UNODC work
and make a significant contribution to promoting more
effective and fair criminal justice structures in three
dimensions: first, they are utilized at the national level by
fostering in-depth assessments leading to the adoption of
necessary criminal justice reforms; second, they help
countries to develop sub regional and regional strategies; and
third, the standards and norms represent universal 'best
practices' that can be adapted by States to meet national
needs.
United Nation Office of Drugs and Crime

• UNODC’s mission is to contribute to

global peace and security, human rights
and development by making the world
safer from drugs, crime, corruption and
terrorism.
• This Strategy for the next five years will equip
UNODC to deliver effectively, efficiently and with
accountability, elevating our support to Member
States to build just, inclusive and resilient societies
that leave no one behind.
• UNODC works with and for Member States, Civil
Society, Academia and other partners to promote
justice and the rule of law at all levels
• The United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) assists requesting
Member States to enhance the capacity of
key crime prevention actors and systems
to operate more effectively and in
accordance with human rights with a view
to reduce crime, violence and
victimization.
The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime
• Prevention:
• Preventing Drug Use among the youth

•Drug use prevention programs are effective

when they respond to the needs of a
community, involve all the relevant sectors and
are based on scientific evidence; effective
programs should also incorporate strong
monitoring and evaluation components.
• Family skills training programs in drug abuse prevention

• Evidence-based family skills training programs have

been found to be the most effective way to prevent
substance use among children and adolescents after
nurse home-visitation programs. These programs
target the whole family and offer skills-building for
parents on monitoring and supervision of children's
activities, communication and setting age
appropriate limits.