2. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
3. What is UN?
The UN is an international
organization that aims to
promote peace and
understanding between
nations.
4. General Information
ØUN HEADQUARTERS – New York
ØUN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE - English,
Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish and
Arabic
ØUN FINANCES– contributions of member
states
ØMEMBERSHIP – open to peace loving
nations
5. General Information
Ø193 members out of 195 countries in the
world
Countries Not in the United Nations
• Holy See/Vatican City
The Holy See is the government of Vatican City,
which is the global headquarters of the Catholic
church and the smallest independent nation in
the world. It is also the only independent nation to
choose not to apply for membership of the United
Nations
6. General Information
Ø193 members out of 195 countries in the
world
Countries Not in the United Nations
• Palestine
Although it has applied for full United Nations
membership multiple times, Palestine has been
limited to permanent observer status because of
its violent and ongoing territorial dispute with U.N.
member Israel.
7. PURPOSES OF UN
1. Maintain international peace and security
2. Developed friendly relations among
nations
3. Cooperate in solving international,
economic, social, cultural and
humanitarian process
4. Center for harmonizing the actions of
nations
8. Composed of 5 Administrative
Bodies
1. General Assembly
2. Security Council
3. Economic and Social Council
4. International Court of Justice
5. Trusteeship Council
6. Secretariat
9. General
Assembly
• The GA has
representatives in it from
all of the member
countries.
• They discuss issues and
draft resolutions, policy
making
10. Security Council (most powerful branch)
• Votes on resolutions created by the GA and decides whether to put an action
/ resolution into place
• FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS: US, BRITAIN, FRANCE, RUSSIA & CHINA. If
any of these members vote against a measure it is vetoed
• TEN NON-PERMANENT MEMBERS:
Ten members elected for two years by the General Assembly, in accordance with
geographical distribution. Each regional group has an assigned number of seats:
ü3 for the African Group;
ü2 for the Asia-Pacific Group;
ü2 for the Latin American and Caribbean Group;
ü1 for the Eastern European Group;
ü2 for the Western European and Others Group.
11. Security Council (most powerful branch)
• Recommends peaceful negotiations
• Can use economic or military sanctions
Sanctions
Sanctions are used to punish a country for violating international law. They
can be used to force a country to follow a law.
In order for sanctions to be used by the UN Security Council, ALL FIVE
permanent members must have a unanimous vote.
Types of Sanctions
1. Diplomatic Sanctions – removal of all political ties (like embassies)
2. Economic Sanctions – ban on all trade with a country (except food)
3. Military Sanctions – using a military to force compliance.
12. ECONOMIC & SOCIAL
COUNCIL
• This group focuses on issues that impact the world
and various countries economically and socially
(from drug trafficking to forest destruction)
13. International Court of Justice
• The court is located in The Hague - Netherlands
and has 15 justices.
• It’s purpose is to settle disputes between
nations.
• Advises UN regarding international law
• The court can only reside over states that are
willing to participate in the legal proceedings
14. Trusteeship Council
•Ensures that trust territories
were administered in the best
interests of their inhabitants and
of international peace and
security.
15. Secretariat
• Headed by Secretary –
General
The Secretariat carries out the
substantive and administrative
work of the United Nations as
directed by the General
Assembly, the Security Council
and the other organs. At its
head is the Secretary-General,
who provides overall
administrative guidance.
António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres
16. ROLE OF UN
•Assurance of Peace
•Protection of Human Rights
•Economic and Social
Development
•Environment Protection
17. It guarantees 6 fundamentals
rights
1. Right to equality
2. Right to freedom
3. Right against exploitation
4. Right to freedom of religion
5. Cultural and educational rights
6. Right to constitutional remedies
18. THE UN & PHILIPPINES
• In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The
Hague issued its ruling on a claim brought against China
by the Philippines under UNCLOS, ruling in favor of the
Philippines on almost every count.
19. UN MISSIONS
a. East Timor (Asia) – the UN supervised the independence of this
country.
b. Iraq (Middle East) – UN tried to cut all trade with Iraq after it
failed to comply with international law, but some nations continued
to trade with them.
c. Somalia (Africa) – UN humanitarian mission to get food and
supplies to people in need
d. Haiti (Caribbean) – UN helped strengthen government, army, and
hold elections
20. Strengths of the UN
• Provides a forum for almost all of the world’s nations
to discuss international issues
• Humanitarian efforts
• AIDS
• Landmine removal
• Peacekeeping forces
• Will get involved with messes that no one else will
21. Weaknesses of the UN
• Sanctions are only effective if ALL countries follow them (Iraq
example)
• Military force is rarely used and is usually ineffective
• ALL permanent members of the security council have to vote
unanimously (one country can stop a sanction)
• Inadequate funding by member nations
• 14 Countries Pay 85% of the subscriptions (membership fee)
• Big gap between developing and industrialized nations
