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International Organizations

International Organizations. Part 2. The General Assembly. Central body of the UN Every member state is represented and has 1 vote 6 official languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish Described as the ‘town-hall meeting of the world’

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International Organizations

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  1. International Organizations Part 2

  2. The General Assembly • Central body of the UN • Every member state is represented and has 1 vote • 6 official languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish • Described as the ‘town-hall meeting of the world’ • Purpose is the examine, debate, and promote global consensus on issues of common concern

  3. General Assembly 2 • None of its resolutions are legally binding, they do carry the weight of shared world governmental opinion • Some decisions pertaining to issues such as peace, security, the budget, and the admission of new members are considered so important that they require a two-thirds majority vote • Other issues are decided by a majority

  4. UN Building New York

  5. Security Council • Most powerful organ of the UN • Primary responsibility is to maintain international peace and security • While other organs simply offer recommendations to member states, the Security Council has the power to make decisions that are legally binding on all members under the UN Charter • SC decisions are supported by a system of sanctions for enforcing compliance

  6. Security Council 2 • Made up of 15 members • The victors of WWII became the five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the UK and US) • 10 non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly every two years

  7. Security Council 3 • In the event of a threat to international peace, the SC can take several distinct courses of action • Mediation or settlement • Peacekeeping missions • Ceasefire if fighting has already occurred • Economic sanctions • Arms embargos • Military action

  8. Security Council 4 • When economic sanctions and blockades ordered by the SC fail to bring countries into compliance with the aims of the UN, force may be used. • Chapter VII of the UN Charter empowers the SC to make decisions denouncing acts of aggression and to take action and use force if necessary • The use of force requires 9 affirmative votes which must include the 5 permanent members • A veto by a permanent member prevents the adoption of a proposal even if there are nine of more affirmative votes

  9. Security Council 5 • The SC has a number of standing (permanent) and ad-hoc (temporary, issue-based) committees to assist in its work • The SC has also established two war crimes tribunals which arose out of civil strife in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda • It also supervises the ongoing disarmament programs. (example – monitoring Iraq’s destruction of its weapons)

  10. The Secretariat • Carries out the day-to-day work of the UN • AKA the UN’s civil service, headed by the Secretary General who is elected by the GA on the recommendation of the SC for a 5 year, renewable term • Has a staff of approx. 8900, from 170 countries • All members of the Secretariat take an oath to serve the UN alone and not to receive instructions from any gov. or outside authority

  11. Economic and Social Council • ECOSOC coordinates the social work of the UN • Consults with NGOs on issues such as immunization and financing of refugee camps • Has 54 members, elected by the GA for 3 year terms • Seats are allotted based on geographical representation (14 African, 11 Asian, 6 Eastern European, 10 Latin American, 13 Western Europe and other)

  12. ECOSOC 2 • Concerned with diverse issues such as the status of women, crime prevention, environmental protection • UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) is an example of an organization that report to the UN through ECOSOC • WHO (World Health Organization) mandate: • Promote international coopertion in support of global health • Develop and manage programs for controlling and eliminating disease • Work to improve the quality of life of people all over the world

  13. The Trusteeship Council • Established to help prepare 11 countries that had been under colonial rule to become independent countries at the end of WWI • Example: • German East Africa – now Tanzania • Iraq (was under British mandate) • Palau (in the South Pacific was under US mandate) • Suspended operations in 1994 when all 11 states became independent

  14. International Court of Justice • ICJ is the legal organ of the UN • On the recommendation of the SC the GA elects 15 judges to this court • Purpose is to settle disputes among member states and render opinions in the form of advisories on behalf of the UN • Participation is voluntary, however once an member agrees to participate that member is obligated to comply with whatever decision is made by the ICJ • The court does not hear cases relating to individual citizens

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