United Nations

What is the UN?

- an international organization an international organization designed to make the designed to make the enforcement of international law, enforcement of international law, security, human rights, economic security, human rights, economic and social progress easier for and social progress easier for countries around the worldcountries around the world

- 192 member countries192 member countries- headquarters in New York Cityheadquarters in New York City

History of the UN- the League of Nations was the the League of Nations was the

predecessor to the UN, it was predecessor to the UN, it was founded in1919 and was founded in1919 and was responsible for ensuring peace responsible for ensuring peace and cooperation between world and cooperation between world nationsnations

- the term ‘’United Nations’’ was the term ‘’United Nations’’ was coined in 1942 by Winston coined in 1942 by Winston Churchill and Franklin D. RooseveltChurchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt

History of the UN

- the UN was founded on October the UN was founded on October 24, 1945, when the Charter of 24, 1945, when the Charter of the UN was drafted at the UN the UN was drafted at the UN Conference on International Conference on International Organization in San FranciscoOrganization in San Francisco

- the conference was attended the conference was attended by 50 nations and several non by 50 nations and several non governmental organizationsgovernmental organizations

- main principles:main principles: save future save future generations from war, reaffirm generations from war, reaffirm human rights, and establish human rights, and establish equal rights for all nationsequal rights for all nations

- United Nations day is United Nations day is celebrated on October 24celebrated on October 24

History of the UN

Organization of the UN

- purposes of the UN:purposes of the UN:- maintaining international peace maintaining international peace

and securityand security- developing friendly international developing friendly international

relations among world nationsrelations among world nations- solving international problems of solving international problems of

any nature (economic, cultural, any nature (economic, cultural, social, humanitarian…)social, humanitarian…)

Organization of the UN

- principal organs of the UN:principal organs of the UN:- the General Assemblythe General Assembly- the Secretariatthe Secretariat- the Security Councilthe Security Council- the International Court of Justicethe International Court of Justice- the Economic and Social Councilthe Economic and Social Council- the Trusteeship Councilthe Trusteeship Council

The General Assembly

- main function: main function: assessing member assessing member countries and countries and deciding on the deciding on the budgetbudget

- the only organ where the only organ where every member state is every member state is representedrepresented

- consists of committeesconsists of committees- convenes annually in September, convenes annually in September,

special sessions can also be heldspecial sessions can also be held

The Secretariat- includes the Secretary includes the Secretary

General and the Secretariat General and the Secretariat staffstaff

- primarily has an primarily has an administrative functionadministrative function

- the Secretary General holds the Secretary General holds office for five years per termoffice for five years per term

- The first ever Secretary The first ever Secretary General was Trygve Lie, the General was Trygve Lie, the office is currently held by Ban office is currently held by Ban Ki-moonKi-moon

The Security Council- UN’s most powerful organUN’s most powerful organ- deals with threats to deals with threats to

international peace and international peace and securitysecurity

- has 15 members, 5 of which are has 15 members, 5 of which are permanent: the USA, China, permanent: the USA, China, Russia, Britain and FranceRussia, Britain and France

- permanent members have veto permanent members have veto power when the Council decides power when the Council decides on important issueson important issues

The ICJ- the principal judicial organ of the UNthe principal judicial organ of the UN- based in the Hague, Netherlandsbased in the Hague, Netherlands- consists of 15 judges elected by the consists of 15 judges elected by the

General Assembly and Security General Assembly and Security CouncilCouncil

- applies international lawapplies international law- not bound by precedentsnot bound by precedents- no appeals can be made by parties to no appeals can be made by parties to

its judgmentits judgment

The Charter of the UN

• The United Nations Charter is the treaty that forms and establishes the international organization called the United Nations.

History

• It was signed at the South Dakota Civic Center of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center (part of the Civic center) in San Francisco, United States, on June 26, 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries (Poland, the other original member, which was not represented at the conference, signed it later).

• It entered into force on October 24, 1945, after being ratified by the five permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, The United Kingdom and the United States) and a majority of other signatories

Preamble

• "We the peoples of the United Nations determined: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom…”

Chapter I

• Chapter I sets forth the purposes and principles of the United Nations, including provisions of the maintenance of international peace and security

Purposes of the UN

• To maintain international peace and security• To develop friendly relations among nations• To achieve international co-operation in

solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character

• To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends

Principles

• Read Article 2 of the Charter (p. 123-4) and answer the following questions:

1. On what principle is the Organization based?

2. How will Members fulfil obligations assumed by them in accordance with the Charter?

3. How will all Members settle their disputes?4. What shall all Members refrain from?

Croatia as a member of UN

-- a Member of the UN a Member of the UN by General by General Assembly resolution Assembly resolution A/RES/46/238 of 22 A/RES/46/238 of 22 May 1992May 1992

-- in September 1999 in September 1999 Croatia has sent ten Croatia has sent ten Croatian Armed Croatian Armed Forces officersForces officers

Other activities of Croatia in the UN

-- Croatia was one of the first 14 Croatia was one of the first 14 contributors to CERFcontributors to CERF

-- Croatia was elected to the UN Croatia was elected to the UN Peacebuilding Commission for a one-year Peacebuilding Commission for a one-year mandate, on May 16 2006.mandate, on May 16 2006.

-- In 2008 Croatia had an entire military In 2008 Croatia had an entire military unit in one of its missionsunit in one of its missions

-- Croatian representatives have been Croatian representatives have been involved in 16 international involved in 16 international peacekeeping missionspeacekeeping missions

Relations between the Republic of Croatia and

the United Nations

• determined by current international determined by current international political and economic political and economic circumstancescircumstances

• during the ten years of during the ten years of participation in peacekeeping participation in peacekeeping missions, we have gained valuable missions, we have gained valuable experiences that have been used in experiences that have been used in Croatia's preparations for accession Croatia's preparations for accession to Euro-Atlantic integrations.to Euro-Atlantic integrations.

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention!attention!