The United Nations (UN)

INTRODUCTION

UN CAME INTO EXISTENCE ON OCTOBER 24 1945

THERE WERE 51 ORIGINAL MEMBER STATES

TODAY THERE ARE 193 MEMBER STATES

THE 4 MAIN PURPOSES ARE TO MAINTAIN INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY, DEVELOP FRIENDLY RELATIONS AMONG NATIONS, ACHIEVE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SOLVING INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS, AND BE A CENTER FOR HARMONIZING THE ACTIONS OF NATIONS IN ATTAINING COMMON GOALS

THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE UN=PROMOTING RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, PROTECTING THE ENVIROMENT, REDUCING POVERTY, COMBATING DISEASES INCLUDING AIDS, EXPANDING FOOD PRODUCTION, IMPROVING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ASSISTING REFUGEES, LEADING INTERNATIONALCAMPAIGNS AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING AND TERRORISM

THE MILLENIUM DECLARATION WAS ADOPTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE UN IN SEPTEMBER 2000. IT SET MEASURABLE GOALS IN SEVEN KEY AREAS=PEACE, SECURITY AND DISARMAMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ERADICATION, PROTECTING OUR COMMON ENVIRONMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE, PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE, MEETING THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF AFRICA AND STRENGTHENING THE UN

HOW THE UN WORKS

THE MAIN ORGANS

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL(ECOSOC)=PROMOTES INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, UN HEADQUARTERS NY

TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL=OVERSEES THE ADMINISTRATION OF TRUST TERRITORIES AND IS CURENTLY INACTIVE, UN HEADQUARTERS NY

SECURITY COUNCIL= RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY, AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AND AUTHORIZE THE USE OF FORCE, BASED UN HEADQUARTERS NY

SECRETARIAT= CARRIES OUT THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF THE UN, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, UN HEADQUARTERS NY

GENERAL ASSEMBLY=SERVES AS FORUM FOR MEMBER STATES TO DISCUSS AND COORDINATE ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. IT IS BASED AT UN HEADQUARTES IN NY

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE(ICJ)=IT SETTLES LEGAL DISPUTES BETWEEN STATES AND GIVES ADVISORY OPINIONS ON LEGAL QUESTIONS, THE HAGUE IN THE NETHERLANDS

SOME SPECIALIZED AGENCIES

SOME UN PROGRAMMES AND FUNDS

THE UN SYSTEM OR UN FAMILY REFERS TO BROADER NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS AFFILIATED WITH THE UN, INCLUDING SPECIALIZED AGENCIES, PROGRAMS AND FUNDS THAT WORK TOGETHER TO ADRESS VARIOUS GLOBAL CHALLENGES, THEY OPERATE AUTONOMOUSLY BUT COLLABORATE WITH THE UN TO ACHIEVE COMMON GOALS IN ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH

FAO=FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION=WORKS TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, FOOD SECURITY, LIVING STANDARD IN RURAL POPULATIONS

ICAO=INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION=SETS INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR AIR TRANSPORT SAFETY, SECURITY, EFFICIENCY

WHO=WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION=COORDINATES HEALTH PROGRAMS, FOCUSING ON ISSUES LIKE IMMUNIZATION, HEALTH EDUCATION, ESSENTIAL DRUG PROVISION

UNWTO=WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION=SERVES AS A GLOBAL FORUM FOR TOURISM POLICY ISSUES AND A PRACTICAL SOURCE OF TOURISM KNOW-HOW

IMO=INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION=WORKS TO IMPROVE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING PROCEDURES, RAISE STANDARDS IN MARINE SAFETY, REDUCE MARINE POLLUTION BY SHIPS

UNHCR=UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES=ASSISTS REFUGEES AND WORKS ON SOLUTIONS TO REFUGEE PROBLEMS GLOBALLY

UNICEF=UN CHILDRENS FUNDS=WORKS TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN WORLDWIDE, WORKS TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITION OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD

UNDP=UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME= IMPROVING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS , REDUCING POVERTY, PROTECTING PLANET

WHAT DO THE UN DO=5 AREAS OF ACTIVITY

DELIVER HUMANITARIAN AID=THE UN IN LINE WITH ITS CHARACTER, COOPERATES INTERNATIONALLY TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES,

SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE ACTION=SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, EMPHASIZING PROSPERITY, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, SOCIAL WELL-BEING AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS A KEY FOCUS

PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS=HR PROMOTION AND PROTECTION ARE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSES OF THE UN, THE UN SAFEGUARDS HR TROUGH LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AND ON THE GROUND ACTIVITES TO ENSURE DIGNITY AND WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS WORLDWIDE

UPHOLD INTERNATIONAL LAW=THE UN WORKS TO DEVELOP AND UPHOLD INTERNATIONAL LAW TROUGH COURTS,TRIBUNALS AND MULTILATERAL TREATIES.

MAINTAIN INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY=THE UN ENGAGES IN PEACEMAKING, PEACEKEEPING AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO DEFUSE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS, RESOLVE CONFLICTS, AND ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF WAR