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🌐 United Nations (UN): Quick Notes
🟠 Introduction
- Founded: 24 Oct 1945 (UN Day); post-WWII, successor to League of Nations.
- Charter Adopted: 25 June 1945, San Francisco Conference.
- Coined by: Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- HQ: New York, USA.
- Official Languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish.
- Members: 193 (South Sudan – latest, 2011).
- Current Secretary-General: António Guterres.
🟠 Aims & Objectives
- Maintain international peace & security.
- Develop friendly relations among nations.
- Promote human rights, social progress, better living standards.
- Encourage sustainable development, climate action, and resolve global issues.
🟠 Main Organs of the UN (6 Total)
- General Assembly
- Security Council
- International Court of Justice
- Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
- Trusteeship Council (inactive since 1994)
- Secretariat
🟡 General Assembly
- All 193 members, equal vote.
- Meets annually in September (special sessions in emergencies).
- Functions:
- UN Budget approval.
- Elects non-permanent members of Security Council.
- Appoints Secretary-General (on SC recommendation).
- Elects ICJ Judges (with SC).
- Can act if SC is deadlocked (Uniting for Peace Resolution – 1950).
🔴 Security Council
- 15 members: 5 Permanent (P5: US, UK, China, Russia, France – veto power), 10 non-permanent (2-year term).
- Functions:
- Maintain peace & security.
- Authorize sanctions, military action.
- Recommend new members, SG appointment.
- Elect ICJ judges.
- Monthly presidency rotation (alphabetical order).
- Reform Demand:
- G4 Nations (India, Germany, Brazil, Japan) seek permanent membership.
- Opposed by "Coffee Club" of 40+ nations.
🟢 ECOSOC
- 54 members, elected for 3-year terms.
- Coordinates economic, social, environmental policies & development goals.
- Central for sustainable development discussions.
🔵 Secretariat
- Admin body of the UN.
- Headed by Secretary-General (5-year renewable term).
- Global staff of international civil servants.
- Handles day-to-day operations and policy implementation.
🟣 Trusteeship Council
- Supervised Trust Territories post-WWII for self-governance.
- Suspended in 1994 after all territories attained independence.
⚖️ International Court of Justice (ICJ)
- HQ: The Hague, Netherlands.
- 15 judges, 9-year terms.
- Handles:
- Contentious cases between states.
- Advisory opinions to UN bodies.
- Judges elected by GA + SC.
🧩 Specialized Agencies (Article 57 & 63 UN Charter)
| Agency | Year | Function | HQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAO | 1945 | Food security | Rome, Italy |
| ICAO | 1947 | Civil aviation | Montreal, Canada |
| IFAD | 1977 | Rural poverty | Rome, Italy |
| ILO | 1919 | Labour standards | Geneva, Switzerland |
| IMO | 1948 | Maritime safety | London, UK |
| IMF | 1945 | Financial stability | Washington DC, USA |
| ITU | 1865 | Telecommunication | Geneva, Switzerland |
| UNESCO | 1945 | Education, science, culture | Paris, France |
| UNIDO | 1966 | Industrial development | Vienna, Austria |
| UPU | 1874 | Postal coordination | Bern, Switzerland |
| WHO | 1948 | Public health | Geneva, Switzerland |
| WIPO | 1967 | Intellectual property | Geneva, Switzerland |
| WMO | 1950 | Climate, weather | Geneva, Switzerland |
| World Bank | 1944 | Development loans | Washington DC, USA |
| WTO | 1995 | Trade regulation | Geneva, Switzerland |