History Project UNO:
Introduction:
The forerunners, who, when why?
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/history-of-the-un
https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations#ref12399
Before the establishment of the United Nations, the League of Nations served
as the first international organization aimed at maintaining world peace. It was
formed in 1919, following the end of the First World War, as part of the Treaty
of Versailles. The League's primary goal was to prevent the outbreak of another
world war by promoting disarmament, resolving international disputes through
negotiation, and improving global welfare.
Despite its noble aims, the League of Nations ultimately failed in its mission.
Despite the problems encountered by the League of Nations in arbitrating
conflict and ensuring international peace and security prior to World War II, the
major Allied powers agreed during the war to establish a new global
organization to help manage international affairs.
This agreement was first articulated when U.S. President Franklin D.
Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill signed the Atlantic
Charter in August 1941.
The next major step was the Declaration by United Nations, signed on 1st
January 1942 by 26 Allied nations. This was the first official use of the term
“United Nations,” and the signatories pledged to cooperate against the Axis
powers and work towards lasting peace.
A major milestone was the Dumbarton Oaks Conference (August–October
1944), where representatives from the major Allied powers proposed the
structure of the United Nations, including the creation of the General
Assembly and Security Council.
The Yalta Conference in February 1945 was crucial. Here, the “Big Three” —
Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin — finalized plans for the UN and agreed on
voting procedures in the Security Council, including the veto power for its five
permanent members.
The final and most crucial step was the San Francisco Conference, held from
25th April to 26th June 1945. Representatives from 50 nations attended the
conference, with Poland joining later as the 51st founding member. After
weeks of deliberation, on 26th June 1945, all participating countries signed the
United Nations Charter, the foundational treaty of the UN. The Charter
outlined the purposes, principles, structure, and functioning of the
organization.
The UN Charter came into effect on 24th October 1945, after ratification by
the five permanent members of the Security Council and a majority of the
other signatories. This day is now observed worldwide as United Nations Day,
marking the official birth of the organization.
Now, more than 75 years later, the United Nations is still working to maintain
international peace and security, give humanitarian assistance to those in need,
protect human rights, and uphold international law.
With many achievements now in its past, the United Nations is looking to the
future, to new achievements.
The history of the United Nations is still being written.
The United Nations (UN) was officially established on 24th October 1945, after
the end of the Second World War. It was formed to prevent another global
conflict, promote international peace and security, and encourage cooperation
among nations. The failure of the earlier League of Nations, which was created
after World War I in 1919, highlighted the need for a stronger, more effective
international organization. The League lacked the power and unity to stop
aggression, leading to World War II.
A key step toward the UN’s creation was the signing of the Atlantic Charter on
14th August 1941 by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This document expressed the Allied vision for a
peaceful post-war world, focusing on self-determination, economic
cooperation, and disarmament.
The most important event in the formation of the UN was the San Francisco
Conference, held from 25th April to 26th June 1945, where representatives
from 50 countries met to draft and sign the United Nations Charter. Poland
signed later, bringing the number of founding members to 51.
The UN Charter came into force on 24th October 1945, once ratified by the five
permanent members of the Security Council — the USA, UK, USSR, China, and
France — along with most other signatories. This marked the official birth of
the United Nations, now observed annually as the United Nations Day.
Now, more than 75 years later, the United Nations is still working to maintain
international peace and security, give humanitarian assistance to those in need,
protect human rights, and uphold international law.
With many achievements now in its past, the United Nations is looking to the
future, to new achievements.
The history of the United Nations is still being written.
Structure of various organs
Chapter III (Articles 7–8) of the United Nations Charter defines the
organizational structure of the UN. Article 7 establishes the six principal organs
of the United Nations: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the
Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, the Trusteeship
Council, and the Secretariat. It also allows for the creation of additional
subsidiary organs as needed to fulfil the organization’s duties.
General Assembly
The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and
representative organ of the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are
represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with
universal representation. It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion
of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the
United Nations. The UNGA makes key decisions for the UN, including
appointing the Secretary-General, electing non-permanent members of the
Security Council, and approving the UN budget.
Security Council
The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of
international peace and security. It has 15 Members 5 permanent members
(USA, UK, Russia, France, and China) and 10 non-permanent members elected
for two-year terms. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member
States are obligated to comply with Council decisions. It identifies threats to
peace or acts of aggression and urges conflicting parties to resolve issues
through peaceful means. If necessary, it may impose sanctions or authorize the
use of force to restore international stability.
The Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council is the principal body for coordination, policy
review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and
environmental issues, as well as implementation of internationally agreed
development goals. It has 54 Members, elected by the General Assembly for
overlapping three-year terms.
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United
Nations. The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal
disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal
questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized
agencies.
The Secretariat
The United Nations Secretariat carries out the day-to-day work of the UN as
mandated by the General Assembly and the Organization's other main organs.
The Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat, which has tens of
thousands of UN staff members working at duty stations all over the world.
Successes of UNO
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/07/what-has-the-un-achieved-united-nations
https://ace-usa.org/blog/research/research-foreignpolicy/failures-and-successes-of-the-un/
https://peacekeeping.un.org/en
A young girl standing by her tent in the Warga Dalal camp in Zakho, northern Iraq in October 2014,
where an estimated 2.8 million people were in need of food and approximately 800.000 people in
urgent need of emergency shelter. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) delivered supplies to
that camp such as tent insulation and flooring which would keep refugees warm in the harsh winter
months.
Of all the U.N.’s accomplishments since 1945, perhaps its greatest
accomplishment is the millions of lives U.N. humanitarian agencies have saved.
Through its specialized agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP), UNDP,
UNICEF, UNHCR, and the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN offers
support to millions every year. The World Food Program provides food and
cash assistance to over 80 million people. The United Nations provides aid to
nearly 69 million displaced people who fled their home due to persecution,
conflict, or human rights violations. Additionally, during the COVID-19
pandemic, UN-coordinated vaccination campaigns are estimated to have
prevented approximately 14.4 million deaths in a single year. Beyond disease
prevention, the UN's humanitarian programs have addressed malnutrition,
reaching 9.3 million children with life-saving treatment for severe wasting in
2023.
The United Nations was created in 1945, following the devastation of the
Second World War, with one central mission: the maintenance of international
peace and security. Since 1948, the UN has helped end conflicts and foster
reconciliation by conducting successful peacekeeping operations in dozens of
countries, including Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mozambique, Namibia
and Tajikistan. A notable example is the UN's involvement in the peace process
in Mozambique during the early 1990s. The UN mediated negotiations
between the government and the rebel group RENAMO, leading to the signing
of the General Peace Agreement in 1992, which effectively ended a 16-year
civil war.
In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights lay down the principles that
brought human rights into the realm of international law. Since then, the
Organization has diligently protected human rights through legal instruments
and on-the-ground activities. Building upon this foundation, the UN has
facilitated the adoption of key treaties, such as the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities in 2006, which has been ratified by 192 parties,
promoting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities worldwide. The
Human Rights Council, composed of 47 representatives, conducts a review
every four years where it assesses the human rights record of all UN member
states and presents nations with recommendations. The Council recently came
under scrutiny for allowing China to become a member following reports of
flagrant human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims.
Failures of the UN
While the United Nations has played a major role in maintaining global peace,
it has also faced criticism for failing to prevent some of the most devastating
conflicts in modern history. These failures often stem from delayed action, lack
of political unity, or limitations in the Security Council's structure. Here are
three major incidents where the UN was unable to fulfill its mission effectively:
1. Rwandan Genocide (1994)
In 1994, Rwanda witnessed the brutal genocide of nearly 800,000 Tutsis and
moderate Hutus within just 100 days. The United Nations had peacekeeping
forces stationed in the country but lacked the mandate and support to
intervene. Despite early warnings and pleas from UN officials on the ground,
the Security Council failed to act in time. The small peacekeeping mission was
even reduced at the height of the violence. This inaction is considered one of
the UN’s most serious moral and political failures.
2. Srebrenica Massacre (1995)
During the Bosnian War, the town of Srebrenica was declared a UN “safe zone”
under the protection of Dutch peacekeepers. However, in July 1995, over 8,000
Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces. The UN
troops were outnumbered and not authorized to use force to protect civilians.
This massacre is widely regarded as the worst atrocity in Europe since World
War II and highlighted the weaknesses of UN peacekeeping operations.
3. Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022–Present)
In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, violating international
law and the UN Charter. Despite global condemnation, the United Nations has
been unable to stop the conflict or impose strong sanctions because Russia
holds veto power in the Security Council. This has once again exposed the
limitations of the UN’s structure, where powerful nations can block decisive
action even in cases of clear aggression.
And yet. In its 70 years, the United Nations may have been hailed as the great
hope for the future of mankind – but it has also been dismissed as a shameful
den of dictatorships. It has infuriated with its numbing bureaucracy, its
institutional cover-ups of corruption and the undemocratic politics of its
security council. It goes to war in the name of peace but has been a bystander
through genocide. It has spent more than half a trillion dollars in 70 years.
