United Nations
United Nations:
The United Nations (UN) is a global organisation tasked with
maintaining international peace and security while fostering
friendly relations among nations. It is the largest, most recognized
and most powerful intergovernmental organisation in the world.
Due to the powers vested in its Charter and its unique
international character, the United Nations can take action on the
issues confronting humanity in the 21st century, such as peace and
security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights,
disarmament, terrorism, humanitarian and health emergencies,
gender equality, governance, food production, and more.
The UN also provides a forum for its members to express their
views in the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic
and Social Council, and other bodies and committees. By enabling
dialogue between its members, and by hosting negotiations, the
Organization has become a mechanism for governments to find
areas of agreement and solve problems together.
The UN's Chief Administrative Officer is the Secretary-General.
2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
The UN was formed following the devastating World War II,
with the aim of preventing future global-scale conflicts.
It was a successor to the ineffective League of Nations.
The representatives of 50 governments met in San Francisco on
25 April 1945, to draft what would become the UN Charter.
The Charter was adopted on 25 June 1945 and came into effect
on 24 October 1945.
United Nations Functions:
In accordance with the Charter, the organization’s objectives
include maintaining international peace and security, protecting
human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable
development, and upholding international law. At its founding, the
UN had 51 member states; this number grew to 193 in 2011,
representing the vast majority of the world’s sovereign states.
United Nations Structure:
The UN is structured around five principal organs:
• General Assembly
• United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
• Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
• International Court of Justice
• UN Secretariat.
A sixth principal organ, the Trusteeship Council, suspended
operations on 1 November 1994, upon the independence of Palau,
the last remaining UN trustee territory.
General Assembly:
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the chief
policy-making and representative body of the UN.
It is the only UN body where all the UN members are
represented. So, all 193 member countries are represented here.
The GA is headed by a President who is elected for a one-year
tenure.
The GA is headquartered in New York, USA.
The UNGA meets once a year in September.
This annual GA session happens in the General Assembly Hall
in New York.
The Assembly also meets at other times of the year depending
on the tasks.
The UNGA can make recommendations to countries on matters
within its competence.
Functions of the UNGA:
Consider and approve the UN budget and establish the financial
assessments of member countries;
Elect the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council
and the members of other UN organs and councils and, on the
recommendation of the UNSC, appoint the Secretary-General;
Consider and make recommendations on the general principles
of cooperation for maintaining international security and peace,
including disarmament;
Discuss any question relating to international peace and
security;
Discuss any question within the scope of the UN Charter;
Conduct studies and make recommendations to encourage
global political cooperation, the codification and development of
international law, the realization of human rights & fundamental
freedoms, and international collaboration in the social, economic,
cultural, humanitarian, health and educational fields;
Make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any
situation that might hamper the friendly relations between nations;
Consider reports from the various UN organs.
Voting in the UNGA:
Every member has one vote in the GA.
Most questions are decided by a simple majority, however,
budgetary questions, election to the UNSC, and ECOSOC require a
2/3rd majority vote.
In recent times, the UNGA has been striving to make decisions
based on consensus among all member countries.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):
The ECOSOC is the main body responsible for coordination,
policy dialogue, policy review and recommendations on social,
economic, and environmental issues, and also the implementation
of internationally agreed development goals.
It serves as the central mechanism for activities of the UN
system and its specialized agencies in the economic, social, and
environmental fields, supervising subsidiary and expert bodies.
It is the UN’s pivotal platform for reflection, debate, and
innovative thinking on sustainable development.
The ECOSOC has 54 members that are elected by the General
Assembly.
Voting is by a simple majority and each member has one vote in
the ECOSOC.
The work of the UN’s specialized agencies like the FAO,
UNESCO, UNICEF, the ILO, etc. are coordinated by the ECOSOC.
The ECOSOC presidency is for one year, and it is headquartered
in New York.
International Court of Justice (ICJ):
The ICJ is the chief judicial organ of the United Nations.
The ICJ’s seat is at The Hague, the Netherlands. (It is the only
UN principal organ not located in New York, USA.)
All 193 UN members are automatically a party to the ICJ.
ICJ’s functions:
To settle in accordance with international law the legal disputes
submitted to it by States.
To give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by
duly authorized international organs and agencies.
Secretariat:
The Secretariat comprises the UN Secretary-General and the
thousands of staff who work at the UN HQ in New York.
The Secretary-General is the chief administrative officer of the
UN.
The Secretary-General is appointed by the GA on the
recommendation by the UNSC.
He/she has a five-year renewable tenure.
The current and the ninth Secretary-General is a Portuguese
national, Antó nio Guterres.
The Secretary-General can bring to the attention of the UNSC
any issue which can be a threat to international peace and security.
The staff who work at the Secretariat are hired internationally
and also locally depending upon the job.
They work at stations all over the world.
Their work ranges from peacekeeping operations, surveying
economic and social trends, mediating in international disputes,
conducting international conferences to laying the groundwork for
international agreements.
The Secretariat has five regional commissions:
• ECA – Economic Commission for Africa
• ECE – Economic Commission for Europe
• ECLAC – Economic Commission for Latin America and
the Caribbean
• ESCAP – Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific
• ESCWA – Economic and Social Commission for Western
Asia
Trusteeship Council:
The Trusteeship Council was established in 1945 under the UN
Charter to administer the 11 Trust Territories after the Second
World War.
These were former colonies or dependent territories.
Since the Council was created, many territories have become
independent and are self-governing.
The last Trust Territory to become independent was Palau in
1994.
Hence, the Trusteeship Council suspended operations in 1994
and decided to meet as and when the occasion arises.
UNSC:
The United Nations Security Council has emerged as the key
arena and barometer for evaluating the promise and progress of
accommodating new, rising powers in the international system.
The case of India provides one of the best examples of a rising
power coming to terms with its increased power, role and
expectations of itself and of other powers, in negotiating its place in
the reformed Council as a permanent member.
The UN Security Council is the premier global body for
maintaining international peace and security, but it faces steady
calls for reform to better meet twenty-first-century challenges.
The United Nations Charter gives primary responsibility for
maintaining international peace and security to the Security
Council, which may meet whenever peace is threatened.
It is empowered to impose binding obligations on the 193 UN
member states to maintain peace.
The Security Council has primary responsibility for the
maintenance of international peace and security.
The council assesses threats to international security,
addressing issues that include civil wars, natural disasters, arms
control, and terrorism.
Organisation:
The Security Council held its first session on 17 January 1946
at London. Since its first meeting, the Security Council has taken
permanent residence at the United Nations Headquarters in New
York City.
It also traveled to many cities, holding sessions in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, in 1972, in Panama City, Panama, and in Geneva,
Switzerland, in 1990.
Structure:
In its initial form, the SC was formed of 11 members, among them 5
permanent ones and 6 non-permanent ones.
In 1963 the Charter of the United Nations has been amended in
order to allow an increase of the number of non-permanent
members from 6 to 10.
Until today, this has been the only successful attempt to reform
the Council.
The five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the
United Kingdom, and the United States—collectively known as the
P5. Any one of them can veto a resolution.
The council’s ten elected members, which serve two-year, non-
consecutive terms, are not afforded veto power.
Current non-permanent members:
India, Norway, Ireland, Mexico and Kenya;
Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia,
and Vietnam, whose terms end in 2021.
Main Reform groups of the UN Security Council:
The Group of 4-G4 (Brazil, Germany, India and Japan)
proposes an increased number of permanent members of the
Council.
It supports an extended SC of 25 members, among them 6 new
permanent members (G4 members and 2 African states) and 4
newly elected.
The Group “Uniting for Consensus” (UFC) – lead by Italy,
Argentina, Pakistan, Mexico supports an extended Council of 25
members, with the addition at the level of non-permanent members
and /or the introduction of a new category of members, the semi-
permanent members.
African Union (“Ezulwini Consensus”) supports an extended
SC of 26 members. Africa will receive 2 permanent seats,
accompanied by the right to veto and 2 non-permanent seats.
ACT represents a Trans-Regional group of 21 states, which
promotes the need for a review of the working methods of the
Council, in order to increase its members’ responsibility in front of
the entire UN membership and the transparency of its work.
The main controversy is related to the total number of seats of
a reformed Council and their distribution on categories.
At UN level the UNSC reform has been debated in 5
components:
• categories of members,
• the right to veto,
• the level of extension,
• working methods and
• the relation to the General Assembly.
Why reforms needed in UNSC?
As a result of its shortcomings, reform of the Security Council
has been deemed necessary. In 2009, some 140 member states
requested to move on to text-based negotiations to pursue reform.
Since its establishment, the geopolitical realities have changed
drastically, but the Council has changed very little.
It is much regulated by 5 permanent members of the council
which is not in balance with the rest of world.
Reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
encompasses five key issues:
• Categories of membership
• Question of the veto held by the five permanent members
• Regional representation
• Size of an enlarged Council and its working methods
• Security Council-General Assembly relationship
Issues related to reforms:
The main issue of reform is aimed at increasing accountability
and transparency of, and participation, in the UN scheme.
The spectrum of reform broadly incorporates two aspects:
1. It relates to the working method of the Security
Council and its relationship with the General Assembly.
• This aspect largely focusses on the regulation of the
use of the ’veto’ power and raises several questions
on the limits imposed on the use of the power.
• It requires a simple resolution.
2. The issue of expansion and category of the
membership of the Security Council from the present 15,
including 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent ones,
the latter with two-year, election- based tenures.
• This requires a UN Charter amendment with two-
thirds majority in the General Assembly.
Indian perspectives on Council Reforms:
The Indian attempts at reforming the Council date as back as
1979, when India along with other NAM countries submitted a
draft resolution to the General Assembly calling for an increase
in the non-permanent membership from 10 to 14.
The 1990s also saw Indian attempts at pressing for UN reforms.
In order to move the TBN process forward, India has
articulated its positions on diverse aspects of the Security Council
reforms.
On the issue of categories of membership, India has argued that
an overwhelming majority of Member-States have already
supported expansion in both categories.
India claims that around 85% of total submissions that are part
of the text and the annex have supported expansion in both
categories.
India supports increase in both permanent and non-permanent
membership of UN Security Council.
Permanent seat of India in UNSC:
Chairmanship of the all- important Security Council Committee
on Counter-terrorism, and four out of P-5 members stopping just
short of endorsing the candidature of India.
The question of India's permanent membership of the UNSC
would be considered only after an agreement on the nature and
extent of expansion of the Council is arrived at in accordance with
the provisions of the UN Charter which requires approval by two-
third of the membership of the UN.
India is actively engaged in Inter-Governmental Negotiation
(IGN) process and has been working alongside other reform-
oriented countries through its membership of the G-4 bloc as well
as with cross regional grouping of developing countries of Asia,
Africa and Latin America.
India’s current position in UNSC:
India was the sole candidate from the Asia-Pacific region vying
for a non-permanent membership.
Its candidature was unanimously endorsed by the 55-member
Asia-Pacific Group in June, 2019.
This is the eighth time India has been elected a non-
permanent member of the UNSC.
Previously, it has been elected as a member for the period of
1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-
1992 and 2011-2012.
Why India should be given the permeant seat at UNSC?
Along with China and Japan, only India can justifiably
represent Asia. Hence, it has rightly asserted its claim to a
permanent seat.
India, with its ancient civilization, rich heritage, deep rooted
democratic system and growing economic potential has the
credentials to champion the cause of developing nations.
India is world's largest democracy and the UN is based on the
idea of democracy and giving equal opportunities to everyone.
India accounting around 17% (approx.) of the words global
population, gives a reason to ask for a membership. It is world’s
largest participant in UN peacekeeping operations.
Maintains the third largest armed forces in the world after
US, China and Germany. And has a significant contribution to UN
helping people in war stricken nations in the middle east.
India being one of the most responsible nuclear power
nation has been accepted into the folds of elite 45 nations of
nuclear suppliers group to set up nuclear oriented facilities for
peaceful purposes.
India is one of the world’s fast growing economies with a
large consumer base.
India’s membership will remove the hegemony of select club
of world powers and allow the emerging regional powers to have
more say in global matters.
Benefits to India if it becomes a permanent member of UNSC:
India, if accepted as a new permanent member, must enjoy the
same powers and prerogatives as the existing members.
A permanent seat at UN will give India a due recognition
strategically and politically. India will have a greater say in various
geo-political events that are tackled keeping in mind threat posed to
West and Europe only.
Until now, no country has tried to not take any concrete action
against the State-sponsored terrorism of Pakistan. Though US has
realigned its approach in the recent times, China continues to take
undue political advantage and resorts to creating hurdles in
measures aimed at countering State-sponsored terrorism of
Pakistan.
Policies and measures adopted that are hostile to developed
countries are often vetoed. Thus only those policies and measures
materialize that have little bearing on them. Responsibility is often
transferred to developing nations like India.
A permanent seat at UN is not only important from
safeguarding India’s security interests point of view, many countries
awe a permanent membership. So that, their voice does not go
unheard in UNSC.
This will encourage more strategic and economics ties with
India. An example of this is that China and Pakistan have no
historical ties but yet Pakistan has befriended China just to counter
India in global geo-political sphere.
The challenges faced by the Indian subcontinent are not duly
represented in UNSC. It has become a hegemony of West and
Europe. China uses it just as a tool to muster more political and
strategic support and hardly works in serving the purpose of UNSC.
The membership will help India to reduce the dominance of
China in subcontinent regions like Indian Ocean and South China
Sea.
It will have a huge positive impact on issue of Kashmir
regarding the PoK and Baluchistan. The continuous conflicts that
goes on border with China and Pakistan will see a downfall.
The membership to the UNSC will help India in becoming a member
of NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group).
Obstacles for India in getting permanent membership of UNSC:
Among the five permanent member, China is the only one, who
uses veto power against India's efforts to become a permanent
member.
It is argued by critics that India has still not signed the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), also had rejected the CTBT in 1996.
And in fact, was the target of unanimous Security Council
Resolution 1172 after it conducted nuclear tests in 1998. But,
India’s nuclear diplomacy after the May 1998 tests successfully
turned India from a pariah state to being increasingly a part of the
non-proliferation regime.
India has emerged as a foremost, singularly acknowledged
rising power seen by most states, as making a legitimate claim to a
place in the changing architecture of global governance, including
the UN Security Council.
The Indian interests in joining the reformed UN Security
Council stem from its globally impacting geography and
demography, its rapidly increasing traditional great power
ambitions, and assuming its rightful place in the comity of nations
and significant contributions to the UN system.
The world body must take note that a large geographical entity
like India cannot just be ignored anymore. It must be conceded its
rightful place to play a larger role in world affairs for the benefit of
mankind.
India and the UN:
India was among the founding members of the United Nations.
Even before achieving independence, India had signed the
Declaration by the United Nations at Washington, D.C. in 1944, and
also participated in the United Nations Conference on International
Organization at San Francisco from 25 April to 26 June 1945. As one
of the original members of the United Nations, India enthusiastically
supports the purposes and principles of the UN and has made
significant contributions in implementing the goals of the
organisation. The UN field networks in India are the largest
anywhere in the world through the many offices, programmes and
funds currently at work in the country.
Today, there are 26 UN agencies in India. Some of the
milestones that the UN has made in India through its agencies are
elaborated upon below:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
When FAO began its India operations in 1948, its priority was
to transform India’s food and farm sectors through technical inputs
and support for policy development.
Over the years, FAO has made major inroads in resolving issues
such as access to food, nutrition, livelihoods, rural development and
sustainable agriculture. With the Sustainable Development Goals in
full swing, the FAO’s primary focus will be on improving India’s
sustainable agricultural practices.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD):
IFAD and the Government of India have achieved significant
results in investing in the commercialization of smallholding-
agriculture and building small farmers’ capacity to increase incomes
from market opportunities.
IFAD-supported projects have also provided women with
access to financial services, such as by linking women’s self-help
groups with commercial banks.
UNAIDS:
India has worked with the UN on the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The main aim of the
programme is to help prevent new HIV infections, care for people
living with HIV and mitigate the impact of the epidemic.
Between 2001 and 2012 the total number of cases of the
disease in India fell down by 50%, one of the highest in the world at
that time. So far, India has managed to continue the trend.
Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT):
This is a UNESCAP regional institute established in 1977. It
works in the fields of technology transfer, information and
innovation management.
International Monetary Fund:
India has been working closely with the IMF. For more on this,
please check the linked article on IMF in the table above.
UNESCO:
India has been closely associated with the UNESCO. India has
been continuously re-elected to the Executive Board of UNESCO
since 1946.
A UNESCO Category I Institute dedicated to education for peace
and sustainable development was established in 2012 and is called
the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and
Sustainable Development (MGIEP). It is located in New Delhi.
There are also several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.
World Health Organisation (WHO):
WHO has been working closely with the Indian government to
improve health outcomes. It has played a stellar part in eradicating
several diseases such as cholera, controlling others like malaria, TB,
etc. For more on WHO and India, you can check the WHO linked
article from the table above.
India’s Contribution towards the UN:
India has been an active member of the UN since its inception.
In 1946, India became the first country to raise the issues of racism
and apartheid in South Africa in the UN forum.
India played an important part in the drafting of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
The first woman president of the UNGA was an Indian,
Vijayalakshmi Pandit, in 1953.
India has contributed immensely to UN Peacekeeping Missions
in various parts of the world.
India has sent her peacekeeping troops to Korea, Egypt, Congo,
Haiti, Angola, Somalia, Liberia, Rwanda, Lebanon, South Sudan, etc.
India has been regularly one of the largest contributor of troops to
the missions.
Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of non-violence resonate deeply with
the UN’s principles. In 2007, the UN declared Gandhi’s birth
anniversary of October 2 as the ‘International Day of Non-violence’.
In 2014, the UNGA declared that 21st June would be observed as
International Yoga Day.
India has contributed immensely to UN Peacekeeping Missions
in various parts of the world.
India has sent her peacekeeping troops to Korea, Egypt, Congo,
Haiti, Angola, Somalia, Liberia, Rwanda, Lebanon, South Sudan, etc.
India has been regularly one of the largest contributor of troops to
the missions.
Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of non-violence resonate deeply with
the UN’s principles. In 2007, the UN declared Gandhi’s birth
anniversary of October 2 as the ‘International Day of Non-violence’.
In 2014, the UNGA declared that 21st June would be observed
as International Yoga Day.
Expected Questions-
Q. Which of the following is not a member of G-4?
A). India B). Pakistan
C). Brazil D). Germany
Q. Which of the following is not a member of P-5?
A). Germany B). USA
C). Russia D). France
