United Nations Success and Challenges in the 21st Century

By Dr. John O. Kakonge

UNDP Resident Representative/UN Resident Coordinator

1. What is the United Nations?

The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization or gathering of sovereign states, founded in the
closing days of the Second World War. Its Charter was adopted and signed on 26 June 1945 by 51 founding
members. Of these, 4 were from Africa (Ethiopia, Egypt, Liberia and South Africa). Membership to the United
Nations is open to all peace-loving nations that accept the principles and obligations set out in its Charter. With
the surge in decolonization, many states gained their independence and admission to the UN; and as a result
membership rose from 51 in 1945 to 185 in 1997.

The United Nations offers the world community a system of global governance. Its cardinal missions include:

• The maintenance of international peace and security;

• The promotion of higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and
social progress and development;
• The promotion of solutions to international economic, social, health and related problems; and
international cultural and educational cooperation;
• Universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without
distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.

The UN represents an invaluable global framework for international cooperation in a wide range of fields i.e.
economic, social, political, cultural, educational and health fields.

2. The United Nations System

The UN is a three-tiered system of independent inter-governmental organizations, related uniquely with each
other. Allow me to briefly sketch the interdependent parts of the United Nations. It has six (6) principal organs.
These are: the General Assembly; the Security Council; the Economic and Social Council; the Trusteeship
Council; the International Court of Justice (World Court); and the Secretariat headed by the Secretary-General.

• General Assembly: The General Assembly is the main deliberating organ of the UN. All member
states are represented in the General Assembly. The Assembly, in discharging its responsibilities,
is assisted by committees, ad hoc bodies and other subsidiary organs. In the General Assembly,
all member states, regardless of size or wealth, enjoy equal rights and privileges and bear the
same duties and obligations.

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 • Security Council: The Security Council is primarily responsible for the maintenance of international
peace and security. This responsibility is shared by the General Assembly and by all the functional
elements of the UN. The Council has 15 members: five permanent members and ten elected
members for two-year terms.

Under the Charter, all members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions
of the Security Council. Thus, while other organs of the UN make recommendations to member
Governments, the Security Council alone has the power to take decisions which member states
are obligated to carry out.

• Trusteeship Council: The Trusteeship Council is responsible for supervising the administration of
Trust Territories placed under the Trusteeship system. The principal goals of the trusteeship
system it to promote the advancement of the inhabitants of Trust Territories and their progressive
development towards self-government or independence. The aims of the Trusteeship system have
been largely achieved. Presently, of the original 11 Trusteeships, only one – Palau – remains a
trustee under the administration of the United States.

• International Court of Justice: The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of
the United Nations. The jurisdiction of the court covers all questions which sovereign states refer
to it, and all matters provided for in the United Nations Charter or in treaties or conventions in
force. The Court consists of 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council,
voting independently. The seat of the Court is at The Hague, Netherlands.

• Secretariat: The Secretariat, an international staff working at the United Nations headquarters in
New York and in the field, carries out the day-to-day work of the organization. The Secretariat is
headed by the Secretary-General who is appointed by the General Assembly on the
recommendation of the Security Council. The term of service is five years initially but this is
subject to extension.

3. Successes

The following are some of the successes of the UN:

i. Promoting international relations and diplomacy over the last fifty years. For example, in 1946,
a Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN staff was adopted. All staff and
properties of the UN are exempt from taxation.

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 ii. Regulating the international travel through the certification of airports by the International Civil
Aviation Organization and the establishment of safety standards.

iii. Ensuring that products for export meet international standards (e.g. milk, bananas, coffee, tea
and other products).

iv. Ensuring that international agreements are implemented by the member states. For example,
agreements relating to shared resources (i.e. animals, rivers/lakes, logging, etc.).

v. Promoting cooperation among various countries, especially within the south. This cooperation
has resulted to exchange visits, scholarships, businesses, etc. The South East Asia countries
have benefited from the exchange of information and visits among the countries in their
region.

vi. Tackling common problems together, which in the end foster cooperation. E.g. the River
Blindness Control Programme in West Africa has fostered cooperation among 11 West African
states. Secondly, immunization campaigns by WHO and UNICEF of children under five years
have reached over 80% of the world’s children who are under five years. Thirdly, the UN has
been instrumental in the eradication of smallpox.

vii. Helping African countries to prepare regional forecasts and analysis of socio-economic
indicators among African countries, normally done by the UN Economic Commission for
Africa.

viii. Raising public awareness through organizing international conferences, e.g. environment
(Rio), Human Settlement (Istanbul), Gender (Beijing), the plight of children (New York).
Thereafter, liaising with international development agencies and building the consensus
needed for action. Once forged, the consensus is translated into international norms and
agreements, e.g. development is a human right, housing is a human right, education is a
human right. Are these affordable? Are they realistic?

ix. Supporting the decolonization of more than 80 nations, which were formerly under colonial
rule and some were under UN Trusteeship arrangements. These nations gained
independence and joined the UN as sovereign states, e.g. former British Colonies, former
French Colonies, former Portuguese Colonies, former Spanish Colonies, etc.

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 x. Promoting technical assistance in various fields to its member states in the third world.
Currently, there are many development and humanitarian activities, which the UN is funding
all over the developing countries.

xi. Providing shelter and relief to millions of refugees from war and persecution, and supporting
the repatriation and resettlement of refugees and displaced persons.

4. Challenges

i. The size and bureaucracy of the UN system. UN mandates are extensive, complex and
global. The system needs to be more efficient, effective and responsive.
ii. Inadequate human and financial resources to carry out planned activities, e.g. peace keeping,
which is a very important programme.
iii. There are many flaws, as reflected in the outlays and duplication of functions, authorities and
activities (e.g. UNESCO, UNCTAD, ILO, UNDP and UNIDO all have Science and Technology
mandates).
iv. It is not transparent, but rather is controlled by a few members (e.g. Security Council).
v. Lack of system-wide policy and programme coordination (each agency/organization is
different).

5. Conclusion

Despite some of its limitations, the UN is an indispensable organization, which has contributed immensely in
the following areas:

• Promoting regional/sub-regional empowerment (e.g. Regional Commissions, OAU, ECOWAS).

• Promoting public awareness at various levels on specific problems/issues that cut across nations
(e.g. population, environment, gender, small states, indigenous people, etc.).
• Fostering strong international cooperation
• Dismantling apartheid in South Africa, by portraying the true evil of racism.
• Making nations behave responsibly. (e.g. Iraq invading Kuwait, Indonesia/East Timor, South
Africa/Namibia).

Without the UN, international relations would be very difficult. We would find it problematic to even travel within
some of our own countries let alone around the world. The international diplomacy of the UN has helped to
make the world a civilized and better place in which to live.