The United Nations

The United Nations

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization composed of 193 member states, established in 1945 to maintain international peace and security and to promote global cooperation.

Formation Process of the United Nations

• Declaration of the United Nations (June 12, 1941): This declaration emphasized cooperation among free nations to establish peace and ensure economic and social security.
• Atlantic Charter (August 14, 1941): This charter was signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill between the United States and the United Kingdom. It emphasized the need to establish a collective security system.
• Declaration by the United Nations (January 1, 1942): Signed in Washington by the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, and twenty-two other countries, this declaration marked the first official use of the term United Nations. The signatories committed themselves to continuing the war against the Axis powers.
• Moscow Conference (October 30, 1943): Foreign ministers of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union, along with the Chinese ambassador, agreed to create an international organization to maintain peace.
• Tehran Conference (December 1, 1943): The heads of government of the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union met in Tehran to discuss wartime cooperation and post-war peace arrangements.
• Dumbarton Oaks Conference (Beginning August 21, 1944): The Allied powers, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China, prepared a draft plan to establish an international organization. Under this agreement, the Security Council, composed of five major powers, was entrusted with maintaining international peace.
• Yalta Conference (Beginning February 4, 1945): Leaders of the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom agreed on voting procedures within the Security Council and decided to convene the San Francisco Conference. The issue of veto power was also discussed.
• San Francisco Conference (April 25, 1945): Representatives of fifty countries participated in this conference, officially known as the United Nations Conference on International Organization. The United Nations Charter was adopted on June 26, 1945, and entered into force on October 24, 1945.

History and Principal Organs of the United Nations

Objectives of the United Nations

• Maintaining international peace and security through collective security systems and peaceful dispute resolution.
• Promoting international cooperation in addressing economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian issues and advancing human rights.
• Developing friendly relations among nations based on equal rights and the principle of self-determination.
• Serving as a central body for coordinating the activities of member states to achieve these objectives.

Fundamental Principles Guiding the United Nations

• Sovereign equality of all member states.
• Fulfillment of international obligations in good faith.
• Prohibition of the use of force.
• Peaceful settlement of disputes.
• Support by member states for actions taken by the United Nations.
• Encouragement of non-member states to act in accordance with Charter principles when international peace and security are involved.
• Non-intervention in matters that fall within the domestic jurisdiction of states, except when enforcement measures under Chapter VII of the Charter apply.

Principal Organs of the United Nations

The main organs of the United Nations are:

• General Assembly.
• Security Council.
• Economic and Social Council.
• Secretariat.
• Trusteeship Council.
• International Court of Justice.

The General Assembly

The General Assembly consists of all United Nations member states. Each member state has one vote and may be represented by up to five delegates.

Powers and Functions of the General Assembly

• Discussing matters related to the United Nations Charter and providing recommendations to member states and the Security Council.
• Supervising and coordinating United Nations activities through the review of annual reports submitted by various organs.
• Supervising the trusteeship system, except for strategic trust territories.
• Approving the United Nations budget and determining the financial contributions of member states.
• Electing members of the United Nations organs upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
• Amending the United Nations Charter.
• Suspending voting rights or expelling members.

The Security Council

The Security Council consists of fifteen members, including five permanent members and ten non-permanent members. The permanent members are the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia. Non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms, taking into consideration their contributions to international peace and equitable geographic representation.

Powers and Functions of the Security Council

• Bearing primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
• Recommending peaceful methods for resolving disputes.
• Authorizing enforcement measures when necessary to restore peace.
• Recommending the admission of new members to the General Assembly.
• Recommending suspension or expulsion of members.
• Recommending a candidate for Secretary General to the General Assembly.
• Participating jointly with the General Assembly in the election of judges to the International Court of Justice.
• Proposing amendments to the Charter.
• Administering strategic trust territories.
• Establishing subsidiary bodies as necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions About the United Nations