UNO

• The United Nation Organization (UNO) officially came into existence in October, 1945 after the Second World War
• The UN Charter was drawn up in San Francisco in 1945, and was based on proposals made at an earlier meeting between the USSR, the USA, China and Britain held at Dumbarton Oaks (USA) in 1944
• The United Nation Charter


  The constitution of the United Nation Organization itself, containing the aims, objectives, rules and regulations
• Aims of the United Nations

  • Preserve peace and eliminate war
  • Remove the causes of conflict by encouraging economic, social, educational, scientific and cultural progress throughout the world, especially in underdeveloped countries
  • Safeguard the rights of all individual human beings and the rights of peoples and nations
• Rules of the United Nations

  • All members are sovereign and independent
  • They will fulfill their obligation as set forth by the Charter
  • They will settle their disputes fairly and peacefully
  • They will not threaten or use force in any way not allowed by the charter
  • They will assist the United Nation in any action it takes
  • The United Nation will seek to persuade non-members to act in accordance with the UN RULES
  • The United Nation will not interfere in the internal affairs of any nation
• How a country joins the United Nations

  1. Be peace-loving, willing to accept the aims and the rules of the charter and be judged by the United Nations as able to carry out these aims

  2. Recommended by the Security Council

  3. Confirmed by the General Assembly with a 2/3 majority vote
• The United States of America is the biggest contributor to the United Nation budget
• Main organs of the United Nations Organization

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


  • Meeting together of all representatives from all the member nations, each nation can send up to five representatives though there is only one vote per nation
  • Meets once a year, starting in September and remaining in session for about three months, but special session can be called in times of crisis
  • Its function is to discuss and make decisions about international problems, to consider the UN budget and what amount each member should pay, to elect the Security Council members, and to supervise the work of many other UN bodies
  • There are six official languages of the UN which are English, French, Russian, Chinese, Spanish and Arabic
• The Security Council


  • Sits in permanent session and its function is to deal with crises as they arise, by whatever action seems appropriate, and if necessary, by calling on members to take economic or military action against an aggressor
  • Began with eleven members, five of them permanent (China, USA, USSR and Britain), and the other six elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms
  • Decisions need at least nine of the fifteen members to vote in favour, but these must include all five permanent members
  • Any one of the permanent members can veto a decision and prevent any action being taken
• The Secretariat


  • The 'office staff' of the United Nation, consisting of more than 50,000 employees
  • Looks after the administrative work, preparing minutes of meetings, translation and information
  • Headed by the Secretary General, appointed for a five year term by the Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council
• The International Court of Justice

  • The legal court of the United Nation located at The Hague (in Holland)
  • Has fifteen judges, all of different nationalities, elected for nine year terms (five retiring every third year) by the Assembly and the Security Council jointly
• The Trusteeship Council


  • Replaced the League of Nation Mandates Commission, its main purpose is to look after colonies before they become fully independence or ready to look after them especially after World War II
• Secretary General


  Appointed for a five year term by the Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. Not from one of the major powers to ensure some degree of impartiality.
• Role of the Secretary General

  Acts as the main spokesperson for the UN and is always at the forefront of international affairs, trying to sort out the world's problems
• Past Secretary Generals


  • List of past Secretary Generals
• International Court of Justice

  The legal court of the United Nations located at The Hague. Has fifteen judges of different nationalities elected for nine year terms.
• Trusteeship Council


  Replaced the League of Nations Mandates Commission. Main purpose is to look after colonies before they become fully independent or ready to look after themselves, especially after World War II.
• Trusteeship Agreements


  Drawn up to say how the territories would be administered and which country will be responsible for them.
• The Trusteeship Council did its job well and by 1970 most of the mandates had gained their independence.
• Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)


  Has twenty-seven members elected by the General Assembly, with one third retiring every year. Organizes projects concerned with health, education and other social and economic matters.
• Commissions and specialized agencies under ECOSOC

  • International Labour Organization (ILO)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
  • Many more