commissions and special agencies

LoN- Refugee

• Over 1 million POWs and 1.5 million Russian refugees displaced by civil war and conflict needed repatriation or relocation.

• Led by Nansen: He introduced ‘Nansen passports’, internationally recognised ID (50 nations) for stateless refugees.

• 36,000 Armenians were resettled and helped find jobs by 1938, especially in Syria and Lebanon.

• 44 countries worked together to take in Russian refugees unwilling to return to USSR, after the russian revolution and civil war

• Mostly focused on Europe and the Middle East; lacked global authority and funds.

LoN- Drugs

• Aimed to control production and international trade of addictive drugs like heroin, cocaine, and morphine.

• 1926–1931 Conventions: Set international standards for import/export and medical use; banned heroin except in rare cases.

• Permanent Control Board (1928): Tracked how much was grown/used and held countries accountable.

• Rachel Crowdy's Work: Promoted embargoes and monitored compliance with League drug agreements.

• Some countries ignored controls (e.g., USA didn’t join); illegal drug trade persisted.

LoN- Child welfare

• Focused on children affected by war, poverty, homelessness and crime.

• Geneva Declaration (1924): Stated every child has the right to be fed, sheltered, educated and protected.

• Published reports linking wages, living conditions, and child nutrition.

• Focused on preventing youth crime by improving children’s welfare early on

• laid the foundation for UNICEF

LoN- slavery

• 1926 Slavery Convention: Outlawed forced labour and practices like enslaving children for debt or marriage.

• Criminalised disguised forms of slavery, such as selling children for dowries or adoption.

• Backed by ILO (1930)

• Pressured Nepal, Persia (Iran), Liberia, and Burma to abolish slavery between 1926–1932.

• Relied on cooperation from national governments; couldn’t enforce laws in all regions.

LoN- People trafficking

• tackled the trafficking of women and girls for prostitution, especially in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

• led the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children, aimed to raise the age of consent and protect girls from being trafficked

• It investigated trafficking routes and exploitation. Many girls trafficked were aged 14–16, sometimes by their own families

• the League shifted focus to demand and the traffickers, studying the economics of the trade

• Though the League gathered data and raised awareness, not all countries enforced the conventions. Domestic laws varied, and the League couldn’t legally punish offenders.

UN- HRC

• Promotes and protects human rights globally.

• Investigates breaches of human rights, especially in Bosnia, Rwanda, Kosovo, and Sudan.

• Provides education and legal support for enforcing human rights.

• Works with governments to implement reforms and improve rights protections.

• Gained stronger role after the 1990s genocides; supports the “Responsibility to Protect” principle.

UN- ILO

• Founded in 1919; continued under the UN.

• Aims to improve workers’ rights and labour standards globally.

• Supports decent wages, working conditions, and trade union formation.

• Promotes equal opportunities for women and men in employment.

• Negotiates and implements labour laws across member states.

UN- Mandates

1. Supervised former colonies until they were ready for independence.

2. Divided colonies into A, B, C types based on readiness.

3. Monitored administration, welfare, and development.

4. One of the League’s early successes (many modern UN missions are similar).

5. The system was later replaced by modern peacekeeping frameworks.

UN- Disarmament

• Began as League’s Disarmament Commission in 1920s.

• Renamed UN Office for Disarmament Affairs in 1998.

• Promotes global disarmament of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.

• Oversaw disarmament talks during and after the Cold War.

• Failed to enforce Iraq’s WMD disarmament in the 1990s — contributed to 2003 Gulf War.

UN- UNICEF

• Focuses on children’s welfare in conflict and post-conflict zones.

• Leads campaigns against malnutrition, exploitation, and disease.

• Works globally in war zones to support children's health and rights.

• Launched the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.

• Provides food, shelter, education, and protection in emergencies.

UN- UNESCO

• Promotes global education and access to learning.

• Protects cultural heritage and scientific cooperation.

• Identifies and preserves World Heritage Sites.

• Supports freedom of expression and intellectual rights.

• Encourages diversity and peace through cultural respect.

UN- FAO

1. Works to end hunger and food insecurity worldwide.

2. Supports sustainable agriculture and food systems.

3. Publishes annual reports on global malnutrition.

4. Active especially in Africa, India, Uzbekistan.

5. Helps in post-conflict food recovery and famine prevention.

UN- WHO

1. Works with all UN member states.

2. Leads global responses to infectious and non-infectious disease outbreaks.

3. Delivers vaccines, medical care, and health programmes.

4. Monitors water, air, food safety, and quality.

5. Played a key role in fighting polio, Ebola, COVID-19.

UN- Refugee

1. Emergency aid – Provides shelter, food, and medical help in crises.

2. Safe asylum – Helps refugees find safety or return home when possible.

3. Global presence – Active in conflicts like Bosnia, Rwanda, Sudan, and Palestine.

4. Resettlement – Supports long-term rebuilding, education, and jobs.

5. Legal protection – Defends refugee rights and prevents forced return.