the UN

what is the aim of the United Nations

to maintain international peace and security

how many global members does the UN have

193

give examples of organisations within the UN

• general assembly

• security council

• international court of justice

• UNESCO

• peacekeeping

what is the general Assembly 

• all 193 members are part of it.

• This makes it an organisation of universal representation

• the aim of the general assembly is to discuss and debate issues of peace and security 

what is the security council

• consists of 15 members, 5 permanent members

• have the power to veto propositions

• can deliver economic sanctions

what is the International Court of Justice

• settles legal disputes and international law breaks

• they aim to maintain peace between states, and to offer legal advice

what is UNESCO

• stands for educational, scientific and cultural organisation

• aim is to maintain peace through education, science and cultures

• main aim is to stand up for the freedom of expression

what is peacekeeping

• aims to bring peace to places of disruption and post conflic

• peacekeeping forces are sent into areas of instability, with the aim to restore stability and order

how has the UN promoted growth and stability

• UN sanctions have allowed inequalities and injustices to be resolved.

• the UN punishes countries that do not abide by international laws

• e.g. the UN has imposed several sanctions on Iran, in order to deter Iran’s use of nuclear weapons and research.

• the Un promotes economic, social and environmental growth through the creation of international treaties and goals.

• e.g. the UNs Sustainable Development Goals promote stability and growth

• e.g. Millennium development goals include: eradicating hunger and poverty, reducing child mortality, achieving universal primary education, combat HIV/AIDS and malaria, ensure environmental sustainability.

• the Un creates policies and legislation to protect social rights

• e.g. the Declaration of Human Rights protects billions of people living in countries in which declaration is signed e.g. the Uk and Soviet Union.

• The International Court of Justice also protects social rights by punishing those who commit crimes against humanity.

give an example of how sanctions have allowed inequalities and injustices to be resolved

in iran sanctions have been imposed to deter its use of nuclear weapons

give an example of how the un promotes social, environmental and economic growth through treaties and laws 

sustainable development goals

millennium development goals 

give an example of how the UN creates policies and legislation to protect social rights 

declaration of human rights protects billions of people living in countries

how has the UN exacerbated inequalities and injustices

• un peacekeeping forces have come under major criticism for crimes against vulnerable citizens

• peacekeeping forces have been accused of sexual assault, human trafficking, child prostirution and murder during multiple dispatches

• e.g. the UNs Kosovo Mission had many crimes, including 800 counts of sexual abuse, 70 murder and 100 theft.

• the Un has also been accused of being inactive when aid is needed.

• e.g. forces were inactive in 2014 in DR of Congo. Peacekeepers failed to provide assistance after attacks. They failed to respond to repeated calls for help during an attack which killed people. The peacekeepers were only 9km away but they arrived 2 days later.

• in 2013, Saudi Arabia was elected as a member of the Un Human Rights council. It was later found that the UK had influence on this decision by secret voting trade deals. This highlights the UNs lack of power which could have potentially dangerous consequences 

• organisations such as UN Watch have been created to monitor the ffectivness of the UN, such as looking for secret voting trade deals 

• the Un has allegedly been biased against Israel in the Israeli-palestinian conflict. This shows inequalities have been created. Apparently the amount of criticism that Israel has faced is too severe in relation to their crimes. However, not enough attentions seems to have been given to the crimes of Palestine 

give an example of how UN peacekeeping forces came under major criticisms 

• the UNs Kosovo Mission had 800 counts of sexual abuse, 70 murer and 100 theft.

give an example of how the UN peacekeepers were inactive during a mission

• in DR of Congo

• peacekeepers failed to respond to repeated calls for help during an attack which killed 30 people.

• the peacekeepers were only 9km away but took them 2 days arrive

give an example of how the UN had a lack of power and control

• Saudi Arabia elected to be a member of the human rights council

• later found out that Uk had influence on this decision via voting trade deals

what organisation has been set up to monitor the effectiveness of the UN

Un watch 

where has the UN allegedly been biased

• biased against Israel in the Israeli-palestinian conflict

• Israel faced too much criticism whereas Palestine received not enough