3. The UK’s Role in International Organisations

What is a veto?

The power to reject any proposal or decision in a decision-making body.

What is the Security Council?

Main decision-making body of the United Nations.

What is the European Commission?

Appointed officials from EU countries who draft policies and manage EU operations.

What is the Commonwealth Charter?

Document outlining democracy, human rights, and development principles for Commonwealth countries.

What are agencies?

Organisations operating within larger institutions, e.g., UN or EU agencies.

What are NGOs?

Voluntary, non-profit groups working locally or internationally to promote causes.

What is a humanitarian crisis?

A serious event threatening health, safety, or well-being of large groups.

When was the United Nations established?

1945, headquartered in New York.

What is the UK's role in the UN?

Founding member, promotes peace, security, human rights, and contributes troops to peacekeeping missions (e.g., Cyprus, South Sudan).

When was NATO formed?

1949, headquartered in Brussels.

What is NATO’s purpose?

Military alliance where members agree to collective defence if any member is attacked.

What is the UK's role in NATO?

Participates in operations, e.g., Afghanistan and Kosovo.

What is the Commonwealth?

53 mostly former British colonies promoting democracy, education, aid, and development.

What is the UK's role in the Commonwealth?

Coordinates development goals; Queen Elizabeth II was head.

When was the WTO established?

1955, headquartered in Geneva.

What is the WTO’s purpose?

Regulates international trade between 161 members.

How does the UK use the WTO?

Uses WTO rules to resolve trade disputes post-Brexit.

What is the Council of Europe?

Europe’s leading human rights organisation with 47 members overseeing the European Convention on Human Rights.

What is the UK's role in the Council of Europe?

Founding member, legally bound to uphold freedom of speech and press.

How does the UK mediate international conflicts?

Facilitates peaceful negotiations, e.g., Good Friday Agreement (1998).

What are sanctions?

Economic or military restrictions to influence behaviour, e.g., arms embargoes on Russia.

When does the UK use force internationally?

Military intervention alongside allies, e.g., 1991 Gulf War, 1999 Kosovo, 2003 Iraq, 2011 Libya.

How does the UK support NGOs and humanitarian aid?

Funds NGOs to address global crises, e.g., £900 million to Syrian NGOs since 2012 for food, water, health, and education.

Name some international pressure groups the UK supports.

Oxfam (poverty), Greenpeace (environment), Amnesty International (human rights).