hisrtory UN Flashcards Set

1. Formation of the UN

The UN was formed following the devastating World War II, with the aim of

preventing future global-scale conflicts. It was a successor to the ineffective League

of Nations. The founders were shocked after the horrors of second World war and

Hitler’s Holocaust. They wanted to create an organisation that they hoped would be

able to prevent such catastrophes from happening in the future, and improve the

lives of the world’s people.

The United Nations Organisation, or the UN was formed due to the efforts of the

heads of the three superpowers, which formed the Allied Powers during the Second

World War-Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Franklin Roosevelt,

the President of USA, and Joseph Stalin, the President of the erstwhile USSR. All

three of them took part in the three conferences organised during the war—

Dumbarton Oaks in Washington DC, Yalta in Crimea and the San Francisco

Conference.

Signing of the UN Charter

In these conferences, the idea of a world body was discussed and debated, and in

the San Francisco Conference in June 1945, the three superpowers and China

drafted the aims, purpose and the structure of a future organisation, with the hope

that it would work better than its predecessor, the League of Nations, which failed

miserably in dealing with world issues.

The United Nations Organisation took final shape through the signing of the Atlantic

Charter on 26 June 1945, by fifty nations. And on 24 October 1945, the UNO was

established with its headquarters in New York.

United Nations Notes/ Grade 7

2. Members

Initially, there were fifty members of the UN, but over the past six decades, the

number has gone up to 193 known as ‘member states. This can be explained

through the decolonisation of several countries in Africa and Asia after the

Second World War.

3. Objectives

 Maintaining international peace and security

 Developing friendly relations among nations.

 To settle disputes amongst nations that may disturb world peace.

 To give economic, social and scientific help to the developing nations.

4. Language and Flag

The official language of the UN are French, English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and

Arabic. The UN flag is very unique with two olive branches symbolising peace. There

is a world map between the open branches on a light blue background.

5. Organs of the UNO

 The General Assembly

 The Security Council

 The Economic and Social Council

 The International Court of Justice

 The Secretariat

This fact sheet given below tells you about the work of some of the main parts of the

United Nations system. Read them carefully, you’ll need to know this information.

After reading each information box, sum up in just ONE word the main role/focus of

each part of the United Nations.

The General Assembly is where all 193 member states of the UN meet to discuss

global problems. The General Assembly is the closest thing we have to a world

parliament which discusses international problems and suggests solutions for the

same. Each country, large, small, rich or poor, has one vote. Each country is

entitled to send 5 representatives, out of which only one is entitled to vote. Their

decisions are written in documents called ’resolutions’. The Assembly meets once

a year. However, special sessions may be held in emergency situations.

Functions of the Assembly:

United Nations Notes/ Grade 7

 It receives reports from the UN and discusses them.

 It considers and approves UN budget.

 It alerts the security council when there is danger to world peace.

 It appoints the Secretary- General in consultation with the Security Council.

 It looks after the work of other organs.

Now sum it up in one word ……………………………………………………………

The Security Council is responsible for maintaining peace, and tries to settle

conflicts that threaten international security. All UN member states must respect

and abide by its decisions. It can set up peacekeeping operations in countries.

These operations protect civilians and help warring parties to resolve their

differences peacefully. The Security Council has 15 members, of which five are

permanent: China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA. The 10 non-permanent

members are elected by the General Assembly for two years. The Permanent

members have Veto power.

Functions of the Council:

 Maintains International Peace and Security

 Recommends peaceful settlements of disputes

 Takes military action against the aggressor nation.

 Elects judges of the International court of Justice.

 Admits new members to the UN.

Now sum it up in one word ……………………………………………………………

Economic and Social Council

Membership

The Economic and Social Council, or the ECOSOC, has fifty-four members

elected by the General Assembly for a period of three years. It meets twice a year

and holds special sessions, if required.

Functions

 It serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and

social issues and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to the

member states and the UNO systems.

 It conducts studies regarding economic, social, cultural, education, health

and other related matters, and reports to the General Assembly.

 It coordinates the activities of the specialised agencies.

The International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice consists of fifteen judges elected by the General

Assembly for a period of nine years. The Security Council supervises the election

of the judges. However, there cannot be two judges from the same country. It has

its headquarters at The Hague.

United Nations Notes/ Grade 7

Functions:

 Acts as a legal advisor to other organs of the UN.

 Settles disputes between member countries.

The Secretariat is the main administrative organ of the UNO, having a large staff

comprising about 16,000 workers from nearly 170 countries. It has its

headquarters at New York. The secretary general heads the UN secretariat. He is

elected for a five-year term.

The present Secretary General is Antonio Guterres former Portuguese Prime

Minister.

SPECIALIZED AGENCIES OF THE UNO

These agencies work under the supervision of ECOSOC to promote welfare of the

people.

UNICEF (UN Children’s Fund) works for children’s rights, their survival,

development and protection. UNICEF works to ensure all children, everywhere in

the world, enjoy the same human rights. UNICEF focuses on ensuring children

have access to education and healthcare, and making sure they are free from

problems such as child labour, abuse and neglect.

It was established in November 1946, with its headquarters at New York to provide

emergency aid to mothers and children who were victims of the second world war.

UNICEF has set up child care centres all over the world to carry out its mission. All

the developing nations get financial assistance from the UNICEF to drive away the

ills that cause its children to suffer.

It received the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1965.

Now sum it up in one word

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UNDP (UN Development Programme) is the largest agency in the world. It

promotes technical and investment cooperation amongst nations. It take scare of

development of fishing, mining, farming, forestry etc. It helps the government only

when they ask for help.

One of its main tasks is to coordinate global efforts to achieve the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are eight targets that were agreed by

world leaders in 2000. They include: halving world poverty, promoting equality

between men and women, fighting diseases like HIV/AIDS, and protecting the

environment.

Now sum it up in one word

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WHO is the UN’s World Health Organisation with its headquarters in Geneva.

United Nations Notes/ Grade 7

WHO is the authority on matters of global health and works to ensure all people

are free from preventable diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS. WHO works to

strengthen healthcare systems in every country so that all citizens can stay

healthy and live longer, happier lives.

Its main role is to:

 Provide health education;

 To ensure proper distribution of food and nutrition;

 Ensuring good health of mothers and children and better family planning

 Safeguarding against major diseases like small pox

 To prevent other minor diseases and ailments;

 Facilitating proper treatment of injuries;

 Providing life-saving drugs to common people.

Now sum it up in one word

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UNESCO is the UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It was

established in 1945 with its headquarters in Paris.

 Its role is to promote international cooperation in education, science,

culture, and communication and information.

 UNESCO is working to make sure all children in the world have the

opportunity go to school. It ahs worked to eliminate illiteracy.

 UNESCO provides funds to developing nations in order to provide for free

education to its citizens.

 UNESCO also helps protect special cultural and natural places around the

world by giving them World Heritage status.

 It rewards people who excel in the field of art, culture and service all over

the world.

Now sum it up in one word

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International Labour Organisation

ILO or the International Labour Organisation was set up in 1918 with its

headquarters in Geneva. Its aim is to work for the economic conditions of the

labourers. It is made up of government representatives, employers and workers of

all member states. They make laws and policies for the equality of the working

class.

Now sum it up in one word

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India’s Contribution towards the UN

United Nations Notes/ Grade 7

India being a peaceful nation has always been supportive of the UN and its missions.

 India has been an active member of the UN since its inception. In 1946, India

became the first country to raise the issues of racism and apartheid in South

Africa in the UN forum.

 India supported the anti-colonial movements in Libya, Indonesia etc.

 India played an important part in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights in 1948.

 India has contributed immensely to UN Peacekeeping Missions in various

parts of the world. India has sent her peacekeeping troops to Korea, Egypt,

Congo, Haiti, Angola, Somalia, Liberia, Rwanda, Lebanon, South Sudan, etc.

 India has always cooperated with the UN specialized agencies to operate

from its soil and spread awareness about their causes.

 The first woman president of the UNGA was an Indian, Vijayalakshmi Pandit,

in 1953.

 Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of non-violence resonate deeply with the UN’s

principles. In 2007, the UN declared Gandhi’s birth anniversary of October 2

as the ‘International Day of Non-violence’.

 In 2014, the UNGA declared that 21st June would be observed as

International Yoga Day.

How India has benefitted from UN?

 Agriculture in Rajasthan has been made possible with the help of the FAO.

FAO has also helped the once uncultivated region of tarai Uttar Pradesh to

be made viable for cultivation.

 FAO has also helped India set up many institutes for the development of

cottage industries and for higher learning. The most significant effort of the

FAO has been the 'Freedom from Hunger', a campaign launched in 1960,

in India. It has been very successful.

 The WHO has helped India fight many diseases like malaria, tuberculosis

and smallpox. It has also helped India to improve its medical infrastructure

and has provided medical training to many deserving students.

 The UNICEF has been very active in India in its drive to abolish child

labour from the country. This initiative has not only raised awareness but has also implemented policies that protect children's rights and promote their education.