United Nations (UN): Purpose, power, history and functions

What is the United nations?

The United Nations (UN) is a global organization established in 1945 to maintain international peace and security, promote economic and social development, protect human rights and provide humanitarian aid. 

This article will delve into the UN’s purpose, power, history, and functions, highlighting its role in shaping international relations.

History of the United Nations

The United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945, following the devastation of World War II, to prevent another global conflict. The organization was established by 51 countries, represented at the UN Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, California, and started functioning, officially, on October 24, 1945, when the UN Charter was ratified by a majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council (the Soviet Union (now Russia), China, the United Kingdom, France and the United States).

The UN’s mission is to maintain international peace and security, promote economic and social development, protect human rights, and provide humanitarian aid. It is made up of six main bodies: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, the Secretariat, and the Trusteeship Council.

The General Assembly is made up of representatives from every member state and serves as a forum for member states to discuss and coordinate international issues. The Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security and has the power to take enforcement action, including imposing sanctions and authorizing the use of force. The Economic and Social Council promotes international economic and social cooperation and development. 

The International Court of Justice offers advice on legal opinions on international issues while settling disputes among member states. The Secretariat is responsible for carrying out the day-to-day work of the UN and is headed by the Secretary-General. The Trusteeship Council oversaw the administration of trust territories and ensured that their inhabitants were prepared for self-government.

The UN has faced many challenges throughout its history, including Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, decolonization and the emergence of new states, and ongoing conflicts in various regions. Despite these challenges, the UN has played a vital role in international relations and continues to work towards its goal of maintaining international peace and security.

Purposes and goals of the United Nations 

The United Nations (UN) was established with the main purpose of maintaining international peace and security and promoting cooperation among nations in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character. The organization’s goals are outlined in the UN Charter, which was adopted by the member states in 1945.

One of the main purposes of the UN is to prevent the outbreak of international conflicts and to resolve disputes between nations through peaceful means. To this end, the UN has several mechanisms in place to maintain peace and security, including the Security Council, which has the power to take enforcement action, including imposing sanctions and authorizing the use of force, and the International Court of Justice, which settles legal disputes between states. The UN also deploys peacekeeping forces to areas of conflict to facilitate the resolution of disputes and maintain stability.

The UN also plays a role in the decolonization process and the recognition of new states. The organization also works to promote education, science, and culture, and to protect the environment. The UN also serves as a forum for member states to discuss and coordinate international issues.

The functions of the United Nations

The United Nations (UN) functions as a global organization that aims to address a wide range of issues, including peace and security, economic and social development, human rights, and humanitarian aid.

1. One of the key functions of the UN is to maintain international peace and security. To this end, the UN has several mechanisms in place, including the Security Council, which has the power to take enforcement action, including imposing sanctions and authorizing the use of force, and the International Court of Justice, which settles legal disputes between states. The UN also deploys peacekeeping forces to areas of conflict to facilitate the resolution of disputes and maintain stability.
2. The UN also plays a key role in promoting economic and social development around the world. The organization works to alleviate poverty, promote sustainable development, and improve living standards for people in developing countries. The Economic and Social Council plays a key role in this regard, promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. The UN also works to promote human rights and gender equality and to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need.
3. The UN also serves as a forum for member states to discuss and coordinate international issues. The General Assembly is made up of representatives from all member states and serves as a platform for member states to discuss and coordinate on international issues. The UN also plays a role in the decolonization process and the recognition of new states.
4. The UN also works to promote education, science, and culture, and to protect the environment. The organization has a wide range of specialized agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that work towards these goals. The UN also works in partnership with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society to achieve its goals.

Powers of the United Nations

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that has been established to promote peace and security, economic and social development, human rights, and humanitarian aid. The UN has a limited amount of power in the sense that it cannot enforce its decisions, as it relies on the cooperation of its member states to achieve its goals. However, the UN has several mechanisms in place that allow it to exert some level of influence over its member states.

One of the key mechanisms of the UN is the Security Council, which has the power to take enforcement action, including imposing sanctions and authorizing the use of force. The Security Council can impose sanctions on countries that violate international peace and security, such as embargoes on arms or trade, which can have a significant impact on a country’s economy. The Security Council can also authorize the use of force by member states or authorize the deployment of peacekeeping forces, which can be a powerful tool for maintaining peace and stability in conflict-affected areas.

The UN also has the power to bring international legal action against countries that violate international law through the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by the General Assembly, the Security Council, or other UN bodies. This can serve as a powerful deterrent against countries that violate international law, as they can be held accountable through the ICJ.

Conclusion 

The United Nations (UN) is a global organization established in 1945 to maintain international peace and security, promote economic and social development, protect human rights and provide humanitarian aid. Through its various mechanisms, specialized agencies and partnerships, the UN exert a limited yet significant influence on its member states to achieve its goals.

Only two fully independent nations are not member states in the UN, these are the Vatican and Palestine. The UN headquarters is located in New York in the United States.