United Nations History - Research Paper Example

The United Nations December 4, United Nations History In 1919 the Treaty of Versailles in Paris established the League of Nations which was to be the predecessor of the United Nations formation in 1942 by President Roosevelt. The governments of 26 different nations came together in order to fight and defend each other against the Axis powers, this group being originally called the United Nation in the Declaration by United Nations (UN.ORG, 2012). The United Nation became an official government entity in 1945. The United Nations was the closest thing to global government the world had yet seen (Relations with the United Nations, U.S, 2007). The United Nation was based on the theory that all nations are equal according to international law despite variations in demographics. The United Nations has come to be recognized as a figure of peace and of order where Nations can come together to resolve issues or conflicts among them. Membership includes nearly two hundred different nations and often negotiations between Nations which involve economics, security and democracy are the focus of UN assembly’s. Organization of the United Nations Each member of the United Nations has one vote in these assembly’s; the United States having one vote when assemblies meet to decide on issues and actions or responses to international threats or areas of interest such as global warming which has an effect on every nation. It is thought that the United States uses it financial power and influence to dictate to Countries considered third world or disadvantaged. At times when these Countries have used the United Nations to present their cases against the United States publicly the United States has retaliated with refusal to pay United Nations dues. With the United States being the largest financial contributor to the United Nations dues easily reach over 1 billion dollars. Disagreements caused the US to withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Many operational programs were begun by the UN and operational programs have continued to be developed (Sharp, 1965). The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, was given status as a permanent UN program in 1953. It is the oldest and the most recognized of the UN programs. UNICEF focuses on key areas in various locations, meeting the needs of children nationwide. UNICEF provides a global platform to stop preventable deaths among children using interventions such as access to health care, vaccinations, antibiotics, and protections methods from carries of diseases such as Malaria, education in good hygiene practices and the promotion of breastfeeding (UNICEF, 2012). UNICEF also focuses on HIV in third world Countries with little access to expensive medication, education, gender equality and the protection of children worldwide. The World Health Organization is another UN program which gained permanent status. The WHO is the leading authority in matters concerning health within the United Nations. They are responsible for developing standards of practice, health research programs, communicating and propagating evidence-based policy and closely monitoring health trends worldwide (WHO, 2012). The WHO’s charter became effective in 1948. United Nations Charter Membership in the United Nations is available to all States considered peaceful that agree to abide by the UN charter. The UN is governed by a General Assembly in which each member may vote, a Council strictly devoted to security matters, a Social and Economic Council, an International Court, a Secretariat and a Trusteeship Council (United Nations, 2012). The UN Security Council has 15 permanent members, among them being representatives from the United States, China, France, Great Britain, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Northern Ireland. Non-permanent members who are elected will serve a term of two years. The Security Council has its’ own established guidelines for electing a President. The Security Council can decide what actions can be taken which do not involve the use of Armed Forces. The UN becomes involved primarily in issues concerning human rights, humanitarian efforts, international law, policy development and peace and security. Bodies of the United Nations include “The Commission for Social Development, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the International Narcotics Control Boards, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and the Executive Board of Unicef (United Nations 2, 2012). Recent United Nations Actions Syria UNICEF became involved, speaking publicly against attacks on schools outside of Damascus, both students and teachers killed in the violence. UNICEF has made clear that this is unacceptable and that children must remain areas of safety and peace in Syria. UNICEF reminded Syria of their UN responsibilities required by international law; that children are to be protected at all times (UN News Centre, 2012). A UN senior official demanded safe passage for Syrians attempting to escape the violence and estimates that there are over 2 million citizens in danger. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated that after a visit it was evident that the majority of victims were innocent by standers and the elderly. Refugee camps are admitting thousands though over 400,000 Syrians are listed as refugees or waiting for status. The UN World Food Program has had an especially difficult time getting to those most in need with Syria die to the escalating violence (UN News Centre 2, 2012).Along with other branches of the UN services have been suspended beyond Damascus as road access has become increasingly dangerous. The UN World Food Program was able to feed 160,000 Syrian refugees in October. Cuba In November the United Nations once again for the 21st time adopted a policy requiring the end of financial, economic and commercial blockades toward Cuba from the United States. Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke before the assembly stating that President Obama had further enhanced and increased the blockades which have been in place. Cuba feels that the blockade poses a great financial impediment on their Country and prevents growth of the economy and development socially. Despite US policy Cuba cannot becoming a prosperous Nation without giving up some of their monopolies, allowing internet access and conforming to International Property Rights policy (UN News Centre 3. 2012). Afghanistan The Refugee Agency for the United Nations has begun establishing winter aid to 40,000 families in Afghanistan. This aid primarily consists of fuel, blankets, tents for those without shelter, sheets, lanterns, winter clothing and other items necessary to survive temperature’s which fall below -26C. Refugees returning and individuals who are displaced often are in very remote locations and these families are rarely in view of the public because of their remoteness. The UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is funded only about 50 percent of the actual Afghanistan needed funding; the appeal for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan is one of the least successful programs within the United Nations (Murray-Jones, 2012). UN Action UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict is the combination of 13 different UN programs designed to stop the sexual violence that often accompanies conflict in Countries such as Syria. Those involved in this joint operation include the World Health Organization, the UN Children’s Fund, UN Woman and the UN Department of Political Affairs (Stop Rape Now, 2012) Conclusion With the United Nations being an international agency there is nearly no place in the world where you won’t find some kind of UN program to meet the needs of local citizens. The United Nations could not be successful without the participation and agreement of the major Nations to remain peaceful and avoid conflict. Smaller Nations such as Iran, Syria, Pakistan and parts of Africa where there is conflict there is also humanitarian aid and in many cases funding for educational programs and tools. Women are a minority group in many Countries and the UN provides opportunities for women to become educated as well as receive birth control to control some populations which are increasing at a rate that families cannot sustain. It would be impossible to list all of the United Nations programs, political missions, humanitarian efforts or peace keeping policies among members. Because of the vastness of the United Nations it is a powerful force and one that is most commonly involved in most conflicts in some way or other, providing relief or negotiating peace or policies against brutality. Works Cited UN.ORG. (2012). History of the united nations. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/history/ Relations with the United Nations, U.S. (2007). In D. Levinson & K. Christensen (Eds.), Global Perspectives on the United States (Vol. 3, pp. 309-312). Great Barrington, MA: Berkshire. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3047400243&v=2.1&u=aiumain&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w Sharp, W. R. (1965). The Administration of United Nations Operational Programs. International Organization, 19(3), 581. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=0bc91f1e-415c-4edf-b91f-e776a524df95%40sessionmgr10&vid=5&hid=26 UNICEF. (2012). Young child survival and development. UNICEF.Org. Retrieved December 6, 2012, from http://www.UNICEF.org/childsurvival/index.html WHO. (2012). History of WHO. WHO. Retrieved December 6, 2012, from http://www.who.int/about/history/en/index.html United Nations. (2012). Charter, United Nations, Chapter III: Organs. UN News Center. Retrieved December 6, 2012, from http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter3.shtml United Nations 2. (2012). Social development. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/development/progareas/socdev.shtml UN News Centre. (2012, 12 05). UNICEF condemns mortar attack on Syrian school. UN News Centre. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43688&Cr=syria&Cr1= UN News Centre 2. (2012, 12 4). UN refugee official calls for safe passage for Syrians fleeing mounting violence. United Nations News Centre. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43677&Cr=syria&Cr1= UN News Centre 3. (2012). General assembly renews call for end to us embargo against Cuba. United Nations News Centre. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43482&Cr=cuba&Cr1= Murray-Jones. (2012, 11). UN agency begins distributing winter aid in Afghanistan as temperatures begin to drop. United Nations News Centre. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43642&Cr=Afghan&Cr1= Stop Rape Now. (2012). UN action updates from the field. Retrieved from http://www.stoprapenow.org/field-updates/ Read More