United Nations Organization History - Essay Example

Essay on United Nation Organization Throughout history, many organizations are established to make the world more habitable. This is brought about by the inadequacy of existing organizations to tackle the problem at hand. After the end of the Second World War, it was necessary to come up with an organization that would offer a solution to the problems that cause war and prevent such an occurrence in the future. This was brought by the League of Nations to incapability to prevent the war. Unlike the League of Nations, the UN has played a greater role in the world. Much of its roles include fighting diseases, provision of humanitarian services to countries experiencing distress etc. During the cold war, the organization played a great role in restoring diplomacy among the nations (Osmanczyk & Mango 2003). This was as a result of the enemity that had risen among the nations which supported USA in its economic growth strategies and those that supported the Soviet Union. The differences were a threat to the harmony and unity that existed among many countries. The big advantage, which the UNO has over the League of Nation, is the presence of the world leading nations such as Russia and USA. This makes it have international power. There was an agreement in 1944 that the organization would incorporate all countries regardless of their political systems. This was a proposal, which was made in Durmbarton Oaks and London in 1944. This was aimed at making the organization more universal and more effective in its missions in all the countries. It was formed depending on the military power of nations over the other. The organization incorporated only nine countries, due to cold war between 1946 and 1954. There was the final triumph of universality in the organization, after it allowed every country that was independent to join if it desired (Osmanczyk & Mango 2003 p.2565). The organization is in the forefront in peacekeeping missions allover the world. The role of the organization in peace keeping has been increasing, since the late 1980’s. The United Nations leads in facilitation of settlement dispute and the establishment of peacekeeping operations (Browne, Serafino, & Grimmet 2003)  It sends peacekeepers, to parts of the world that has conflicts. The peacekeepers help in maintaining calmness and also involved in enforcement of the peace agreement. They also assist in discouragement of combatants from getting back to their hostilities. This is one of the key goals in the establishment of the United Nations i.e. to prevent conflicts among nations and also to control war in the future. According to a study, which was conducted by RAND Corp, it shows that the organization has been successful in two out of three efforts in peace keeping, that the organization has engaged. According to the Human Security report in 2005, it shows that there has been a reduction in the number of genocides, wars and abuse of human rights since the cold war ended. This is attributed by the activities spearheaded by the United Nations. Its peacekeeping missions have been very instrumental in control of conflicts. The organization has employed these missions, in many conflicts together with the parties involved in maintenance of international peace with no prejudice to any of the parties involved. All the operations have mandates. The mandates are reviewed by the United Nation Security Council after a certain period. The peacekeepers use various forms of conflict resolutions such as persuasion, negotiations, observations and fact finding. These missions have assisted the maintenance of peace in many parts of the world (Europa publication 2004). Despite the role, that the role that the organization has made in peace keeping, there has been failures that have been perceived. There has been reluctance by the member countries in implementation of the resolutions made by the United Nation Security Council. These problems stem from the intergovernmental nature of the organization. This arises as many member states view the organization, as an association of countries who are supposed to reach an agreement but not an organization that is independent. The organization has also assisted in regulation of armaments. This was one of the provisions of the UN charter of 1945. The main intention of this charter is to prevent the use of economic resources and human resources in the development of these armaments. Despite this, there was the advent of the nuclear weapons just a few weeks after the charter was signed. There have been disagreements, which have occurred in the organization concerning its interventions and military actions. For example, in 1994 the organization failed in preventing the Rwandan genocide and also in 1995, it failed to intervene in Srebrenica massacre. The other goal of the establishment of the United Nation was to fight for human rights and provide assistance through humanitarian services. This was one of the central objectives of creation of United Nations after the Second World War. This was due to the atrocities that took place during the war. The United Nations charter gives the obligation of all its member countries, to have respect of human rights. (Bayefsky 2001).It also provides for joint and separate actions in making sure, that the human rights are observed. The organization and its agencies are involved in the implementation of the principles which are contained in the charter. The organization offers technical support for elections that are fair and free to countries, engages in development of judicial structures, human rights official training etc. (Mertus 2005). All these missions have assisted in bringing democracy in the whole world. The organization has played a great role in helping countries, which have never had any history of democracy to hold elections, for example, Afghanistan and East Timor. The organization also provides a forum by which women are supported, in their participation in politics economics, and also in social life in their respective countries. The organization plays a great role in increasing consciousness of the human rights concepts. This is done through its covenants and the way it handles the human rights abuses, through the rulings of the international courts of justice. The United Nation human rights council established in 2006 addresses violation of the human rights. This council was established after United Nations commission on human rights failed by giving high profiled positions of member countries who did not guarantee its citizens their rights. The organization contains the rights of indigenous people declaration, which was approved by the General assembly in 2007. This declaration provides the rights of individuals and the collective rights that they have in relation to culture, education, employment; health and also in addressing issues that have arisen out of the post colonialism. This is aimed at the maintenance and bringing growth to indigenous institutions, traditions and cultures. The declarations also prevent discrimination of indigenous people (Bayefsky 2001). The United Nations is also involved in promotion of education. There are four agencies in the United Nations i.e. United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural organization, world bank, United Nation Children Fund, and the United Nation Developmental Program that are engaged in the development of education. The agencies are involved not only in assessment of the content of the education programs and policies, but they are also interested in the assumptions and the processes that are engaged in the development of the policies and programs. The United Nation Children Fund has played a great role in development of education from the grassroots in many countries education programs (Jones & Coleman 2005, p. 170). The organization also collaborates with other organizations, for example, Red Cross in the provision of humanitarian services. In many countries the organization has participated in offering of foods, drinks shelter to people who are suffering. The organization has major humanitarian branches e.g. the world food programme and the United Nation High Commission for Refugees, which spearhead the humanitarian services allover the world. However, the humanitarian services of the organization are not without controversy. There have been cases of corruption. For instance, in Iraq where there was abuse and corruption in the oil for food programme, which made be suspended in 2003. There is a limitation to the function of the organization, as it is not supposed to intervene in matters that are fall in the domestic jurisdiction of a member state. This affects the organization in carrying some of its missions. For instance, abuse of human rights in many countries. The interference of domestic issues is termed as dictatorial by the UN charter (Kelsen 2000). The organization is also involved in supporting the development. It has done this, by the formulation of the millennium development goals. The organization has eight goals that its members have entered an agreement to try to achieve by the year 2015 (Andrade 2003). It has agencies, such as World Health Organization, United Nation Development Programme, global funds to fight aids that have been in the forefront in the fight against diseases in the whole world. There is the United Nation Development Funds that plays a great role immortality rate reduction. It also supports human developments through various agencies, for example, the World Bank and the International monetary funds. As can be seen from the essay, the United Nations has played a great role in handling many issues that have arisen in the world, since its establishment. However, there are limitations that the organization has faced. There have been proposals that have been brought forward regarding the future of the organization. There have been proposals for the organization to play more roles in its affairs than it does. There have also been proposals for the organization to concentrate only in humanitarian services. Despite the calls for change the organizations remain relevant and any reforms that may be done should aim at increasing its service provision. . References Andrade, A.H. 2003, The origins of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, Boston University, USA. Bayefsky, A. 2001, The UN human rights treaty system: universality at the crossroads, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, New Pauly. Browne, M.A, Serafino, M.N & Grimmet F.R, 2003, United Nations peacekeeping, Nova Publishers, Geneva. Europa Publications 2004, Africa south of the Sahara, Regional surveys of the world Volume 33, Routledge. Jones, P.W, Coleman, D 2005, The United Nations and education: multilateralism, development and globalization, Routledge, New York, pg 170.  Kelsen, H 2000, The law of the United Nations: a critical analysis of its fundamental problems: with supplement, The Law book Exchange, Ltd., Clark, New Jersey, USA. Mertus J. 2005, The United Nations and human rights: a guide for a new era, Routledge, New York, USA. Osmańczyk, J.E & Mango, A 2003, Encyclopedia of the United Nations and international agreements: t to z, University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem pg 2565. Read More