United Nations, focused on international law - Essay Example

United Nations At the end of World War II, fifty-one countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security established the United Nations on 24th October 1945. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN and its membership totals 191 countries. Each member country has to obligate to all the requirements of the UN charter. This charter is an international treaty designed to protect future generations from the scourge and curse of war and written to affirm fundamental human rights. The purposes of the United Nations, as set forth in the Charter, are to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these ends. The United Nations comprises of six main bodies. Five of them - the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council and the Secretariat - are based at UN Headquarters in New York. The sixth, the International Court of Justice, is located at The Hague in the Netherlands. The General Assembly makes decisions on the key issues and world's most pressing problems, and is represented by each member nation with the account of one vote each. The Security Council carries out decisions pertaining to international peace and security. Out of the fifteen members in the Security Council, five members are permanent while the remaining ten are rotating members. This council can call together any and every time when the world peace is terrorized, and its decision is binding on all the member nations. The Economic and Social Council is responsible for coordinating economic and social work of the UN and for fostering international cooperation for development. The International Court of Justice is the main judicial body of the UN. The Secretariat carries out the substantive and administrative work, taking directions from the General Assembly, Security Council and other organs. Other specialised agencies like World Health Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and few other bodies are connected to the UN through certain cooperative and intergovernmental agreements. There are certain other UN offices and programmes that work to improvise the living conditions of the world and the people on the whole. Two such important offices to mention are United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). The UNESCO was founded in November 1945 with the aim to build peace in the world through knowledge, social progress, exchange and mutual understanding among peoples. The UNICEF was created in December 1946 by the United Nations to provide food, clothing and health care to European children facing famine and disease in the aftermath of the Second World War. Their mandate is to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. The UN provides the means to help resolve international conflicts and formulate policies on matters affecting all of us. In this process, all the Member States have a right to be heard and to cast a vote, irrespective of their size, wealth and economic positions, political views and social systems. UN and International Law As per its prime objective of maintaining peace and security throughout the world, and managing and resolving any conflicts arising out of international disputes, United Nations has undertaken the progressive codification and development of international law by forming a comprehensive body of international law. The over 500 conventions, treaties and standards resulting from this work have provided a framework for promoting international peace and security and economic and social development. They legally bind states that ratify these conventions. International Law Commission The International Law Commission prepares drafts on topics of international law that can then be incorporated into conventions and opened for ratification by States. Some of these conventions form the basis for law governing relations among States, such as the convention on diplomatic relations or the convention regulating the use of international watercourses. Laws of Sea The Convention on the Law of the Sea seeks to ensure equitable access by all countries to the riches of the oceans, protect them from pollution and facilitate freedom of navigation and research. This law saves the states from any chances of disputes over their ocean territories and provides for the 'innocent passage'. Technical Support The United Nations offers technical assistance to the Member States in association with an array of legal issues. The Member States, from time to time, face the need for such assistance when becoming party to a treaty, when ensuring implementation and compliance of UN model laws or/and while adding to their knowledge and acquaintance with international law. The UN provides assistance in the form of advice, expertise, research, analysis or training in connection with such aforementioned legal affairs. Settlement of Disputes In order to foster peaceful and serenity, United Nations provides a judicial forum to settle the disputes that may arise amongst nations due to any cause. The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the UnitedNations. The Court plays a twofold function by settling legal disputes submitted to it by States, in accordance with international law, and bycounseling and giving advisory opinions on legal issues referred to it by duly authorized international organs and agencies. Other Legal Areas The UN has also pioneered the development of international environmental law. Agreements such as the convention to combat desertification, the convention on the ozone layer, and the convention on the trans-border movement of hazardous wastes are administered by the UN Environment Programme. The UN Commission on International Trade Law develops rules and guidelines designed to harmonize and facilitate laws regulating international trade. In order to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies, the UN has set up the world's 'Atoms for Peace' organization. This is named as International atomic Energy Agency, and it is the world's centre of cooperation in the nuclear field and works with the Member States and multiple partners worldwide to meet its objectives. Besides these, UN's efforts and steps for the protection and promotion of human rights, intellectual property, health, refugees and telecommunications is commendable. References Other Legal Areas http://www.un.org/law/legalareas.html (Accessed February 28, 2006) Oceans and Law of the Sea http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm (Accessed February 28, 2006) UNCLOS and Agreement on Part XI - Preamble and frame index http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm (Accessed February 28, 2006) Overview - Convention & Related Agreements http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_overview_convention.htm (Accessed February 28, 2006) Read More