UN CASE STUDY - GS + GG Flashcards
Why was the UN (1945) set up ?
To establish a peaceful and fair world.
According to the UN charter (every country has to sign when they join, sets out the basic principles and functions of the UN) what are the UN’s aims ?
- Maintain global peace and security
- Develop friendly relations between nations
- Use cooperation to solve international problems
- Bring countries together to settle disputes.
How many global members does the UN have ?
193
5 of UN’s organisations which govern different issues on a global scale?
- General assembly: Aim is to discuss and debate issues of peace and security
- Security council: Aim is to solve threats to peace by having each member vote (15 members).
- International court of justice: Aims to settle legal disputes and international law breaks that are submitted by member states. So maintain peace.
UNESCO (Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation): Aim is to maintain peace through these 3 factors and to stand up for the freedom expression.
- Peacekeeping: Aims to bring peace to places of disruption.
Purpose of the UN is to promote Growth and Stability: Through sanctions
- UN sanctions have allowed inequalities and injustices to be resolved.
e.g Iran were sanctioned to deter use of nuclear enrichment.
UN promoting Growth and Stability through Millennium and Sustainable development goals:
- Promotes economic, social and environmental growth through these international treaties and goals.
- Aim to improve quality of life, literacy rate and poverty etc
The 8 Millennium Development Goals:
1) Eradicate poverty and hunger
2) Achieve Universal Primary education
3) Promote gender equality
4) Reduce child mortality
5) Improve maternal health
6) Combat diseases
7) Environmental sustainability
8) Global partnership for development.
Exacerbating Inequalities and Injustices: UN peacekeeping forces.
- Have come under major criticism for crimes against vulnerable citizens
e.g have been accused of sexual assault, human trafficking and murder over multiple occasions
Example: UN’s Kosovo Mission allegedly had 100 murder crimes.
Exacerbating Inequalities and Injustices: Criticisms of being inactive and ineffective.
- In many cases where aid or intervention is desperately needed UN haven’t provided help e.g UN didn’t prevent the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide.
More recently, in 2013 Saudi Arabia was elected a member of the UN human rights council.It was later found out that the UK had an influence on this decision through secret trading deals which led to them being elected even though they have poor human rights.
Shows UN’s lack of power and having potentially dangerous consequences to those affected by the inequalities.
Exacerbating Inequalities and Injustices: Imbalances in power between countries.
- Developed countries hold the most power over decisions taken at the UN.
Many global issues tackled by the UN affect African countries the most.
For example the refugee crisis so they received loads more refugees (80% of world’s population of refugees) which put a huge strain on water and healthcare systems in host countries.
