Chapter 8 - Governments: Participation in the International Community

The United Nations• Founded in 1945 by the victors of WWII• As a treaty signed by all members, the UN

Charter is a legally binding document

Basic Aims of the UN

• Keeping world peace• Developing friendly relations among nations• Working to eliminate poverty, disease, and

illiteracy• Encouraging respect for human rights and

freedoms• Stopping environmental destruction

Principal Organs of the UN

1. The General Assembly

• The UN’s central body, comprising all 192 member states

• Each member state has 1 vote

• Decisions aren’t legally binding

2. The Security Council• Most powerful body of

the UN, has 15 members charged with maintaining international peace and security

• 5 permanent veto-wielding members

• 10 elected non-permanent members

3. The Secretariat• The UN bureaucracy• Comprised of 8,900

civil servants from 170 countries

• Headed by secretary general who is appointed by the Assembly for a 5 year renewable term

4. The Economic and Social Council

• Coordinates the economic and social work of the UN – poverty, development, human rights, social issues

• Collaborates among nations through education, science, culture, and communication (UNICEF; UNESCO)

• Collaborates with NGOs on many issues

5. The International Court of Justice

• Also known as the World Court• Established to provide a judicial alternative to

diplomacy and war in settling disputes• States that consent to its jurisdiction are bound by

its judgements, which are final• Hears cases on territory and sovereignty disputes,

also gives opinions on human rights, UN membership

• Also gives advisory legal opinions on questions referred to it by international bodies

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Proclaimed December 2, 1948

• Quickly became the international standard of the inalienable rights of all people

• Is not legally binding, but it sets aspirational standards for all nations and applies moral and diplomatic pressure

• Key individual rights are:– right to life, liberty and security of the person– Right to education– Right to participate in cultural life

• Key individual freedoms are– Freedom of thought, conscience and religion– Freedom from torture or cruel, inhumane

treatment or punishment