UNITED NATIONS, A BRIEF OVERVIEW

UNITED NATIONS

The Name UN: 

• Coined by the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt
• 1st used on 1 January, 1942 during 2nd world war in UN Declaration.

Officially Established: 

• In October 1945, when 50 countries got their representatives together at San Francisco and the UN Charter was formulated.
• These 50 states are often referred to as the "Original Members" or the "Founding Members" of the UN.

Total Member States: 193

Non-Member States:

• The UN Charter dictates as to who can be a member of the UN and who cannot.
• A total of 54 States are not full members of and are partially recognized by the UN.
• Some states worth mentioning here are as follows.

• Palestine and Kosovo are non members due to lack of International support. Palestine however was given the observer status by the UN in 2012.
• Taiwan, initially a part of the UN left in 1971 when the Republic of China became a member.
• Vatican City is a small state with a small population and holds permanent observer status at the UN and is not a member by its own choice.

Official Languages of the UN

The SIX languages that are officially the part of UN include the following.

1. English
2. French
3. Russian
4. Arabic
5. Chinese
6. Spanish

UN Logo

• Designed by a team lead by Oliver Lincoln Lundquist in 1945.
• The Emblem comprises of a World Map with a wreath surrounding it.
• It received approval on 7th December, 1946.

Nobel Peace Price

• Received Nobel Peace Prize 11 times since its inception.

Main Heads/Organs: 

• General Assembly

• Develops policies and all 193 nations are represented in it. It thus is the only organ occupying the status of Universal representation within the United Nations.           
• The annual General Assembly session is held in New York every year in September.

• Security Council

• Responsible for maintaining peace and security in the international realm.
• 15 members, out of which 5 hold permanent membership status while 10 are such members whose membership is temporary.
• Has a President that is changed every month.

• Economic and Social Council

• involved in reviewing policies, collaboration between the states, conducting discussions and talks on different issues and implementation of goals related to development.
• 54 members that are appointed for 3 year terms by the General Assembly.

• Trusteeship Council

• Created in 1945 for the sole purpose of supervising 11 Trust Territories.
• Aim was to make the Trust Territories independent and self reliant.
• The purpose was achieved by 1994 and the members agreed to meet only if deemed necessary.

• International Court of Justice (ICJ)

• The only body within the United Nations that is principally takes up the Judicial role.
• Located at the Peace Palace in Hague, Netherlands.
• Gives advice and verdict on international disputes and matters filed in or referred to it.

• Secretariat

• Responsible for carrying out the everyday tasks of the United Nations.
• Consists of a huge staff of over tens of thousands of people from all over the world and the Secretary General.
• The Secretary General if appointed by the UN General Assembly for five years. His term can be renewed.