Establishment of the UN Flashcards
What is the UN?
The United Nations was established as a common ground for all countries to gather and to discuss various issues and find shared solutions which benefit all of humanity. It consists of 193 countries, in which each member sends a representative to vote on prevalent matters. It promotes equality and fairness throughout the world.
Why was the UN formed?
The UN was formed in a response to the events of World War II, dedicated to maintaining world peace and security. It was a concept thought before WWII actually ended, in 1941, and it became an official organisation after the effects of WWII, on 24th October, 1945.
How was the UN formed?
The idea behind a world organisation which promoted world peace and security was originally thought of on board the “Prince of Wales,” and was then rediscussed and a charter was made and signed by numerous countries. The San Francisco conference, which consisted of around 50 countries, was the first unofficial meeting which drew a basic foundation as to what the UN would look like, and what purpose it would serve long term.
How does the UN work?
The 193 members meet up in the general assembly usually once a year, unless there is a major crisis that needs to be addressed. Each country gets 1 vote on a matter, no matter the circumstances of the country. None of the decisions taken by the assembly are binding. However the Assembly’s decisions become the resolutions that carry the weight of the world governmental opinion. The more important decisions are made in the Security Council, where the 5 permanent members, {USA, USSR, PRC, UK, and France} and the 6 temporary members {now 10} who serve for 2 years meetup and discuss more dire issues.
What is the UN’s purpose?
The conferences held in the UN focus world attention on issues and place them fairly on the global agenda. As the conference comes to an agreement, it is up to the countries to reinforce these decisions on their countries. With the moral weight, countries are more likely to push these agreements and place them in effect.
What has Australia achieved in her time as a non permanent member of the UN security council?
They addressed the humanitarian crisis in Syria at the time, providing international cooperation to address worldwide terrorism and improved the implementation of sanctions globally. It successfully led the council to strengthen the transition of security in Afghanistan and brought light to the terrible human rights situation in South Korea. They also overlooked the discussions of firearms and light weapons, which was not yet talked about until then.
