IGO Flashcards
What is the UN?
A multilateral body and intergovernmental organisation. It promotes the ideals of internationalism and global cooperation. It has 193 member states.
What are the aims of the United Nations?
To keep peace, the develop dipolmatic relations among nations, to foster international co-operation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and to promote human rights and freedom for all people.
What are the 5 branches of the UN?
The general assemble, the UN Security council, the Economic and Social council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat.
What are the 17 sustainable development goals?
Introduced in 2015, the assembly adopted 17 goals that they aim to achieve by 2010.
Name and explain one of the 17 development goals.
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Unsustainable practices have led to loss of biodiversity; climate change, loss of natural life and pollution. Electronic waste, food waste and our increased reliance on natural resources are inhibiting our ability to make positive changes around the world.
Targets: 12.2 By 2030, countries aim to achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. 12.3 By 2030, halve the amount of food waste per capita and material footprint by GDP. 12.a Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production. So far little to no progress has been achieved.
What is the IMF?
The IMF works in conjunction with it’s sister organisation the world bank to promote the world economy, but the IMF is heavily critisesed for mostly catering to western ideals.
What are the 3 jobs of the IMF?
The IMF provides surveillance to countries and monitor and report on the global economy, financial assistance and provides funding to help development in countries that need it.
Where does the IMF draw its power?
From the conditions it applies to loans. If the IMF loans funds to a country, it has certain reform conditions that must be met, and funds can be withdrawn if the IMF feels its funding is not being used appropriately.
What roles does the US play in influencing the actions and decision made by the IMF?
The USA has veto power on any reforms to the IMF and has over 17% of votes because it is the largest contributer. The IMF has tries to expand its influences to allow other countries to have a larger say, but the US has put up resistance.
What is the ICC?
The ICC was established in 1998 under the Rome Statue. It aims to ensure the worst perpetrators are held responsible for their crimes. It also assits external judiciaries and it promotes international human rights, peace and security.
Does the ICC have international jurisdiction?
No. It can only order arrests in its few member states and relies entirely on their legal and law enforcing aid. Big countries like the US, Cuba, China and Russia do not accept the ICCs jurisdiction.
What challanges the ICC’s power?
The ICC relies on its member states for support. State jurisdiction is always seen as higher prioroty than that of the ICC. The ICC has no police force, consequently it relies on states to place suspects under arrest. The ICC has also been accused of an anti-Africe bias, and until recently had only made arrests in African countries.
Provide an example of a case study, detailing who the ICC attempted to arrest and for what crimes, the procedure and the result.
Omar Al-Bashir is wanted by the ICC for numerous crimes. His charges are as follows: crimes against humanity including murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape; war crimes including intentionally directing attacks on civilians and pillaging of UN peace keeping enforced area, and genocide by killing or causing serious bodily and mental harm.
The first warrant for Omar Al-Bashir was issued in March 2009 and again in July 2010, however the suspect is still at large.
Initially, Omar Al-Bashir was able to avoid arrest as the ICC has no jurisdiction in Sudan, therefore the warrants were of no significance. He was also able to travel without being arrested in places across Africa including South Africa, despite recognising the ICC’s jurisdiction, refused to arrest Omar Al-Bashir.
However, in April 2019, a coup d’état led by the armed forces and civilian protests overthrew Omar Al-Bashir and his government and he was tried for corruption. The Sudanese civilian and military government however, still does not recognise the jurisdiction of the ICC and refuses to hand over Omar Al-Bashir to the ICC.
