Part I: Introduction of the United Nations

Why it was created:

The United Nations (UN) was established on October 24, 1945, in the aftermath of World War II. Its
primary objective is to maintain international peace and security, foster cooperation among nations,
and promote social progress and better living standards. The horrors of two World Wars highlighted
the need for an organization that could prevent conflicts, facilitate dialogue, and address global
challenges.
Membership:
United Nations has 193 member states. Membership is open to all sovereign states that are willing to
accept the obligations outlined in the UN Charter.
League of Nations: Predecessor and Failure
League of Nations was established on January 10, 1920, following the conclusion of World War I,
under the Treaty of Versailles. The primary aim was to prevent future conflicts through collective
security and diplomatic cooperation among nations. It was established after World War I but failed to
prevent the outbreak of World War II due to various reasons:
Absence of Major Powers:
The United States, despite being a key architect of the League, did not join due to concerns about
compromising its sovereignty and the U.S. Senate's reluctance to ratify the Treaty of Versailles. The
absence of other major powers, such as the Soviet Union for a significant period, weakened the
League's ability to enforce its decisions on a global scale.
Limited Effectiveness in Conflict Resolution
The League struggled to address and resolve major conflicts, including the Manchurian and
Abyssinian crises. Its inability to prevent these conflicts eroded confidence in its effectiveness.
National Interests Prevailing
Member states frequently prioritized their own national interests over collective security. The
League's inability to compel powerful nations to act against their interests contributed to its
ineffectiveness.
Objectives and Charter Articles:
The objectives of the United Nations, as outlined in its Charter, include maintaining international
peace and security, promoting friendly relations among nations, achieving international cooperation
in solving global problems, and encouraging respect for human rights. Key articles in the UN Charter
that highlight these objectives include Articles 1 and 2.

Part II: Main Organs of the United Nations

• The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Is one of the six main organs of the United Nations, established to promote international
economic and social cooperation and development. ECOSOC plays a crucial role in addressing
a wide range of global challenges and advancing the UN's development agenda. Here are the
key areas in which ECOSOC works (Coordination of UN Agencies, Economic Development,
Social Development, Humanitarian Affairs, Environmental Sustainability, Trade and
Development, Global Health, Human Rights, Capacity Building). 54 members of ECOSOC
rotate after every 03 years.
• The Trusteeship Council
Is one of the principal organs of the United Nations, established to oversee the administration
of trust territories and ensure that the interests of their inhabitants were promoted until they
were deemed ready for self-government. The Trusteeship Council played a significant role in
 facilitating the decolonization process by overseeing the transition of trust territories to self-
government or independence. The council aimed to prepare these territories for responsible
self-government and eventual independence.
The Trusteeship System was outlined in Chapter XIII of the UN Charter. While the Trusteeship
Council played a crucial role during the mid-20th century, it has since become inactive as all
trust territories achieved self-determination.
• Secretariat
Led by the Secretary-General, appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of
the Security Council (Tenure 05 years). The Secretariat carries out the day-to-day work of the
UN, including implementing decisions, coordinating activities, and managing peacekeeping
operation.
• The International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It is
commonly referred to as the World Court. The ICJ was established to settle legal disputes
between states and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by the UN
General Assembly, the UN Security Council, or other UN organs and specialized agencies. Here
are the detailed functions of the International Court of Justice.
The primary function of the ICJ is to settle legal disputes between states. States may bring
cases to the ICJ voluntarily by accepting its jurisdiction or by including a clause in their treaties
or conventions stipulating that dispute will be referred to the Court.
• The General Assembly
It is the largest organ of the UN. Comprising of 193 states (All UN members represented
here). Every member has 01 vote on the “Resolutions/decisions” of the GA. The General
Assembly serves as a forum for member states to discuss and coordinate on international
issues, make recommendations, addressing global concerns and promoting cooperation.
Types of Resolutions/decisions by the General Assembly:
i. Disarmament Issues (Addresses global disarmament and arms control measures) +
nuclear weapons: Discusses the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation and
disarmament.
ii. Economic development, international trade, sustainable development (SDG 2030).
iii. Human rights, social issues (gender equality)
iv. Special political issues that require attention.
v. Budget and administration of the UN itself.
vi. Issues related to the development and codification of international law.
• Security Council
The Security Council consists of 15 members, including five permanent members with veto
power (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and ten non-
permanent members elected for two-year terms. The non-permanent members are chosen
based on regional representation, ensuring equitable distribution.
The primary function of the Security Council, as outlined in the UN Charter, is to maintain
international peace and security:
• Peacekeeping Operations: Authorizing the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces to conflict
zones (Peacekeeping forces contributed by Member states [Army and Police Personnel])
• Sanctions: Imposing economic on states or entities to address threats to peace.
• Conflict Resolution: Mediating and resolving conflicts between states or within regions.
• Advisory Opinions: Issuing advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by the General
Assembly, as well as specialized UN agencies.
 Voting Procedure: The Security Council operates on the principle of collective decision-making.
Decisions require the affirmative votes of at least 09 of the 15 members. However, a unique aspect of
the Security Council is the veto power held by the five permanent members (VETO). The veto power
allows any of the five permanent members to block the adoption of a resolution, regardless of the
number of affirmative votes from other members. If any one of the P5 members votes against a
resolution, it is not adopted, even if it receives the required number of affirmative votes