Chapter # 7 – Pakistan in the World Community
7.1 International Organizations
7.1.1 Discuss the Brief History of UNO and its Organizational Structure.
The United Nations (UN) was established on October 24, 1945, after the end of World War II, with the primary objective of maintaining international peace and security, promoting cooperation among nations, and fostering economic and social development. The idea of creating a global organization to prevent future conflicts and promote collective security was first articulated in the Atlantic Charter of 1941 and later formalized in the United Nations Charter, which was signed by 51 countries at the San Francisco Conference in 1945.
The organizational structure of the United Nations consists of several principal organs, specialized agencies, programs, and funds. The main organs of the UN include:
- General Assembly: The General Assembly is the principal deliberative and policymaking organ of the UN, where all member states have equal representation. It meets annually in regular sessions to discuss and address a wide range of global issues, including peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development.
- Security Council: The Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It has 15 members, including five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
- Secretariat: The Secretariat is the administrative arm of the UN, headed by the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. The Secretariat carries out the day-to-day work of the UN, including implementing decisions, providing support to UN bodies, and coordinating activities across different sectors.
- International Court of Justice (ICJ): The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the UN, responsible for settling legal disputes between states and providing advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by UN bodies and specialized agencies. It is composed of 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council.
- Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): ECOSOC is responsible for promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. It coordinates the work of UN specialized agencies, programs, and funds, as well as various subsidiary bodies focusing on specific issues such as human rights, sustainable development, and gender equality.
In addition to these principal organs, the UN system includes specialized agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as programs and funds, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Together, these entities work to address a wide range of global challenges and promote the collective well-being of humanity.