The United Nations is the first organization that comes to mind when it comes to establishing peace and world development in the current world system. Since its inception, the organization has played an unforgettable role in establishing peace in the world. It is said that this organization has now emerged as the bearer and carrier of world peace. Despite its limitations and debates, the United Nations continues to promote development and peace in many nations.
History of the United Nations
In 1919, the first League of Nations was formed by uniting the nations of the world. The ‘League of Nations’ failed to win the confidence of the world due to its failure to maintain world peace. Later, when World War II broke out in 1939, the League of Nations was dissolved. Seeing the horrors and unprecedented losses of World War II, world leaders felt the need to form a new world organization. As a result, the first London Declaration on the formation of the United Nations was signed in 1941. In 1943, a conference was held in Tehran, the capital of Iran, for the formation of the United Nations. Finally, on June 2, 1945, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the United Nations Charter. Its founding members were 51 countries. The United Nations was born on 24 October 1945 with the enactment of the UN Charter. The United Nations currently has 193 members and the latest member is South Sudan. There are 6 official languages of the United Nations. Namely English, French, Chinese, Russian Spanish and Arabic.
Administrative system
The United Nations carries out its functions through 6 organizations to maintain world peace and maintain world stability.
*These are-
a) General Assembly
b) Security Council
c) Economic and Social Council
d) Board of Trustees
e) International Court of Justice
f) Secretariat.
A) General Assembly: The General Assembly is the main meeting of the United Nations. The General Assembly is chaired by a President and 21 Vice-Presidents. The President of the General Assembly is elected for one year. The regular annual session of the council begins on the third Tuesday in September. Humayun Rashid Chowdhury presided over the 41st session of the UN General Assembly on behalf of Bangladesh.
B) Security Council: The most effective organization of the United Nations is the Security Council. It plays a key role in maintaining world peace. It has 15 members. Of these, 5 member states are permanent members and have veto power. These are the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China. The remaining ten member countries are elected proportionally from different parts of the world for 2 years.
C) Economic and Social Council: The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations is known as the United Nations Family. Members of 54 states. The members of this council are elected for 3 years. It has taken many important steps for the economic and social progress of the world.
D) International Court of Justice: The International Court of Justice is established for the purpose of resolving existing disputes between the member countries of the United Nations. It is located in The Hague, the capital of the Netherlands. The International Court of Justice is made up of 15 judges elected for 9 years. Its president was elected for 3 years.
E) Board of Trustees: The function of the Board of Trustees is to assist the colonized states in achieving independence and to play their role as guardians. The council's work was suspended in 1994 after it last acted as trustee in Palau.
F) Secretariat: The Secretariat performs activities related to the administration of the United Nations. Its head is called the Secretary General. He was elected for 5 years. The Secretary-General is elected by a two-thirds majority vote of the Security Council. The first UN Secretary-General was Trigve Lai, a Norwegian citizen, and the current Secretary-General is Ban Ki-moon, a South Korean. He is the 7th Secretary General of the United Nations. He also served as the first Secretary General of Myanmar's Uthant Asia.
The role of the United Nations in the establishment of peace
The main purpose of the formation of the United Nations is to maintain world peace and to work as a means for the countries of the world to achieve the desired progress. The purpose for which the United Nations was established is-
* To maintain world peace.
* Establishing and maintaining friendly relations between nations.
* Improving the living standards of the poor.
* To play the role of a forum for achieving the goals of nations. The Security Council is responsible for international peace and security in accordance with Article 24 of the United Nations Charter. The United Nations adheres to a number of principles in conducting peacekeeping operations. E.g.
* It will take action in the interest of peace and security in case of tension and conflict anywhere in the world.
* The peacekeeping activities of the United Nations must have the consent of the parties concerned.
* The United Nations shall maintain as much neutrality as possible between the parties to the dispute.
