Success of the United Nations
Although the United Nations was established for the purpose of establishing world peace, its success rate is not the same in all cases. It has succeeded somewhere and failed somewhere. Below are the successes of the United Nations in phases:
Dispute Resolution
The United Nations and the International Court of Justice resolve disputes anywhere in the world through conciliatory means or through trial and settlement.
Preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons are the biggest threat to the stability of the world today. The United Nations has shut down nuclear reactors in 90 countries to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Surveillance on these has also increased. As a result, the prevention of nuclear proliferation has been largely successful.
Ending racism
Racism is a threat to world peace and stability. The United Nations has taken a stand against racism as anti-humanitarian.
Development of Human Rights
The United Nations is always striving for the full implementation of human rights in the world. To this end, the United Nations has adopted the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The organization has already signed agreements with 60 countries to implement human rights.
Environmental Protection
The United Nations organized the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1995 to protect the environment. The World Summit in Johannesburg also emphasizes the environment for sustainable development. It has extended a hand of cooperation to countries that are adversely affected by climate and environment.
UN Failure
The success of the UN is not less than the failure. It has failed to play the desired role in maintaining world peace in many cases.
*Its failures are-
Middle East problem
The biggest failure of the United Nations is the inability to resolve the Middle East problem. Here the United Nations has played a silent role in the Israeli aggression, not in favor of the oppressed state of Palestine.
Eradication of Germ Weapons
The role of the United Nations in the elimination of the most dangerous and destructive germ weapons for human life is not as expected. Many countries around the world still have germ weapons.
Western hegemony
Although established to play an equal role for all in the world, the United Nations has failed to prove its neutrality and universality. It is seen as a tool of self-interest of the West.
Advice / Recommendations
The following steps can be taken to make the United Nations a more effective and self-reliant body capable of maintaining world peace:
- The balance of regional power must be maintained by expanding the Security Council. For example, there are no permanent member countries from Africa and South America. In these cases, a permanent representative has to be elected from that region.
- The veto power needs to be controlled. For this, the decision-making power should be given to the Secretary General to resolve the stalemate, especially in the field.
- The Secretary General must be empowered to take any important decision.
- The United Nations needs to be more stringent on donations in order to run its activities smoothly.
- According to the UN Charter, it cannot interfere in the internal affairs of any country. For this, the UN Charter needs to be reformed.
Bangladesh at the United Nations
Bangladesh has been trying hard to become a member of the United Nations since its birth. Therefore, when the proposal for the annexation of Bangladesh was raised in 1972, China vetoed and opposed it. Finally, on 16 September 1974, Bangladesh became a member of the 138th United Nations. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman set a unique precedent in the world by speaking in Bengali on behalf of Bangladesh at the United Nations. Humayun Rashid Chowdhury of Bangladesh was the first President of Bangladesh in the UN General Assembly. Mrs. Salma Khan served as a member of the Executive Council of CEDAW. Bangladesh ranks 2nd in UN peacekeeping operations The Bangladesh Army has earned a worldwide reputation for its honest courage and capable leadership. 70 peacekeepers of Bangladesh have been martyred while performing this great duty. The United Nations has played a very important role in the development of Bangladesh. The role of the United Nations in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of Bangladesh is immense. The United Nations is also helping Bangladesh in education, health and infrastructural development of the country.
The United Nations is an unforgettable name for world peace and world development. While it has many failures, it has maintained the stability of the world and saved the world from a few possible wars. If the causes of its failure can be explored and reformed, it can be expected to play a more effective role in the changing world order.
