This blog is for students of English at the SIOI in Rome. However, the opinions expressed here are my own and should not be taken to represent those of the SIOI or anyone else.
domenica 28 aprile 2019
giovedì 18 aprile 2019
Another possible title
Are the divergences between US and European foreign policy growing? If so, does this put the relationship under significant pressure?
martedì 16 aprile 2019
A possible title
Given what has just happened at Notre Dame, what is the role of cultural heritage as an element in identity?
L'ONU in Breve for translation practice
In Italian
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreveindice.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve1.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve2.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve3.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve4.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve5.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve6.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve7.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve8.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve9.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve10.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve11.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve11.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve13.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve14.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve15.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve16.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve17.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve18.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve19.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve17.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve20.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve21.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve22.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve23.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve24.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve25.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve26.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve1.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve2.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve3.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve4.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve5.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve6.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve7.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve8.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve9.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve10.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve11.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve11.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve13.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve14.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve15.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve16.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve17.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve18.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve19.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve17.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve20.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve21.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve22.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve23.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve24.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve25.html
https://www.unric.org/html/italian/onuinbreve/onubreve26.html
In English
UN
IN BRIEF
Not
so well known . . .
Most
of us have heard about United Nations peacekeeping and humanitarian
assistance. But the many other ways the UN affects all our lives are
not always so well known. This booklet takes a look at the United
Nations — how it is set up and what it does — to illustrate how
it works to make the world a better place for all people.
The
United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems that
challenge humanity. Cooperating in this effort are more than 30
affiliated organizations, known together as the UN system. Day in and
day out, the UN and its family of organizations work to promote
respect for human rights, protect the environment, fight disease and
reduce poverty. UN agencies define the standards for safe and
efficient air travel and help improve telecommunications and enhance
consumer protection. The United Nations leads the international
campaigns against drug trafficking and terrorism. Throughout the
world, the UN and its agencies assist refugees, set up programmes to
clear landmines, help expand food production and lead the fight
against AIDS.
In
September 2005, the members of the UN will meet in New York both to
celebrate the 60th anniversary of the world body, and to take
decisions aimed at implementing the collective vision expressed in
the Millennium
Declaration of
September 2000. At that time, Member States, represented at the
highest level — including 147 Heads of State and Government — set
out measurable goals in every area of UN endeavour. Now, the
international community meets again at a second high-level summit to
ensure that those goals are attained. To that end, the
Secretary-General has presented a set of recommendations for change,
aimed at achieving the possible. “In Larger Freedom” calls
for specific action in the areas of development, security and human
rights — and in recrafting international institutions, including
the UN, to more effectively pursue those priorities. (The
entire report is available online at www.un.org/largerfreedom).
1.
HOW
THE UN WORKS
The
United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries
committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and
collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs
to the UN: membership totals 191 countries.
When
States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the
obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out
basic principles of international relations. According to the
Charter, the UN has four purposes: to maintain international peace
and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to
cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect
for human rights; and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of
nations.
The
United Nations is not a world government and it does not make laws.
It does, however, provide the means to help resolve international
conflicts and formulate policies on matters affecting all of us. At
the UN, all the Member States — large and small, rich and poor,
with differing political views and social systems — have a voice
and a vote in this process.
The
United Nations has six main organs. Five of them — the General
Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the
Trusteeship Council and the Secretariat — are based at UN
Headquarters in New York. The sixth, the International Court of
Justice, is located at The Hague in the Netherlands.
The
General Assembly
All
UN Member States are represented in the General Assembly — a
"parliament of nations" which meets regularly and in
special sessions to consider the world's most pressing problems. Each
Member State has one vote. Decisions on such key issues as
international peace and security, admitting new members and the UN
budget are decided by two-thirds majority. Other matters are decided
by simple majority. In recent years, a special effort has been made
to reach decisions through consensus, rather than by taking a formal
vote. The Assembly cannot force action by any State, but its
recommendations are an important indication of world opinion and
represent the moral authority of the community of nations.
During
the main part of its 2004 session, the Assembly took up more than 150
different topics, including United Nations reform, restoring respect
for the rule of law, the needs of small island developing States,
climate change and related humanitarian dangers, and participation by
all States in the global trading system. It addressed the situation
in many different countries and regions, including Iraq and the
Darfur region of the Sudan.
The
centrepiece of the Assembly’s 60th anniversary session, in 2005, is
a five-year review by world leaders of its 2000 Millennium
Declaration, including action on a comprehensive set of
recommendations submitted by the Secretary-General to reduce poverty,
address security threats, stem human rights abuses, and approve major
changes to strengthen the functioning of the United Nations.
The
Assembly holds its annual regular session from September to December.
When necessary, it may resume its session or hold a special or
emergency session on subjects of particular concern. Its work is also
carried out by its six Main Committees, other subsidiary bodies and
the UN Secretariat.
The
Security Council
The
UN Charter gives the Security Council primary responsibility for
maintaining international peace and security. The Council may convene
at any time, whenever peace is threatened. Under the Charter, all
Member States are obligated to carry out the Council's decisions.
There
are 15 Council members. Five of these — China, France, the Russian
Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States — are
permanent members. The other 10 are elected by the General Assembly
for two-year terms. Member States continue to discuss changes in
Council membership and working methods to reflect today's political
and economic realities.
Decisions
of the Council require nine yes votes. Except in votes on procedural
questions, a decision cannot be taken if there is a no vote, or veto,
by a permanent member.
When
the Council considers a threat to international peace, it first
explores ways to settle the dispute peacefully. It may suggest
principles for a settlement or undertake mediation. In the event of
fighting, the Council tries to secure a ceasefire. It may send a
peacekeeping mission to help the parties maintain the truce and to
keep opposing forces apart.
The
Council can take measures to enforce its decisions. It can impose
economic sanctions or order an arms embargo. On rare occasions, the
Council has authorized Member States to use "all necessary
means," including collective military action, to see that its
decisions are carried out.
The
Council also makes recommendations to the General Assembly on the
appointment of a new Secretary-General and on the admission of new
Members to the UN.
The
Economic and Social Council
The
Economic and Social Council, under the overall authority of the
General Assembly, coordinates the economic and social work of the
United Nations and the UN family of organizations. As the central
forum for discussing international economic and social issues and for
formulating policy recommendations, the Council plays a key role in
fostering international cooperation for development. It also consults
with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), thereby maintaining a
vital link between the United Nations and civil society.
The
Council has 54 members, elected by the General Assembly for
three-year terms. It meets throughout the year and holds a major
session in July, during which a high-level meeting of Ministers
discusses major economic, social and humanitarian issues.
The
Council's subsidiary bodies meet regularly and report back to it. The
Commission on Human Rights, for example, monitors the observance of
human rights throughout the world. Other bodies focus on such issues
as social development, the status of women, crime prevention,
narcotic drugs and sustainable development. Five regional commissions
promote economic development and cooperation in their respective
regions.
The
Trusteeship Council
The
Trusteeship Council was established to provide international
supervision for 11 Trust Territories administered by seven Member
States and ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the
Territories for self-government or independence. By 1994, all Trust
Territories had attained self-government or independence, either as
separate States or by joining neighbouring independent countries. The
last to do so was the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands —
Palau — which was administered by the United States and became the
185th UN Member State.
Its
work completed, the Trusteeship Council now consists of the five
permanent members of the Security Council. It has amended its rules
of procedure to allow it to meet as and when the occasion may
require.
The
International Court of Justice
The
International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, is the
main judicial organ of the UN. Its 15 judges are elected by the
General Assembly and the Security Council, voting independently and
concurrently. The Court decides disputes between countries, based on
the voluntary participation of the States concerned. If a State
agrees to participate in a proceeding, it is obligated to comply with
the Court's decision. The Court also gives advisory opinions to the
United Nations and its specizlied agencies.
The
Secretariat
The
Secretariat carries out the substantive and administrative work of
the United Nations as directed by the General Assembly, the Security
Council and the other organs. At its head is the Secretary-General,
who provides overall administrative guidance.
The
Secretariat consists of departments and offices with a total staff of
about 7,500 under the regular budget, drawn from some 170
countries.Duty stations include UN Headquarters in New York, as well
as UN offices in Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi and other locations.
The
UN system
The
International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and 13 other independent
organizations known as "specialized agencies" are linked to
the UN through cooperative agreements. These agencies, among them the
World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation
Organization, are autonomous bodies created by intergovernmental
agreement. They have wide-ranging international responsibilities in
the economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related
fields. Some of them, like the International Labour Organization and
the Universal Postal Union, are older than the UN itself.
In
addition, a number of UN offices, programmes and funds — such as
the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN
Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) —
work to improve the economic and social condition of people around
the world. They report to the General Assembly or the Economic and
Social Council.
All
these organizations have their own governing bodies, budgets and
secretariats. Together with the United Nations, they are known as the
UN family, or the UN system. Together, they provide technical
assistance and other forms of practical help in virtually all
economic and social areas.
2.
WHAT THE UN DOES FOR PEACE
Preserving
world peace is a central purpose of the United Nations. Under the
Charter, Member States agree to settle disputes by peaceful means and
refrain from threatening or using force against other States.
Over
the years, the UN has played a major role in helping defuse
international crises and in resolving protracted conflicts. It has
undertaken complex operations involving peacemaking, peacekeeping and
humanitarian assistance. It has worked to prevent conflicts from
breaking out. And after a conflict, it has increasingly undertaken
action to address the root causes of war and lay the foundation for
durable peace.
UN
efforts have produced dramatic results. The UN helped defuse the
Cuban missile crisis in 1962 and the Middle East crisis in 1973. In
1988, a UN-sponsored peace settlement ended the Iran-Iraq war, and
the following year UN-sponsored negotiations led to the withdrawal of
Soviet troops from Afghanistan. In the 1990s, the UN was instrumental
in restoring sovereignty to Kuwait and played a major role in ending
civil wars in Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mozambique, and
resolving or containing conflict in various other countries.
When,
in September 1999, a campaign of violence forced some 200,000 East
Timorese to flee their homes following a vote on self-determination,
the UN authorized the dispatch of an international security force,
which helped restore order. Subsequently, a UN Transitional
Administration oversaw the territory’s transition to independence
on 20 May 2002 as Timor-Leste. And when terrorists attacked the
United States on 11 September 2001, the Security Council acted
quickly – adopting a wide-ranging resolution which obligates States
to ensure that any person who participates in financing, planning,
preparing, perpetrating or supporting terrorist acts is brought to
justice.
Disarmament
Halting
the spread of arms and reducing and eventually eliminating all
weapons of mass destruction are major goals of the United Nations.
The UN has been an ongoing forum for disarmament negotiations, making
recommendations and initiating studies. It supports multilateral
negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament and in other
international bodies. These negotiations have produced such
agreements as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968), the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (1996) and treaties
establishing nuclear-free zones.
Other
treaties prohibit the development, production and stockpiling of
chemical weapons (1992) and bacteriological weapons (1972); ban
nuclear weapons from the seabed and ocean floor (1971) and outer
space (1967); and ban or restrict other types of weapons. By February
2005, 144 countries had become parties to the 1997 Ottawa Convention
outlawing landmines. The UN encourages all nations to adhere to this
and other treaties banning destructive weapons of war. The UN is also
supporting efforts to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade
in small arms and light weapons — the weapons of choice in the vast
majority of conflicts worldwide. The UN Register of Conventional Arms
and the system for standardized reporting of military expenditures
help promote greater transparency in military matters.
The
Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, through a system of
safeguards agreements, ensures that nuclear materials and equipment
intended for peaceful uses are not diverted for military purposes.
And in The Hague, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons collects information on chemical facilities worldwide and
conducts routine inspections to ensure adherence to the chemical
weapons convention.
Peacemaking
UN
peacemaking brings hostile parties to agreement through diplomatic
means. The Security Council, in its efforts to maintain international
peace and security, may recommend ways to avoid conflict or restore
or secure peace — through negotiation, for example, or recourse to
the International Court of Justice.
The
Secretary-General plays an important role in peacemaking. The
Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council
any matter that appears to threaten international peace and security,
use good
offices
to carry out mediation or exercise quiet
diplomacy
behind the scenes — either personally or through special envoys.
The Secretary-General also undertakes preventive
diplomacy
aimed at resolving disputes before they escalate.
Peace-building
The
UN is increasingly undertaking activities that address the underlying
causes of conflict.
Development
assistance is a key element of peace-building. In cooperation with UN
agencies, donor countries, host governments and NGOs, the United
Nations works to support good governance, civil law and order,
elections and human rights in countries struggling to deal with the
aftermath of conflict. At the same time, it helps these countries
rebuild administrative, health, educational and other services
disrupted by war.
Some
of these activities, such as the UN's supervision of the 1989
elections in Namibia, mine-clearance programmes in Mozambique and
police training in Haiti, take place within the framework of a UN
peacekeeping operation and may continue when the operation withdraws.
Others are requested by governments — as in Guinea-Bissau, where
the UN maintains a peace-building support office.
Peacekeeping
The
Security Council sets up UN peacekeeping operations and defines their
scope and mandate in its efforts to maintain international peace and
security. Most operations involve military duties, such as observing
a ceasefire or establishing a buffer zone while negotiators seek a
long-term solution. Others may require civilian police or other
civilian personnel to help organize elections or monitor human
rights. Operations have also been deployed to monitor peace
agreements in cooperation with the peacekeeping forces of regional
organizations.
Peacekeeping
operations may last for a few months or continue for decades. The UN
operation at the ceasefire line between India and Pakistan in the
State of Jammu and Kashmir, for example, was established in 1949, and
UN peacekeepers have been in Cyprus since 1964. In contrast, the UN
was able to complete its 1994 mission in the Aouzou Strip between
Libya and Chad in a little over a month.
Since
the UN first deployed peacekeepers in 1948, nearly 130 countries have
voluntarily provided up to 1 million soldiers, police officers and
civilians. They have served, along with thousands of civilians, in
some 60 peacekeeping operations.As of February 2005, 103 countries
were contributing nearly 67,000 uniformed personnel — a record
number.
UN
action for peace
In
Africa
UN
peace efforts have taken many forms over the years, including the
long campaign against apartheid in South Africa, active support for
Namibian independence, a number of electoral support missions and 23
peacekeeping operations. The most recent operations were established
in Liberia (2003), Côte d’Ivoire and Burundi (2004), and the newly
authorized United Nations Mission in the Sudan (March 2005).
Of
course, the UN had already been on the ground in Sudan, to address
what the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator had called the worst
non-natural humanitarian crisis in the world. The global humanitarian
community — including the UN, non-governmental organizations, and
the Red Cross and Red Crescent family — had already fielded 9,000
aid workers, nearly 1,000 of them international. And in March 2005,
acting on findings of widespread human rights violations, the
Security Council referred the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan
since 1 July 2002 to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal
Court.
The
UN has also undertaken wide-ranging diplomatic efforts to restore
peace in the Great Lakes region, and it is helping to prepare for a
referendum on the future of Western Sahara. Elsewhere in
Africa, UN field missions continue their peace-building activities in
the Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia and the West
Africa region.
In
Asia and the Pacific
Since
2002, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has worked
to promote national reconciliation and to fulfil the tasks entrusted
to the United Nations in the 2001 Bonn Agreement — including the
areas of human rights, the rule of law and gender — as well as
managing all UN humanitarian, relief, recovery and reconstruction
activities in Afghanistan, in coordination with the Afghan
government.
UNAMA
integrates all UN activities in Afghanistan, including those of 16 UN
agencies, working together with their Afghan governmentcounterparts
andwith national and international non-governmental organizations
(NGOs).
When
a peacekeeping mission in Tajikistan completed its work in 2000, a UN
office was opened to provide the political framework and leadership
for various peace-building activities. And UN military observers
continue to monitor the ceasefire line between India and Pakistan in
the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
In
East Timor, UN-brokered talks between Indonesia and Portugal
culminated in a May 1999 agreement which paved the way for a popular
consultation on the status of the territory. UN-supervised voter
registration led to an August 1999 ballot in which 78 per cent of
East Timorese voted for independence — leading to the establishment
of the independent state of Timor-Leste on 20 May 2002. A
United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) remains in
the country to assist in the establishment of core administrative
structures, including the justice system and law enforcement, while
contributing to the maintenance of stability and security.
The
United Nations also helped the government of Papua New Guinea and the
Bougainville parties reach a comprehensive agreement covering issues
of autonomy, referendum and weapons disposal.
In
Europe
A
United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus continues to supervise
the ceasefire lines, maintain the buffer zone and undertake
humanitarian activities on that divided island. Its presence provides
a conducive environment for the diplomatic efforts of the
Secretary-General and his Special Advisers, aimed at promoting
negotiations and achieving a comprehensive settlement.
The
UN worked strenuously towards resolving the conflict in the former
Yugoslavia while providing relief assistance to millions of people.
From 1992 to 1995, UN peacekeepers helped bring peace and security to
Croatia, protect civilians in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and ensure that
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was not drawn into the war.
Following the 1995 Dayton-Paris peace agreements, four UN missions
helped secure the peace.
Today,
the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
continues to work with the people of Kosovo to create a functioning,
democratic society with substantial autonomy. Established in
1999 following the end of NATO air bombings and the withdrawal of
Yugoslav forces, UNMIK brings together efforts by the European Union,
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the
United Nations under the umbrella of the UN.
In
Abkhazia, Georgia, while the UN military observer mission carries out
its peacekeeping mandate, diplomatic efforts have continued to find a
comprehensive settlement of the Georgian/Abkhaz conflict.
In
the Americas
UN
peacemaking and peacekeeping have been instrumental in resolving
protracted conflicts in Central America. In 1989, in Nicaragua, the
peace effort led to voluntary demobilization of the resistance
movement, whose members turned in their weapons to the UN. In 1990, a
UN mission observed Nicaragua's elections — the first UN-observed
elections in an independent country. In El Salvador, peace talks
mediated by the Secretary-General ended 12 years of fighting and a UN
peacekeeping mission verified implementation of all agreements. And
in Guatemala, UN-assisted negotiations ended a 35-year civil war.
Following
the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from Haiti on 29
February 2004, the Security Council, responding to a request by
Haiti’s interim President, authorized the immediate deployment of a
multinational force to support a peaceful and constitutional process
in the country under secure and stable conditions. The Council
subsequently established a United Nations stabilization mission in
Haiti, which took over responsibility from the multinational force in
June 2004. The UN mission has worked to enable the holding of
elections in 2005 and the transfer of power to an elected President
on 7 February 2006.
In
the Middle East
UN
concern over the Arab-Israeli conflict spans nearly six decades and
five full-fledged wars. The UN has defined principles for a just and
lasting peace, including two benchmark Security Council resolutions —
242 (1967) and 338 (1973) — which remain the basis for an overall
settlement.
The
UN has supported other initiatives aimed at solving underlying
political problems, and has despatched various peacekeeping
operations to the region. The UN's first military observer group was
set up in 1948 and maintains its presence in the area to this day.
The UN's first peacekeeping force was also set up there, during the
Suez crisis of 1956. Two peacekeeping forces are currently in the
region. One, established in 1974, maintains an area of separation on
the Golan Heights between Israeli and Syrian troops. The other,
established in 1978, contributes to stability in southern Lebanon and
in 2000 verified the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area.
On
the diplomatic front, the United Nations actively participates in
efforts to reach a negotiated solution as a member of the “Quartet”
— comprising the UN, the United States, the European Union and the
Russian Federation. In 2003, a “Road Map” to a permanent
two-State solution, presented by the Quartet, was accepted by both
parties but has not yet been implemented. Meanwhile, the UN
continues, through the actions of the Security Council and other
bodies, as well as of the Secretary-General and his Special
Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, to promote a peaceful
resolution of the situation.
In
Iraq, following the most active phase of the war there, the Security
Council, on 14 August 2003, established the UN Assistance Mission for
Iraq (UNAMI). Its aim was to coordinate humanitarian and
reconstruction aid and assist with the political processes aimed at
establishing an internationally recognized sovereign Iraqi
government. Days later, on 19 August, the UN headquarters in Baghdad
was the target of a terrorist attack that resulted in 22 deaths,
including the head of mission, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and more than
150 injured.
Following
the attack, the Secretary-General withdrew most United Nations
international personnel based in Baghdad, maintaining only a small
team to provide essential humanitarian assistance. Nevertheless, the
UN continues to provide assistance from both within and outside Iraq,
including the delivery of food, water and health care throughout the
country — relying principally on its Iraqi staff.
The
end of occupation and the formal restoration of Iraqi sovereignty on
28 June 2004 marked a new phase in Iraq’s transitional process,
leading to direct elections on 30 January 2005. With the support of
UNAMI, the Secretary-General’s Special Represenative and the UN
Electoral Assistance Division, and despite the constant threat of
violence, Iraqis turned out to exercise their political rights.
The resulting Transitional National Assembly will draft a permanent
constitution that will be presented to the people in a national
referendum later in the year.
3.
WHAT THE UN DOES FOR JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
Through
UN efforts, governments have concluded many multilateral agreements
that make the world a safer, healthier place with greater opportunity
and justice for all of us. This comprehensive body of international
law, including human rights law, is one of the UN's great
achievements.
Human
rights
The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the General
Assembly in 1948, sets out basic rights and freedoms to which all
women and men are entitled — among them the right to life, liberty
and nationality; to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; the
right to work and to be educated; the right to food and housing; and
the right to take part in government.
These
rights are legally binding by virtue of two International Covenants,
to which most States are parties. One Covenant deals with economic,
social and cultural rights and the other with civil and political
rights. Together with the Declaration, they constitute the
International Bill of Human Rights.
The
Declaration laid the groundwork for some 80 conventions and
declarations on human rights, including the two International
Covenants; conventions to eliminate racial discrimination and
discrimination against women; conventions on the rights of the child,
against torture and other degrading treatment of punishment, the
status of refugees and the prevention and punishment of the crime of
genocide; and declarations on the rights of persons belonging to
national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities, the right to
development, and the rights of human rights defenders.
With
its standards-setting work nearly complete, the UN is shifting the
emphasis of its human rights efforts to the implementation of human
rights laws. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, who coordinates
UN human rights activities, works with governments to improve their
observance of human rights, seeks to prevent violations, and works
closely with the UN human rights mechanisms. The UN Commission on
Human Rights, an intergovernmental body, holds public meetings to
review the human rights performance of States, to adopt new standards
and to promote human rights around the world. The Commission
also appoints independent experts — "special rapporteurs"
— to report on specific human rights abuses or to examine the human
rights situation in specific countries.
UN
human rights bodies contribute to early warning and conflict
prevention, as well as in efforts to address the root causes of
conflict. A number of UN peacekeeping operations have a human rights
component. In all, UN human rights field activities are
currently being carried out in 30 countries or territories.
They help strengthen national capacities in human rights legislation,
administration and education; investigate reported violations; and
assist governments in taking corrective measures when needed.
Promoting
respect for human rights is increasingly central to UN development
assistance. In particular, the right to development is seen as part
of a dynamic process which integrates civil, cultural, economic,
political and social rights, and by which the well-being of all
individuals in a society is improved. Key to the enjoyment of the
right to development is the eradication of poverty, a major UN goal.
International
law
The
UN Charter specifically calls on the United Nations to undertake the
progressive codification and development of international law. The
over 500 conventions, treaties and standards resulting from this work
have provided a framework for promoting international peace and
security and economic and social development. States that ratify
these conventions are legally bound by them.
The
International Law Commission prepares drafts on topics of
international law which can then be incorporated into conventions and
opened for ratification by States. Some of these conventions form the
basis for law governing relations among States, such as the
convention on diplomatic relations or the convention regulating the
use of international watercourses.
The
UN Commission on International Trade Law develops rules and
guidelines designed to harmonize and facilitate laws regulating
international trade. The UN has also pioneered the development of
international environmental law. Agreements such as the convention to
combat desertification, the convention on the ozone layer, and the
convention on the transborder movement of hazardous wastes are
administered by the UN Environment Programme.
The
Kyoto Protocol to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change, which addresses the problem of global warming, went
into effect on 16 February 2005. It requires industrialized countries
to reduce their combined emissions of six major greenhouse gases
during the five-year period from 2008 to 2012 to below 1990 levels.
As of its entry into force, 140 countries had ratified the accord.
The
Convention on the Law of the Sea seeks to ensure equitable access by
all countries to the riches of the oceans, protect them from
pollution and facilitate freedom of navigation and research. The
Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs is the key
international treaty against drug trafficking.
The
United Nations remains at the centre of international efforts to
create a legal framework against terrorism. More than a dozen global
conventions on the issue have been negotiated under the auspices of
the United Nations, including the 1979 Convention against the Taking
of Hostages, the 1997 Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist
Bombings, and the 1999 Convention for the Suppression of the
Financing of Terrorism, and work is in progress on a comprehensive
anti-terrorism treaty.
In
2001, following the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United
States, the Security Council adopted a wide-ranging anti-terrorist
resolution, under the enforcement provisions of the UN Charter. It
included provisions to prevent the financing of terrorism,
criminalize the collection of funds for such purposes, and to
immediately freeze terrorist financial assets. The Council has
called on States to accelerate the exchange of information regarding
terrorist movements and decided that States should afford one another
the greatest measure of assistance for criminal investigations or
proceedings relating to terrorist acts.
Ending
impunity
Massive
violations of humanitarian law during the fighting in the former
Yugoslavia led the Security Council in 1993 to establish an
international tribunal to try persons accused of war crimes in that
conflict. In 1994, the Council set up a second tribunal to hear cases
involving accusations of genocide in Rwanda. The tribunals have found
several defendants guilty and sentenced them to prison. The Rwanda
Tribunal in 1998 handed down the first-ever verdict by an
international court on the crime of genocide, as well as the
first-ever sentence for that crime.
A
key United Nations goal — an international mechanism to impose
accountability in the face of mass violations of human rights — was
realized in 1998 when governments agreed to establish an
International Criminal Court. The Court provides a means for
punishing perpetrators of genocide and other crimes against humanity.
In voting to set up the Court, the international community made it
clear that impunity — the assumption that crimes will go unpunished
— is no longer possible for those who commit atrocities. The
Statute of the Court entered into force on 1 July 2002. In March
2005, acting on findings of widespread human rights violations, the
Security Council referred the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan
to the Prosecutor of the Court.
The
UN has also contributed to the elaboration of conventions relating to
international humanitarian law, such as the 1948 Convention on
Genocide and the 1980 Inhumane Weapons Convention (concerning weapons
which are excessively injurious or have indiscriminate effects).
Other
action for justice and equal rights
In
1945, 750 million people lived in Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Today, that number has been reduced to just over 1 million, in large
measure due to the crucial role played by the UN in encouraging the
aspirations of dependent peoples and helping speed their
independence. Since 1960, when the General Assembly adopted the
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and
Peoples, some 60 former colonial Territories have attained
independence and joined the UN as sovereign Members.
A
UN-led campaign lasting more than 30 years helped end the system of
racial segregation in South Africa known as apartheid. In 1994, a UN
mission observed that country's first all-race elections.
Since
its founding, the UN has been working to affirm the fundamental
equality of all people and to counter racism in all its forms. In
2001, a World Conference mandated by the General Assembly examined
ways to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
intolerance.
4.
WHAT THE UN DOES FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
Humanitarian
disasters can occur anywhere, at any time. Whether the cause be
flood, drought, earthquake or conflict, a humanitarian disaster means
lost lives, displaced populations, communities incapable of
sustaining themselves and great suffering.
Emergency
assistance
In
the face of disaster, the UN family of organizations supplies food,
shelter, medicines and logistical support to the victims — most of
them children, women and the elderly.
To
pay for this assistance and deliver it to those in need, the UN has
raised billions of dollars from international donors. During 2003
alone, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
launched 22 inter-agency appeals, raising nearly $3.4 billion to
assist 67.8 million people in 22 countries and regions. The Office is
headed by the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, who also
serves as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.
Providing
humanitarian assistance requires that the United Nations overcome
major logistical and security constraints in the field. Humanitarian
workers have been denied access to people in need, and warring
parties have deliberately targeted civilians and aid workers. Since
1992, some 220 UN civilian staff members have been killed while
serving in humanitarian operations. In the year ending 30 June 2004,
there were more than 120 assaults on UN personnel, including 10 cases
of rape and sexual assault, as well as 139 incidents of harassment.
There were seven violent attacks against UN compounds and convoys,
and 52 forceful incursions into UN compounds. In the effort to
prevent human rights violations in the midst of crisis, the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has played an increasingly
active role in the UN response to emergencies.
The
UN coordinates its response to humanitarian crises through a
committee of all the key humanitarian bodies, chaired by the UN
Emergency Relief Coordinator. Members include the UN Children's Fund
(UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Food
Programme (WFP) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Other UN agencies are also represented, as are major non-governmental
and intergovernmental humanitarian organizations, including the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Humanitarian
response
The
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator is responsible for developing policy
for humanitarian action and for promoting humanitarian issues —
helping raise awareness, for example, of the consequences of the
proliferation of small arms or the humanitarian effects of sanctions.
People
who have fled war, persecution or human rights abuse — refugees and
displaced persons — are assisted by UNHCR. At the start of 2004,
there were 17.1 million people of concern to UNHCR in nearly 120
countries, including 4.4 million internally displaced — more than
1.2 million in Colombia alone. Also included were 9.7 million
refugees, 1.1 million returned refugees, and nearly a million
asylum-seekers.
The
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, providing
emergency food assistance worldwide. In 2003, it delivered 6
million tons of food aid to 110 million people in 83 countries –
including 56 million hungry children.
During
the past decade, 300,000 children were recruited as soldiers — a
period in which war killed 2 million children and permanently injured
or disabled an additional 6 million. War and civil strife also
resulted in 13 million internally displaced children and 10 million
child refugees, many of whom were separated from their parents.
UNICEF seeks to meet their needs by supplying food, safe water,
medicine and shelter. UNICEF has also pioneered the concept of
"children as zones of peace" and created "days of
tranquillity" and "corridors of peace" to help protect
children in war and provide them with essential services.
Disaster
prevention and preparedness are also part of UN humanitarian action.
When disasters occur, UNDP coordinates relief work at the local
level, while promoting recovery and long-term development.
And
in countries undergoing extended emergencies or recovering from
conflict, humanitarian assistance is increasingly seen as part of an
overall peace-building effort, along with developmental, political
and financial assistance.
Perhaps
the most dramatic natural disaster in recent years was the Indian
Ocean earthquake-tsunami. In the early hours of Sunday, 26
December 2004, a massive earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter
scale struck the west coast of northern Sumatra, triggering powerful
tsunamis reaching 10 metres (33 feet) in height which moved through
the Indian Ocean at over 500 kilometres (310 miles) an hour.
The tsunamis wrecked coastal areas in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Maldives, Myanmar, Seychelles and Somalia. As of
April 2005, it was estimated that more than 217,000 had been killed,
while 51,000 remained missing and more than half a million were
homeless.
The
UN system immediately sprang into action, addressing a wide range of
humanitarian needs, including agriculture, coordination and support
services, economic recovery and infrastructure, education, family
shelter and non-food items, food, health, mine action, protection of
human rights and the rule of law, security, and water and
sanitation. To that end, a “flash appeal” for $977 million
was issued on 5 January 2005 to fund the critical relief work of some
40 UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). And
on 1 February, the Secretary-General appointed former United States
President William Jefferson Clinton as his Special Envoy for the
tsunami-affected countries.
As
Special Envoy, President Clinton’s task includes: ensuring
coordination in the recovery effort at the policy level; supporting
the transition from emergency relief to recovery and reconstruction;
ensuring that donors disburse the money they have pledged and that it
reaches the communities who need it most; mobilizing support for
regional efforts to establish a mechanism for disaster prevention and
mitigation; and ensuring that a proposed early warning system for the
region is established in a coordinated and coherent manner.
Palestine
refugees
Relief
work for Palestine refugees has been carried out since 1949 by the UN
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA). Today, the Agency provides essential health, education,
relief and social services and implements income-generation
programmes for more than 4 million Palestine refugees in the region.
A UN Coordinator oversees all development assistance provided by the
UN system to the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank.
5.WHAT
THE UN DOES FOR DEVELOPMENT
One
of the UN's central mandates is the promotion of higher standards of
living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social
progress and development. As much as 70 per cent of the work of the
UN system is devoted to accomplishing this mandate. Guiding the work
is the belief that eradicating poverty and improving the well-being
of people everywhere are necessary steps in creating conditions for
lasting world peace.
The
UN has unique strengths in promoting development. Its presence is
global and its comprehensive mandate spans social, economic and
emergency needs. The UN does not represent any particular national or
commercial interest. When major policy decisions are taken, all
countries, rich and poor, have a voice.
Setting
the agenda
The
UN has played a crucial role in building international consensus on
action for development. Beginning in 1960, the General Assembly has
helped set priorities and goals through a series of 10-year
International Development Strategies. While focusing on issues of
particular concern, the Decades have consistently stressed the need
for progress on all aspects of social and economic development. The
UN continues formulating new development objectives in such key areas
as sustainable development, the advancement of women, human rights,
environmental protection and good governance – along with
programmes to make them a reality.
At
the Millennium Summit in September 2000, world leaders adopted a set
of Millennium Development Goals aimed at eradicating extreme poverty
and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender
equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality; improving
maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; and
ensuring environmental sustainability — through a set of measurable
targets to be achieved by the year 2015. Among these are: halving the
proportion of those who earn less than a dollar a day; achieving
universal primary education; eliminating gender disparity at all
levels of education; and dramatically reducing child mortality while
increasing maternal health.
The
General Assembly scheduled a five-year review of its 2000 Millennium
Declaration to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the United
Nations in 2005.
Assistance
for development
The
UN system works in a variety of ways to promote economic and social
goals.
The
mandates of the specialized agencies cover virtually all areas of
economic and social endeavour. The agencies provide technical
assistance and other forms of practical help to countries around the
world. In cooperation with the UN, they help formulate policies, set
standards and guidelines, foster support and mobilize funds. The
World Bank, for example, provided $20.1 billion in development loans
in fiscal year 2004 to nearly 100 developing countries.
Close
coordination between the UN and the specialized agencies is ensured
through the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB),
comprising the Secretary-General, the heads of the specialized
agencies, funds and programmes, the International Atomic Energy
Agency and the World Trade Organization.
The
UN programmes and funds work under the authority of the General
Assembly and the Economic and Social Council to carry out the UN's
economic and social mandate. To enhance overall cooperation, the
Secretary-General in 1997 set up the UN Development Group, comprising
the UN operational programmes and funds.
The
UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN's largest provider of grants
for sustainable human development worldwide, is actively involved in
attaining the Millennium Development Goals. The UN Children's Fund
(UNICEF) is the lead UN organization working for the long-term
survival, protection and development of children. Active in nearly
160 countries and territories, its programmes focus on immunization,
primary health care, nutrition and basic education.
Many
other UN programmes work for development, in partnership with
governments and NGOs. The World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest
international food aid organization for both emergency relief and
development. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is the largest
international provider of population assistance. The UN Environment
Programme (UNEP) works to encourage sound environmental practices
everywhere, and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
assists people living in health-threatening housing conditions.
To
increase the participation of developing countries in the global
economy, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) promotes
international trade. UNCTAD also works with the World Trade
Organization (WTO), a separate entity, in assisting developing
countries' exports through the International Trade Centre.
Pooling
resources
The
UN system is increasingly pooling its efforts to tackle complex
problems that cut across organizational areas of expertise and defy
the efforts of any country acting alone.
The
Joint UN Programme on AIDS pools the expertise of eight UN agencies
and programmes to combat an epidemic that currently affects some 40
million people worldwide. In 2004 alone, some 3 million people
died of AIDS, while 5 million were newly infected with HIV.
A
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, called for by
the Secretary-General in 2001, is a partnership between governments,
civil society, the private sector and affected communities. By
2005, it had committed some $3 billion in 128 countries to support
aggressive interventions against these three diseases, which kill
over 6 million people every year. Joint initiatives to expand
immunization and develop new vaccines have enlisted the support of
business leaders, philanthropic foundations, non-governmental
organizations and governments, as well as UNICEF, WHO and the World
Bank.
The
Global Environment Facility, a $4.5 billion fund administered by
UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank, helps developing countries carry out
environmental programmes. And the UN system works closely with
the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), an
African Union initiative that serves as a framework for international
support for African development.
THE
SPECIALIZED AGENCIES
Autonomous
organizations linked to the UN through special agreements:
FAO
(Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN)
Works
to improve agricultural productivity and food security, and to better
the living standards of rural populations.
IAEA
(International Atomic Energy Agency)
An
autonomous intergovernmental organization under the aegis of the UN,
it works for the safe and peaceful uses of atomic energy.
ICAO
(International Civil Aviation Organization)
Sets
international standards for the safety, security and efficiency of
air transport, and serves as the coordinator for international
cooperation in all areas of civil aviation.
IFAD
(International Fund for Agricultural Development)
Mobilizes
financial resources to raise food production and nutrition levels
among the poor in developing countries.
ILO
(International Labour Organization)
Formulates
policies and programmes to improve working conditions and employment
opportunities, and sets labour standards used by countries around the
world.
IMF
(International Monetary Fund)
Facilitates
international monetary cooperation and financial stability and
provides a permanent forum for consultation, advice and assistance on
financial issues.
IMO
(International Maritime Organization)
Works
to improve international shipping procedures, raise standards in
marine safety and reduce marine pollution by ships.
ITU
(International Telecommunication Union)
Fosters
international cooperation to improve telecommunications of all kinds,
coordinates usage of radio and TV frequencies, promotes safety
measures and conducts research.
UNESCO
(UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
Promotes
education for all, cultural development, protection of the world's
natural and cultural heritage, international cooperation in science,
press freedom and communication.
UNIDO
(UN Industrial Development Organization)
Promotes
the industrial advancement of developing countries through technical
assistance, advisory services and training.
UPU
(Universal Postal Union)
Establishes
international regulations for postal services, provides technical
assistance and promotes cooperation in postal matters.
WHO
(World Health Organization)
Coordinates
programmes aimed at solving health problems and the attainment by all
people of the highest possible level of health. It works in such
areas as immunization, health education and the provision of
essential drugs.
WIPO
(World Intellectual Property Organization)
Promotes
international protection of intellectual property and fosters
cooperation on copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs and
patents.
World
Bank Group
Provides
loans and technical assistance to developing countries to reduce
poverty and advance sustainable economic growth.
WMO
(World Meteorological Organization)
Promotes
scientific research on the Earth's atmosphere and on climate change,
and facilitates the global exchange of meteorological data.
WTO
(World Tourism Organization)
Serves
as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of
tourism know-how.
The
UN is working to make the world
a better place
a better place
- The UN formulated the historic Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), as well as some 80 conventions and treaties that help protect and promote specific human rights.
- UN peacekeeping is a vital instrument for peace. Currently, nearly 67,000 UN military and civilian personnel, provided by 103 countries, are engaged in 16 operations around the world.
- UN environmental conventions have helped reduce acid rain in Europe and North America, cut marine pollution worldwide, and phase out production of gases destroying the Earth's ozone layer.
- The UN and its agencies, including the World Bank and the UN Development Programme, are the premier vehicle for furthering development in poorer countries, providing assistance worth $30 billion a year.
- More international law has been developed through the UN in the past six decades than in all previous history.
- With support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization – a joint effort of UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank Group, private foundations, the pharmaceutical industry and governments – over 670,000 deaths were averted among children born between 2001 and 2003.
- Air traffic the world over is safer, thanks to rules and regulations agreed on trough the International Civil Aviation Organization.
- UN appeals raised nearly $3.4 billion during 2003 alone for emergency assistance to victims of war and natural disaster.
For
more information
about the United Nations, contact the UN Information Centre or UN
Association in your country or the UN Public Inquiries Unit (Room
GA-53, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA; e-mail:
inquiries@un.org). You may also consult the UN Home Page on the
Internet (www.un.org), which has links to the websites of UN offices,
programmes and specialized agencies. More detailed information
on the UN can be obtained from other UN publications such as Basic
Facts about the United Nations
and Building
Sustainable Peace,
available from UN Publications (www.un.org/Pubs) in New York (fax:
212-963-3489; e-mail: publications@un.org) and Geneva
(0041-22-917-2614;
e-mail: unipubli@unog.ch).
_________________
Published
by the United Nations Department of Public Information
Printed
on recycled paper by the United Nations Reproduction Section, New
York
United
Nations, May 2005 -
DPI/2393
– 20M
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by the Department of Public Information
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