United Nations Organization (UNO)
History of United Nation
The name "United Nations", coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt was first used in the Declaration by United Nations of 1 January 1942. In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. The Organization officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October.
The Charter
The Charter of the United Nations was signed on 26 June 1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and came into force on 24 October 1945. The Statute of the International Court of Justice is an integral part of the Charter.
The Purposes of the United Nations
The purposes of the United Nations, as set forth in the Charter, are to maintain international peace and security;to develop friendly relations among nations;to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these ends.
Structure
There are established as principal organs of the United Nations: a General Assembly, a Security Council, an Economic and Social Council, a Trusteeship Council, an International Court of Justice and a Secretariat.
General Assembly
The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policy making and representative organ of the UN. Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority. Each country has one vote. Some Member States in arrear of payment may be granted the right to vote. In September, every year, the world gathers in New York to tackle humanity's most intractable problems in General Assembly meeting.
The Security Council
The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, out of which 5 members are permanent and the remaining 10 members are non-permanent. China, France, Russia, UK and USA are the permanent members. The non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for 2 years from among the member states. The permanent members of the security council have got veto power. Any matter supported by the majority of the members fails to be carried through if negative vote is cast by any of the permanent members. The Security Council also recommends to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and the admission of new Members to the United Nations. And, together with the General Assembly, it elects the judges of the International Court of Justice.
Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council is elected by the Council at large at the beginning of each annual session. The Council's 54 member Governments are elected by the General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms. Seats on the Council are allotted based on geographical representation with fourteen allocated to African States, eleven to Asian States, six to Eastern European States, ten to Latin American and Caribbean States, and thirteen to Western European and other States.
The Trusteeship Council
The Trusteeship Council as one of the main organs of the United Nations and assigned to it the task of supervising the administration of Trust Territories placed under the Trusteeship System. The Trusteeship Council is made up of the five permanent members of the Security Council - China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States. The Trusteeship Council is authorized to examine and discuss reports from the Administering Authority on the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the peoples of Trust Territories and, in consultation with the Administering Authority, to examine petitions from and undertake periodic and other special missions to Trust Territories.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.
Secretariat
This organ of the United nations is the chief administrative office which coordinates and supervises the activities of the U. N. This secretariat is headed by a Secretary General who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council' Secretary General of the U. N. is elected for five years and eligible for re-election. The present Secretary General is Baan ki Moon.
Budget
The Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts carries out activities in support of the financial and budgetary operations of the Organization as a whole. The General Assembly approved the programme (regular) budget for 2012-2013 in the amount of US$ 5,152 billion (resolution 66/248). The proposal includes US$1,083 million in respect of special political missions that are expected to be extended or approved during the course of the biennium.