What is the United Nations?

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What is the United Nations? by Mind Map: What is the United Nations?

1. How do countries join the UN? Why do you think countries want to join the UN? Do you think the membership process is fair?

1.1. The countries join the UN by accepting and being able to follow the obligation of the Charter as well as becoming a country that is peace loving.

1.1.1. According to Chapter 2 : Membership, explains, “Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations.” To become a member of the UN, they would have to achieve many standards of the UN. Not only do they have to follow these requirements, but they also have to wait for the General Assembly to make a decision.

1.1.1.1. Chapter 2 describes, “The admission of any such state to membership in the United Nations will be affected by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.” These shows the steps into joining the UN. The countries also have to be recommended by the Security Council but the final choice is on the General Assembly.

1.1.2. Chapter 2 describes, “The admission of any such state to membership in the United Nations will be affected by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.” These shows the steps into joining the UN. The countries also have to be recommended by the Security Council but the final choice is on the General Assembly.

1.2. Countries want to join the UN because of the purposes and principles the UN provides.

1.2.1. Chapter 1: Purposes and Principles declares, “...To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.” These countries will obtain help from the UN when needed. When there are international problems, the UN will support them.

1.2.2. Chapter 1: Purposes and Principles expresses, “...To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace…” By joining the UN, each individual countries will be able to form benefiting relationship with other countries which therefore, can better assist in solving world issues.

2. How is the UN organized (in regards to powers and membership)? Do you think this organization make sense? Is it effective?

2.1. The United Nations is organized by other organizations or organs.

2.1.1. According to Chapter 2: Organs and Membership, it states, “Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations.” This shows how the United Nation is organized and that each category divides the work up to solve global issues around the world.

2.1.2. According to Chapter 3: Organs and Membership, it read, “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.” In total, there are six main organs that are founded by the UN.

3. Can the UN infringe on a country’s sovereignty? How does the UN balance its principle of sovereignty with maintaining international peace and security or promoting human rights?

3.1. The UN can infringe on a country’s sovereignty by violating what the country might think is the right thing to do.

3.1.1. The UN can enforce actions that can be vetoed by US, UK, France, Russia, and China. This can cause infringement on a country’s sovereignty. According to Chapter V, Article 25 of the UN Charter, “The Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter.” This shows how the decisions made within the UN must be according to the Charter and made in agreement to everyone involved in the UN.

3.1.2. The UN balances its principle of sovereignty with maintaining international peace and security or promoting human right by conferring with its Members about the maintenance of peace and security in the UN. According to Chapter V, Article 24 of the UN Charter, “In order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, its Members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf.” This shows how the members of the UN come together to discuss the peace and security in the UN.

3.1.3. Chapter V, Article 26 of the UN Charter states that, “In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources, the Security Council shall be responsible for formulating, with the assistance of the Military Staff Committee referred to in Article 47, plans to be submitted to the Members of the United Nations for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments.” This shows how the Members of the UN maintain the peace and security by formulating effective plans and systems to solve the problems that they might face.

4. When do you think the Security Council should determine if a domestic matter has become an international matter, such as in the case of human rights abuses? And what happens if those abuses take place within the territory of a Permanent 5 country?

4.1. The Security Council can choose to observe a dispute. If some of them decide that it could become an international matter, or it is brought to their attention that it may be, they will make an attempt to settle or lessen the issue.

4.1.1. According to Chapter VI, “Any Member of the United Nations may bring any dispute, or any situation of the nature referred to in Article 34, to the attention of the Security Council or of the General Assembly.” If stopping or slowing the dispute is not achievable, they will hold a vote in the Security Council. If nine members vote that it is an international issue or could be, action will be taken. Nothing different occurs when such abuse takes place in a Permanent 5 country.

5. Do you think the UN is more about promoting global progress or about preserving the power of the Permanent 5?

5.1. We think that the UN is more about about promoting global progress just like their new goals that they are trying to achieve which is called the Global Goals. The Global Goals insist 17 goals that the United nations is trying to achieve by 2030, some goals are no poverty, zero hunger, quality education, and many more.

5.1.1. In the article charter of United Nations it stated that the purpose of the United Nations is “To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;” The United Nations is about maintaining peace and security and that is what this statement analyzes it telling the readers that purpose of the United Nation are to bring peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace.

5.1.2. We also realized that the United Nations has a Preamble and the main points that we thought talked about promoting global progress is “ to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples.”

5.1.3. The Preamble actually states“ to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security”, which shows that the United Nations is about bringing peace, security, and improvements in the world.

5.2. The Permanent 5 are : Republic of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America.