- Class: 12th
- Subject: Social Science (Political Science)
- Topic: United Nation and it’s organisation
- Resources: Notes, Important Questions
Class 12 Social Science (Political science ) es Get notes here, questions for class 12th. Those candidates who are ambitious to pass class 12 with good marks, can check this article for notes, by practicing this resource, the candidates get to know that their weak areas and good for the exam How to prepare
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| UN |
United Nations
United Nations is the most important International Organisation. It helps countries to enhance co-operation and make better living conditions for all.
After the First World War League of Nations was born to deal with conflicts within nations. The League of Nations was founded on 10th January, 1920 as a result of Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War.
This was the first International Organisation whose main objective was to maintain world peace.
However, despite its initial success, it could not prevent the Second World War. The United Nations was founded as a successor to the League of Nations in 1945 immediately after the Second World War.
It was set up through the signing of the United Nations Charte by 51 states on 24th October, 1945. It tried to achieve which league could not achieve between the two world wars.
Objectives of UN
The main objectives of the United Nations are
UN's objective is to prevent international conflicts and t facilitate co-operation among states.
It helps to curb the situation of war between states.
It is intendes to bring countries together to improve th prospects of social and economic development.
Members of UN
• The UN had 193 member states by 2011 (Last added South Sudan) which included almost all independentstates with one vote each in the UN General Assembly.
• There are five permanent members in the UN Security Council and they are, the United Nations, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China. These five members were chosen as a permanent member because they Wemerged powerful after the Second World War.
• The most visible public figure of UN is the representative head i.e. the Secretary-General. The present and the ninth Secretary General of UN is Antonio Guterres. He took over as the Secretary General on 1st January, 2017. He was the Prime Minister of Portugal (1995-2002) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (2005-2015).
Reforms of the UN After the Cold War
To serve the needs of the changing environment reform and improvement are fundamental to any organisation. There have been demands for reform of the world body.
Reforms of Structures and Processes
The biggest discussion on the reform of structures and processes was the functioning of the Security Council. To better reflect the realities of the contemporary world politics, in the structure of the organisation, there was demand for an increase in the UN Security Council's permanent and non permanent membership. In particular, there are proposals to increase membership from Asia, Africa and South America. The US and other Western countries want improvements in the UN's budgetary procedures and its administration.
Reform of a Review of the Subjects that Falls Under its Jurisdiction
There was differences on the issues to be given greater priority within the jurisdiction of the UN. Some countries and experts wanted the organisation to play a greater or more effective role in peace and security missions, while others wanted its role to be confined to development and humanitarian works such as, health, education, environment, population control, human rights, gender and social justice.
Jurisdiction of the UN
The heads of all the members-states m met in September 2005 to celebrate the anniversary of the United Nations and to review the situation. In this meeting, the leaders decided that some steps should be taken to make the UN more relevant in the changing context. Following recommendations were made
• Creation of Peacebuilding Commission.
• To protect their own citizens the countries should accept the responsibility of the international community in ease of failures of nation governments. ilust
• Establishment of a Human Rights Council.
• Agreement to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
• Condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
• To create a Democracy Fund.
• An agreement to wind up the Trusteeship Council.
India and the UN Reforms
On Several grounds India has supported the restructuring of the UN. It believes that a strengthened and revitalised UN is desirable in a changing world. India also supports an enhanced role for the UN in promoting development and cooperation among states.
India believes that development should be central to UN,s agenda as it is vital precondition for the maintenance of international peace and security.
The most important demand of India is regarding the restructuring of the Security Council. It also argues that an expanded Council, with more representation will enjoy greater support in the world community.
The membership of the UN Security Council expanded from 11 to 15 in 1965 without any change in the number of permanent members. The size of the council remained stationary since then.
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| Agencies |
UN Agencies
The UN has various structures and agencies. The conflicts between the states are discussed both in General Assembly and Security Council. Many agencies deal with the social and economic issues such as the World Health Organisations (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) among.
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| UNESCO |
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) was established on 4th November, 1946. Its headquarter is located in Paris, France. It is a special body of the United Nations whose main objective is to promote education, natural science, society and anthropology, culture and communication. During past several years, the special work done by UNESCO has been to promote literacy, technical and educational training and independent media, etc. all across its member nations.
Objectives of UNESCO
The objectives of UNESCO are as following
• To access quality of education for everyone .
. To actively provide the knowledge of science and policies for sustainable development.
. To address the challenges, whether it be social or ethical.
. It attempts to build a culture of peace in diversity and intercultural dialogue of harmony.
• To establish knowledge societies with the help of information and communication.
Functions of UNESCO
The major functions of UNESCO are
• To contribute to peace and security in the w promoting collaboration among nations. This is done through education, science, culture and communication.
• It believes in education being a basic human right, so it encourages education among children.s
• UNESCO devotes a large portion of funds to basic research in developing countries.
It provides assistance and international cooperation among artists, scientists and scholars.
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| UNICEF |
UNICEF
The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was created by the UN general assembly during its first session in 1946 to help the emergency ne of the children in post was Europe. In 1950, its program was extended to provide long-range benefits to children all developing countries. Later on its name was changed United Nations Children's Fund.
However, its acronym UNICEF continued. UNICEF is governed by 36-member Executive Board. It has its headquarter in New York and has more than 200 office developing countries. It has been working successfully almost all 193 countries of the world.
Objectives of UNICEF
The main objectives of UNICEF are
• To look after children's welfare especially in developing countries.
To provide people with low cost community based services in maternal and child health, nutrition and immunisation, etc.
• It also helps and encourages the work that promote children's health and better life in all parts of the world.
Functions of UNICEF
UNICEF provides services in primary health-care nutrition, basic education, sanitation and women's development in developing countries
The main functions of UNICEF are broadly divided into the following categories:
It works for the protection of children in respect of their survival, health and well being. This is done in cooperation with individuals, civic groups, governments and the private sector.
• It provides funds for training the personnel, including do health and sanitation workers, teachers and nutritionists. Universal Child Immunisations against preventable diseases by 1990 was one of the leading goals of UNICEF.
• It provides technical supplies, equipment and other aids, ranging from paper for textbooks to equipments and medicines to health clinics to pipes and pumps for bringing clean water to villages.
• It assists governments to plan, develop and extend community-based services in the fields of maternal and child healths, nutrition,clean water and sanitation.
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| WHO |
World Health Organisation (WHO)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is the United Nation specialised agency for health. It was established on 7th April, 1948 when 26 members of the United Nations notified its Constitution. World Health Day is celebrated on 7th April every year. The headquarters of WHO are at Geneva in I WHO are at Geneva in Switzerland.
Objectives of WHO
The objectives of WHO are
• To attainment of the highest possible level of health by all people.
Health is defined in WHO's constitution as a state of complete well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
To raise awareness of the extent of illness, suffering and death among mothers and children and its impact on health as well as social and economic development.
• When pertaining to health issues it creates an interface between the developed and developing nations.
Functions of WHO
The functions performed by WHO are
• It helps the countries to improve their health system by building up infrastructure especially manpower, institutions and services for the individual and community.
• It gives important drugs needed for medical care. The WHO launched a programme to immunise children against six major diseases Measles, Diptheria, Tetanus, Tuberculosis, Polio and whooping cough.
• It promotes research to cure and prevent diseases. For example, it arranged for the investigation of cancer and heart diseases in laboratories in many countries to identify disease-causing organisms to improve vaccines and to train research workers.
• It works towards providing safe drinking water and adequate waste disposal.
• It organises conference, seminars and training for health care personnel from different countries.
• It aims at fighting diseases and preventing them from spreading. Malaria eradication programme continues to be the world's biggest health programme.
• It defines standards for the strength and purity of medicines including biological products.
• It makes special efforts in combating diarrhold diseas which are known as killers of infants.
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| ILO |
International Labour Organisations (ILO)
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) was founded in 1919, its constitution forming part of the Treaty of versaillies. The ILO became the first specialised agency of the UN in 1946.
The ILO is the only 'Tripartite' UN agency. It brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape policies and programmes. This unique, arrangement gives the ILO an edge in incorporating 'real world' knowledge about the employment and work.
Objectives of ILO
There are four principle strategic objectives of ILO which are as follows
(i) To promote and realise standards and fundamental principles and rights at work.
(ii) To create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment.
(iii) To enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all.
(iv) To strengthen tripartism and social dialogue.
Functions of ILO
The functions of ILO are as follow:
• Creation of coordinated policies and programmes, mon directed at solving social and Labour Issues.
• Adoption of International Labour Standards in the form of convention and recommendations and control over their implementation.
• Assistance to member-states in solving social and labour problems.
• Human rights protection (the right to work, freedom of association, collective negotiations, protection against labour, protection against discrimination, etc.)
• Research and publication of works on social and labour issues.
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| ILS |
International Labour Standards
• The ILO sets International Labour Standards with conventions, which are ratified by member states. These are non-binding.
• Conventions are drawn up with impact from government. workers and employer's group at the ILO and are adopted by the International Labour Conference
. In ratifying an ILO convention, a member state accepts as a legally binding instrument, many countries use conventions as a tool to bring national lawa in line with international standards.
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| ECOSOC |
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
ECOSOC was established in 1945, it is the place where the world's economic, social and environmental challenges are discussed and debated, and policy recommendations issued. Munir Akram was elected seventy-sixth President of the Economic and Social Council on 23rd July, 2020. The Council is made up of 54 members.
Functions and Powers of ECOSOC
• To serve as the central forum for discussions on international economic and social issues.
• To promote higher standards of living, full employment and economic and social progress..
To find solutions of international economic, social, health and related problems, and international cultural and educational cooperation.
• To encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
• To assist the organisation of major international (4) conferences in the field of economic and social and related fields.
• To make or initiate studies and reports with respect to international economic and social matters.
Trusteeship Council
The Trusteeship Council was established to international supervision for 11 Trust Territories and to make sure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the territories for self-government or independence. It was suspended on 1st November, 1994 with the independence of Palau, the last UN trust territory.
Functions and Powers of Trusteeship Council
. It is authorised to examine and discuss reports from the Administering Authority on the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the peoples of Trust Territories. tiger to h To accept and examine petitions in consultation with the administrating authority.
Secretariat
The United Nations Secretariat carries out the day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by the General Assembly and the Organisation's other main organs. The Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat, who is ВИ appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year renewable term.
Functions and Powers of Secretariat
To gather and prepare background information on various issues so that government delegates can study the facts and make recommendations.
• To help carry out the decisions made by the different organs of the United Nations.
• To organise international conferences.
• To translate speeches and distribute documents into the UN's official languages.
• To keep the public informed about the work of the Unite Nations.