International organisations Class: 12th

• Subject: Political Science

• Topic: International organisations

• Resources: Notes, Important Questions

  Class 12 (Political science ) -International organisations

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Meaning and Importance of International Organisations

An international organisation is not a super-state with authority over its members. It is created by and responds to states. It comes into being when states agree to its creation. It can help member states resolve their problems peacefully. International organisations are helpful in many ways. These are

• There are issues that are so challenging that they can only be dealt with when everyone works together. Some diseases or issues like global warming can only be eradicated if everyone in the world cooperates in inoculating or vaccinating their populations.
• As temperatures rise because of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, there is a danger that sea levels will also rise, thereby submerging many coastal areas of the world including huge cities. Of course, each country can try to find its own solution to the effects of global warming.

• A more effective approach is to stop the warming itself. This requires at least all of the major industrial powers to cooperate.

• An international organisation can help produce information and ideas about how to cooperate.
• It can provide mechanisms, rules and a bureaucracy, to help members have more confidence that costs will be shared properly, that the benefits will be fairly divided, and that once a member joins an agreement it will honour the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Evolution of the 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 Charter 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 to facilitate co-operation among states.

It helps to curb the situation of war between states.

It is intendes to bring countries together to improve the prospects of social and economic development.

Another objective of UN is to promote respect for human rights, dignity and freedom.

Members of UN

The UN had 193 member states by 2011 (Last added South Sudan) which included almost all independent states 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 emerged 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).

Reform 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 and UN is no exception.

The two basic reforms faced by the UN are

(i) 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.

(ii) 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. 

Therefore, the UN was established immediately after the Second World War in 1945. It was organised and operated in such a way that it reflected the reality of world politics after the Second World War. Following changes occurred in world

politics. The Soviet-Union had collapsed and the US became the strongest power

There was much more cooperative relationship between Russia, the successor to the Soviet Union and the US.

Chipa-emerging fast as a great power and India is also growing rapidly.

The economies of Asia are growing at an unprecedented rate.

Many new countries joined the UN. As they became from the Soviet Union or former Communist states in Eastern Europe.

The world now faces whole new set of issues (genocide, civil war, ethnic conflict, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, degradation, epidemics).

IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organisation that oversees those financial institutions and regulations that act at the international level. The IMF has 189 member countries (as on 12th April, 2016) but they do not enjoy an equal say. The G-7 members US (16.52%), Japan (6.15%), Germany (5.32%), France (4.03%), UK (4.03%), Italy (3.02%) and Canada (2.22%) have 41.29% of the votes. China (6.09%), India (2.64%), Russia (2.59%) Brazil (2.22%) and Saudi Arabia (2.02%) are the other major members.

Reform of Structures and Processes of the UN

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in 1992, which reflected three main complaints

(i) Contemporary political realities were no longer represented by the Security Council.

(11) Only Western values and interests are reflected in its decisions and dominated by few powers.

(iii) There was no equitable representation.

In veiw of these growing demands, a resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1992 over the reforms in the Security Council. On Ist January, 1997 the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan initiated an inquiry into how the UN should be reformed. Since then, the criteria for inclusion of new permanent and non-permanent members have been proposed.

• Some of the criteria for a new member is
• It should be a major economic power and military power.
• A substantial contributor to the UN budget.
• A big nation in terms of its population and a nation that respects democracy and human rights.

Jurisdiction of the UN

The heads of all the members-states 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.

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.

• The facts is that in majority of UN General Assembly more members are of developing countries. Therefore, India argues that they should also have a role in shaping the decisions in the Security Council. Thus, India supports an increase in the number of both permanent and non-permanent members. Its representatives have argued that the activities of the Security Council have greatly expanded in the past few years.

• The success of the Security Council's actions depends upon the political support of the international community. Any plan for restructuring of the Security Council should, therefore, be broad-based. For example, the Security Council should have more developing countries in it. India itself wishes to be a permanent member in a restructured UN.

• India comprises almost one fifth of the world population and is the second most populous country in the world. Moreover, India is also the world's largest democracy.

• The role of India in UN's Peacekeeping efforts is a long and substantial one. The economic emergence of India on the world stage is another factor that perhaps justifies India's claim to a permanent seat in the Security Council. India has also made regular financial contributions to the UN and never faltered on its payments.

• India knows that permanent membership of the Security Council has a symbolic importance.

• As it signifies a country's growing importance in world affairs. This greater status is an advantage to a country in the conduct of its foreign policy: the reputation for being powerful makes you more influential.

• Despite India's wish to be permanent veto wielding member of the UN, some countries questions its inclusion. For example, some countries are concerned about India's nuclear weapons capabilities. While other countries think that its difficulties with Pakistan will make India ineffective as a permanent member.

• Despite India's wish to be a permanent veto holding member of the UN, and all these given concerns it may not be very easy for India or anyone else to become a permanent member of the UN in the near future.

World Trade Organisation (WTO)

The WTO is an international organisation which sets the rules for global trade. This organisation was set up in 1995 as the successor to the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) created after the Second World War. It has 164 members (as on 29 July 2016). All decisions are taken unanimously but the major economic powers such as the US, EU and Japan have managed to use the WTO to frame rules of trade to advance their own interests. The developing countries often complain of non-transparent procedures and being pushed around by big powers.

The UN in A Unipolar World

Influence of the United States of America is very powerful and widespread. This can be understood with the help of following points.

• Many countries believed that the reform and restructuring of the UN could help the UN cope better with a unipolar world in which the US was the most powerful counry. After the disintegration of USSR, the US stands as the only superpower hence US power connot be easily checked.

• The influence of the US is considerable within the UN. The US has unmatched financial power, the fact that the UN is physically located within the US territory gives Washington additional sources of influence. Thus, UN can also stop any moves that it finds annoying or damaging to its interests or the unterests of its friends and allies with its veto power.

• The power of the US and its veto within the organisation also ensure that Washington has a considerable degree of say in the choice of the Secretary General of the UN. The US can and does use this power to 'split' the rest of the world and to reduce opposition to its policies. Therefore, UN is not a great balance to the US.

• Nevertheless, in a unipolar world in which the US is dominant, the UN can and has served to bring the US and the rest of the world into discussions over various issues.

• US leaders, in spite of their frequent criticism of the UN, do see the organisation as serving a purpose in bringing together over 190 nations in dealing with conflict and social and economic development.

Though, UN is an imperfect body, but without it the world would be worse off. Thus, it is important for people to use and support the UN and other international organisations in ways that are consistent with their own interests.

UN Agencies

between the states are discussed both in General Assembly The UN has various structures and agencies. The conflicts 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 among others. 7 Some of the UN key agencies are discussed below F

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 policie 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 world by 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.

UNESCO devotes a large portion of funds to basic research in developing countries.

It provides assistance and international cooperation among artists, scientists and scholars.

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 needs of the children in post was Europe. In 1950, its programme was extended to provide long-range benefits to children of all developing countries. Later on its name was changed to 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 officers in developing countries. It has been working successfully in 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 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.

It provides help to children and mothers in emergencies arising from natural calamities, civil strifes and epidemics.

It makes effort to prevent diseases like T.B, malaria, eye diseases, skin diseases, etc.

UNICEF performs various other functions. As the role agency for children, it speaks on behalf of children and upholds the convention on the Rights of the child and work for its implementation. UNICEF was awarded the Nobel prize for peace in the year 1965 and the Indira Gandhi Peace Price in 1989.

IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established in 1957. It came into being to implement US President Dwight Eisenhower's 'Atoms for Peace' proposal. It seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to prevent its use for military purposes. IAEA teams regularly inspect nuclear facilities all over the world to ensure that civilian reactors are not being used for military purposes.

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 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.

i 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 programnfe 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 diseases which are known as killers of infants and young children.

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.

The ILO is devoted to advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.

Its main aims are to

promote rights at work

encourage decent employment opportunities

⚫ enhance social protection

⚫ strengthen dialogue in handling work related issues,

The ILO helps in the creation of decent jobs and the kinds of economic and working conditions that give working people and business people a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress.

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.

all (iii) To enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social

(iv) To strengthen tripartism and social dialogue.

Functions of ILO

The functions of ILO are as follows

Creation of coordinated policies and programmes, 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 forced labour, protection against

discrimination, etc.) Research and publication of works on social and labour issues.

International Labour Standards

conventions, which are ratified by member states. These The ILO sets International Labour Standards with 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 it as a legally binding instrument, many countries use conventions as a tool to bring national laws in line with international standards.

Check Point 02

1. When did UNESCO come into existence?

2. Where is the UNESCO's headquarter located?

3. What is the main task of UNICEF?

4. In how many countries UNICEF is sugcessfully- working?

5. ILO has been founded in .........

Principal Organs of United Nations

The United Nations (UN) has six main organs. Five of them are 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.

General Assembly

It is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. It is composed of representatives from all member states, each of which has one vote. It also plays a significant role in the

process of standard-setting and the codification of international law.

The Assembly meets from September to December each year (main part), and thereafter, from January to September (resumed part), as required.

The Assembly considers current issues of critical importance to the international community in the form of high-level thematic debates organised by the President of the General Assembly, in consultation with the membership.

Functions and Powers of the General Assembly

The Assembly is empowered to make recommendations to States on international issues within its competence.

Make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any situation that might impair friendly relations among countries.

Consider and approve the United Nations budget and establish the financial assessments of Member States.

Elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of other United Nations councils and organs and, on the recommendation of the Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General.

Consider and make recommendations on the general principles of cooperation for maintaining international peace and security, including disarmament.

Security Council

It has the primary responsibility or the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, in which five are Permanent (with veto rights) and ten are Non-permanent elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms and each member has one vote.

Under the Charter, all member states are obligated to comply with Council decisions. The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression.

Functions and Powers of Security Council

To maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations.

To investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction.

To recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement.

To formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments.

To determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken.

To call on members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression.

To recommend to the General Assembly for the appointment of the Secretary-General and together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.

Security Council and the Need for its Expansion

After Cold War, various reforms in the UN took place especially regarding the functioning of the Security Council. There has been a demand on the functioning of the Security Council. Countries demanded an increase in the UN Security Council's permanent and non-permanent membership so that the realities of contemporary world politics are reflected in the structure of UN.

Proposals from Asia, Africa and South America came up to increase membership in the UN Security Council. On the other hand, US and other Western countries demanded improvements in the UN's budgetary procedures and its administration.

In 1992, a debate arose over reform of the UN Security Council in which UN General Assembly adopted a resolution reflecting three main concerns that are

(i) The Security Council no longer represents contemporary political realities.

(ii) Security Council's decisions reflect only Western values and interests and are dominated by a few powers.

(iii) UN Security Council lacks equitable representation.

On 1st January 1997, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan

initiated an inquiry to implement the reforms. The following criteria have been proposed for new permanent and non-permanent members of UN Security Council

A major economic power

A major military power

A substantial contributor to the UN budget

A big nation in terms of its population

A nation that respects democracy and human rights

A country that would make the Council more representative of the world's diversity in terms of geography, economic systems and culture.

However, some of these criteria were considered valid and some were considered invalid by the governments depending upon their interests and aspirations. It was asserted that current composition of the Security Council represents the post-World War II realities and thus is not in pace with the changing balance of power in the world.

Rise of forum like G4 (India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan),

function as important economies and emerging world powers are pushing after quick UN Security Council reforms. But still there is a concern that expansion of the council may lead to a decline in its efficiency and functioning. There are no parameters in the UN Security Council for considering the countries for permanent membership. For the developing countries, there is a need for UN Security Council expansion for equal representation.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 

ECOSOC was established in 1945, it is the place where the

World's economic, social and environmental challenges are Munir Akram was elected seventy-sixth President of the discussed and debated, and policy recommendations issued, ad Social Council on 23rd July, 2020, The Economic and 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 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.

To prepare draft conventions for submission to the General Assembly.

To coordinate the work of the specialised agencies and programmes and their functional commissions and five regional commissions.

To make arrangements for consultations with non-governmental organisations.

Trusteeship Council

Imp

The Trusteeship Council was established to provide 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.

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 appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year renewable term .

Functions and Powers of Secretariat

issues so that government delegates can study the facts To gather and prepare background information on various 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 United Nations.

International Court of Justice

Court is charged with settling legal disputes between States It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The and giving advisory opinions to the United Nations and its specialised agencies. The International Court of Justice is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council by absolute majority.

These organs vote simultaneously but separately. In order to ensure a degree of continuity, one third of the Court is elected every three years. Judges are eligible for re-election.

Functions and Powers of International Court of Justice

The Court's role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised United Nations organs and specialised agencies.

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.