I grew up not knowing exactly what United Nations does. Nobody could explain it to me and I was left alone to draw up a mental picture about who they are. My picture was that they fight war. I mean peacekeeping. So many have so many meaning to what United Nations means to them. Some thinks they are western, some that they are against Arab nations and so many notions.
If you have ever wondered what United Nations does, you may not be alone. So many people have asked this question and many wanted to but couldn’t, while many never ever knew whom to ask the question. We are many in this dilemma and when many things comes to your mind daily without concrete answers, it may give room to right and wrong perception as answer depending on the side of the mirror to the explanation. But this write-up has come to dissolve and put ice into such conflicting questions with simple answers.
When you think of reasons President-elect Donald Trump criticized the United Nations as an international body that has “potential” to do something good, but just isn’t living up to expectations. You wouldn’t be wrong, than eager to know more about what United Nations does given the statement? In fact, the incoming president said that right now, the U.N. is just a special “club” for people to get together and talk. So sad!” Trump tweeted.
But United Nations had since responded to Trump’ statement in a way and manner I learn a lesson from. By taking time to explain exactly what they do more clearly to me and you and to others too. And for those of us asking what United Nations does and are living in hard to reach locations all over the world, take a read and see if this would explain.
WETIN UNITED NATIONS DEY DO SEF?
The United Nations came into being
in 1945, following the devastation of the Second World War, with one central
mission: the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN does this
by working to prevent conflict; helping parties in conflict make peace;
peacekeeping; and creating the conditions to allow peace to hold and flourish.
These activities often overlap and should reinforce one another, to be
effective. The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for
international peace and security. The General Assembly and the
Secretary-General play major, important, and complementary roles, along with
other UN offices and bodies.
The term “human rights” was
mentioned seven times in the UN's founding Charter, making the promotion and
protection of human rights a key purpose and guiding principle of the
Organization. In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights brought human rights into the realm of international
law. Since then, the Organization has diligently protected human rights
through legal instruments and on-the-ground activities.
One of the purposes of the United
Nations, as stated in its Charter, is "to achieve international
co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social,
cultural, or humanitarian character." The UN first did this in the
aftermath of the Second World War on the devastated continent of Europe, which
it helped to rebuild. The Organization is now relied upon by the
international community to coordinate humanitarian relief operations due to
natural and man-made disasters in areas beyond the relief capacity of national
authorities alone.
From the start in 1945, one of the
main priorities of the United Nations was 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.” Improving people’s well-being
continues to be one of the main focuses of the UN. The global understanding of
development has changed over the years, and countries now have agreed that
sustainable development – development that promotes prosperity and economic
opportunity, greater social well-being, and protection of the environment –
offers the best path forward for improving the lives of people everywhere.
The UN Charter, in its Preamble,
set an objective: "to establish conditions under which justice and respect
for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international
law can be maintained". Ever since, the development of, and respect for
international law has been a key part of the work of the Organization.
This work is carried out in many ways - by courts, tribunals, multilateral
treaties - and by the Security Council, which can approve peacekeeping
missions, impose sanctions, or authorize the use of force when there is a
threat to international peace and security, if it deems this necessary.
These powers are given to it by the UN Charter, which is considered an
international treaty. As such, it is an instrument of international law,
and UN Member States are bound by it. The UN Charter codifies the major
principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the
prohibition of the use of force in international relations.
#UnitedNations #UN
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