The largest organization in the world, uniting almost all countries of the world, for almost seventy years has been the main platform for dialogue and a platform with which you can make your message to the world. Despite fierce criticism of the effectiveness of the organization by the UN member countries, there is no more comprehensive tool yet.
Background
The Second World War was still going on, when representatives of 26 countries gathered and pledged on behalf of their states to continue the struggle against the countries of the Nazi coalition. In the final document of this summit, the phrase "United Nations", coined by US President Franklin Roosevelt, was first heard.
In the fall of 1944, at a conference in Washington at the Dumbarton Oaks mansion, representatives from the United States, Britain, the USSR and China discussed the possibility of creating a global organization. The main contours were agreed, preliminary agreed on the goals, structure and functions of their offspring.
In February 1945, the leaders of the anti-Hitler coalition at a meeting in Yalta announced their firm intention to establish a universal international organization that will maintain peace and security.
Base
Almost immediately after the end of the war, delegates from 50 countries gathered at a conference on the creation of an international organization that would cover all countries of the world. Within three months, they developed and agreed on a charter of 111 articles, which was signed on June 25.
Poland is also considered one of the founders, although its representatives did not participate in the conference. The country did not yet have a universally recognized government, there were two of them - one in London, the other in Lublin. As a result, on October 24, 1945, the charter was signed by the pro-Soviet government. And the list of UN member countries has been replenished with 51 states.
About Organization
The United Nations is the only global coalition that deals with issues of international security and peace, the development of cooperation in the economic, social, cultural and humanitarian fields. All UN member countries carry out activities in various fields: from peace issues to problems of shortage of drinking water. The UN has achieved significant success in the humanitarian sphere - numerous economic and humanitarian programs to assist less developed countries have saved thousands of lives.
Targets and goals
The organization’s most important mission is to ensure international security, respect for human rights, and peacekeeping. The UN participated in the resolution and termination of many armed conflicts and international crises: the Caribbean crisis (1962), the Iran-Iraq war (1988), the civil war in Afghanistan (1979-2001) and many other local conflicts. In total, the organization participated in the cessation of more than 61 skirmishes.
The UN holds forums and conferences on all important socio-economic issues, at which decision strategies are discussed and developed. Much work is being done to overcome the problems of industrialization in developing countries, improve the environment, and help refugees.
Structure
In the organization, the charter defines six main bodies that ensure its functioning. The system also includes fifteen institutions, for example, the World Health Organization, several programs and bodies. The main deliberative and decision-making body, which includes all UN member countries, is the General Assembly. At its sessions at the organization’s headquarters in New York, a discussion is held of all international issues. A permanent political body is the Security Council, which should ensure the maintenance of peace. All issues of coordination of activities on social and economic issues are assigned to the Economic and Social Council. The Trusteeship Council deals with the eleven territories which are controlled by other countries. An international court resolves disputes between states. The secretariat, under the leadership of the Secretary-General, ensures the work of all other bodies.
Security Council
The main world peace authority consists of 15 members, including five permanent members. Permanent members (Russia, USA, UK, France and China) can veto any decision proposed for voting. Non-permanent member states of the UN Security Council are elected for a two-year term. The Council may decide to impose sanctions, such as against Iran, and even allow the use of force, as was the case during the Korean War (1950-1953).
Who can join the UN?
In order to join the organization, you must be an internationally recognized state. Any peace-loving state that recognizes the organization’s charter and is ready to fulfill the obligations imposed by membership can become a UN member country. Another condition for admission is that the organization itself decides whether the candidate can fulfill the obligations that it takes upon itself.
The admission of new UN member countries is carried out on the recommendation of the Security Council, which the General Assembly should approve by decree. When voting in the Security Council, a candidate country needs nine out of fifteen states to vote for it. After receiving a recommendation, the case is transferred to the General Assembly, where the resolution on adoption should gain two-thirds of the vote. The date of admission is the day the resolution on inclusion in the UN member countries is adopted.
There is also observer status, which can be obtained by both recognized and partially recognized states and state-like entities. Usually this right is used before joining full members (such as Japan and Switzerland) or if they do not have the legal opportunity to become a member (such as, for example, the Palestine Liberation Organization). Observer status can be acquired in the General Assembly upon receipt of a majority of votes.
How many countries are included in the UN
Among the founding countries of the organization were states with the most diverse international legal status. Some of them were not independent, such as the Soviet republics of Ukraine and Belarus, British India, the American protectorate of the Philippines. Others were virtually independent, like the dominions of Great Britain, including Canada and Australia.
From 2011 to the present, there are 193 permanent members of the UN. The growth in the number of members of the organization has passed in three waves. In the first decade after formation, the number of countries increased to seventy-six. By the age of 70, when many former colonies gained independence, the number increased to 127. And by 1990, when the colonies were no longer in the world, the number of UN member countries began to equal 159. In 2000, after the collapse of the socialist camp, the organization became members former Soviet republics and some new eastern European countries.
If you ask the question “which country is not a permanent member of the UN?”, The answer can be divided into two parts. Firstly, these are two universally recognized states - the Holy See and Palestine. Secondly, it is partially recognized - now there are eight of them, including Taiwan, Kosovo and Abkhazia.
Two states are now observers at the UN - the Holy See and Palestine.