The United Nations

An international organisation that tries to encourage peace, co-operation and friendship between countries.

The League of Nations

The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived during the First World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security." It had two basic aims, first to preserve the peace through collective action and second to promote international cooperation in economic and social affairs. It ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.

The purpose of the United Nations

To maintain international peace and security. Peaceful settlement of international disputes To develop friendly relations among nations To achieve international co-operation in solving international economic, social,

cultural or humanitarian problems. To promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for

all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.

The UN Charter The UN Charter was signed by 50 states at San Francisco on 26 June 1945

It came into force on 24 October 1945.

The Charter prepared the way for the establishment of a set of new institutions,

including the creation of a number of UN specialised agencies, such as UNESCO and the World Health Organisation.

Existing agencies, such as the International Labour Organisation and the Universal Postal Union, were brought under the UN umbrella. Together these institutions make up what we know as the UN system.

What does the United Nations do? Helps prevent or limit armed conflict and rebuilds war-torn States. Feeds the starving by providing emergency relief.

Promotes human rights.

Saves lives by providing basic health services. Promotes sustainable development Tackles disease through, for example, UNAIDS or the WHO's vaccine initiative. Reduces poverty through development. Looks after refugees

The Structure of the UN

The United Nations is composed of 6 main bodies, each of which is responsible for separate areas of the UN’s work.

1. The General Assembly

The headquarters of the UN are based in New York and this is where the General Assembly meets annually with representative from every one of the 192 Member States.

The General Assemblies main powers and responsibilities are to:

• debate issues• adopt resolutions, but these are not binding on Member States (governments follow

resolutions because they represent the world’s opinion on major international issues)

• elect the Secretary General and vote on the admittance of new Member States• negotiate and vote on the UN budget.

The rules of voting say that major decisions need the support of two-thirds of the Assembly. Less important decisions need the support of over half the Assembly. The influence of the Assembly is based purely on its ‘moral authority’. It cannot legislate in the sense of enacting laws that nations must accept.

2. The Security Council

The primary function of the United Nations is to maintain world peace and the branch of the UN responsible for this is the Security Council.

The Security Council is made up of five permanent members: USA, Russia, China, Britain and France. The permanent five members are joined by 10 non-permanent members who are elected to the council for two years. At present these members are Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovnia, Brazil, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Turkey and Uganda.

Rules of voting for the Security Council say that each Member State has one vote. Nine votes are necessary to make a decision and, for a substantive decision, five of these must come from the permanent Members. In other words all of the permanent Members must agree in order for a decision to be made or adopted. If a permanent Member State disagrees it can use its power of ‘veto’. This is called the ‘Great-Power unanimity’.

Under the Charter, all Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to Governments, the Council alone has the power to take decisions which Member States are obligated under the Charter to carry out.

The Security Council has the power to call on Member States to provide troops for UN forces to either act as peacekeepers or to support a country that has been unjustly attacked. However the latter has only occurred once in 1950 in Korea.

3. Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council is the chief body for focusing on the economic and social work of the UN. The Council's 54 member Governments are elected by the General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms. Seats on the Council are allotted based on geographical representation with fourteen allocated to African States, eleven to Asian States, six to Eastern European States, ten to Latin American and Caribbean States, and thirteen to Western European and other States. The Council’s work is carried out through two groups of organizations: the first is made up of UN agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the second is made up of organizations such as the World Health Organisation and the International Monetary Fund.

4. The Trusteeship Council

This council is made up of the five permanent Security Council members and was established to monitor the administration of certain former colonies before they achieved independence. After the independence of the last remaining United Nations Trustee Territory, Palau, in 1994, the Trusteeship Council formally suspended its operations and now only meets as and when it is required.

5. The Secretariat

Many thousands of people work for the United Nations in many and various locations throughout the world. The Secretariat consists of a network of administrators, field experts, advisers, translators, secretaries and guards and of course the Secretary General. The Secretary General has been described as having the most difficult job in the world as he (not yet she) has much responsibility but only a little power. Currently the Secretary General is Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea, who took office on 1st January 2007.

6. International Court of Justice

The Court is not based in New York but at The Hague (The Netherlands). The Court is composed of 15 judges who are elected jointly by the General Assembly and the Security Council. There may not be more than one judge from each Member State and each judge is elected for a term of office of nine years.

The Flag of the United Nations

The flag of the United Nations was adopted on October 20, 1947, and consists of the official emblem of the United Nations in white on a blue background. The emblem is a map of the world projected onto the North Pole within a wreath consisting of the branches of an olive tree. The colour blue was chosen in contrast to red – the colour of war. The olive branches are a symbol for peace, and the world map represents all the people of the world.

Narrative

For Djibril Karim was recruited into the Sierra Leone army at the age of 13. The goal was sheer survival. With his parents and brothers killed by rebel forces, Djibril wandered the countryside for months trying to find a safe place, eventually ending up at a small town protected by an army camp. To stay there, he and other refugee children had to work in the camps for the soldiers. "You had to collaborate with the military in order to breathe in that town," he recalls. Then as rebels killed more and more adult soldiers, the army turned increasingly to younger recruits. The children were confronted with a stark choice: "you can either join us or you leave." And leaving meant almost certain death at rebel hands.

After less than a week of rudimentary training, Djibril and his mates were sent out into active combat, where they again were faced with a choice: either die or kill rebels -- some of whom were themselves children. In his first ambush against the rebels, Djibril initially was too frightened to shoot. Then those next to him were hit, "and their blood was all over my face and my uniform. There was no other way out. You had to pull the trigger." Of the hundred or so soldiers in his unit, more than half were children. "Some of the kids were so young they couldn't even hold the gun. They had to drag it on the ground."

The experience was dehumanizing. Many, like Djibril, have lost their entire families and were encouraged by their commanders to simply take revenge. Often the children fought under the influence of drugs supplied by the adults. Some were required to take part in the torture killing of captured rebels. "You didn't really care what you were doing," recalls Djibril. "I didn't think there was any point in being alive anyway."

Young girls also were in the army camp, he says, as "basically captives." They cooked and did other tasks, and frequently were raped and beaten. Some eventually were also conscripted into military service.

Resource 1 – Angelina Jolie information sheet

Angelina Jolie may well be a famous actress, but she has set her sights way beyond Hollywood! She works as a ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ for the United Nations.

She puts lots of time and energy into helping the public understand the issues facing refugees from approximately 120 countries.

Angelina's first work with the UN was a mission to Sierra Leone (a small African country). Devastation had been caused by civil war in Sierra Leone, so when Angelina met some of the children there, she said she found their stories very sad and that the experience was “life altering”.

Angelina has travelled all over the world to show how much she cares about child refugees. She has visited places like Pakistan, Cambodia, Tanzania and Ecuador.

Angelina has now met thousands upon thousands of people who have been forced to run away from their own countries and start terrifying lives as refugees. "You go to these

places and you realise what life's really about and what people are really going through. These people are my heroes,” she says.

© PA Photos

Resource 2 – Laurence Fishburne information sheet

Laurence Fishburne is an actor from ‘The Matrix’ and has used his fame to publicise the work of the UN.

He has worked with landmine victims because he says that he is passionate about human rights. He is very keen to help protect children all around the world.

The actor says that it is important for everyone to become more compassionate and support the UN’s work. By talking about their work, he hopes that some of his fans will gain respect for the UN and will take a real interest in the thousands of children who have been injured by landmines in recent years.

©PA Photos

1. Quiz1. When was the first UN Charter drawn up? 1945.2. Where was the UN’s first official conference? San Francisco.3. How many countries participated in the first UN conference? 50.4. When is United Nations Day celebrated? 24th October.5. Do all countries in the UN contribute the same amount of money to it? Richer

countries give more than poorer countries.6. What is Angelina Jolie’s official title within the UN? Goodwill Ambassador.7. Where is Sierra Leone? Small African country.8. Why did Angelina Jolie visit Sierra Leone? There were lots of refugees there due to a

civil war. 9. Apart from her first trip to Sierra Leone, name two countries in which Angelina Jolie

has done UN work. Pakistan, Cambodia, Tanzania and Ecuador.10. Which word (beginning with ‘H’) does Angelina Jolie use to describe the refugees she

has met? Heroes.11. What is a refugee? Someone who flees their own country so that they can stay safe.12. What is civil war? War between people living in the same country.13. Which actor from ‘The Matrix’ is linked to the UN? Laurence Fishburne.14. Which kind of people has Laurence Fishburne been particularly interested in working

with? Landmine victims.15. What are landmines? Bombs placed underground (which explode when people or

vehicles pass over them).16. What does ‘compassionate’ mean? Cares about other people’s suffering and wants to

help them.17. What do Laurence Fishburne and Angelina Jolie have in common (apart from their

work for the UN)? They are both American actors.18. Through working for the UN, which rights are Angelina Jolie and Laurence Fishburne

helping to protect? Human rights.19. What does ‘publicise’ mean? Encourage people to support/take an interest in.20. What does ‘UN’ stand for? United Nations.21. What has surprised you the most about what you learnt about the UN today? 22. Why do you think that so many nations are involved in the UN?23. Had you ever heard of the UN before today’s lesson?24. Why is it important for British students to learn about organisations such as the UN?25. Why is it useful to the UN for superstars such as Angelina Jolie and Laurence

Fishburne to be involved?26. If you had to explain to a ten-year-old what the United Nations is and what it does,

what would you say?27. How do you feel about Britain being part of the UN?28. Part of the UN’s work is to help countries to produce their own food. Do you think

that this is important? Why?29. Part of the UN’s work is to counter terrorism. Do you think that this is important?

Why?30. Part of the UN’s work is to offer support to people with AIDS. Do you think that this is

important? Why?

VOCABULARY:

UN = United NationsGoodwill Ambassador = charity worker for UNRefugees = people who run away from their country to stay safelife altering = makes you see life differently

2. UN’s own resourcesThe UN teacher resources website www.un.org.cyberschoolbus/modelun/email allows students to email a different UN Ambassador each month with any questions and comments they have.

This website also contains a selection of games and quizzes regarding the UN and ranges in difficulty from a flag match game to the urban population fact pop up quiz which asks questions and provides information on population movement and growth.

3. Special Days/EventsClassroom activities/visits can be planned around the following occasions:

• World Environment day - 5th June• International day of Peace – 21st September• UN day – 24th October• Human Rights Day – 10th December

4. Wordfill

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The predecessor of the United Nations, the _________________ was founded immediately after

the First _________ War. As the Second World War unfolded, it became clear that the League

had failed in its chief aim of ____________________________. The United Nations officially came

into existence on 24 October 1945.

The purpose of the United Nations is to bring all nations of the world together to work for

______________________, based on the principles of _______________, ________________ and the well-

being of all people. It affords the opportunity for countries _______________ global

interdependence and national ___________ when addressing international ______________.

There are currently ____ Members of the United Nations. They meet in the ________, which is

the closest thing to a _______ parliament. Each country, large or small, rich or poor, has a

______ vote, however, none of the decisions taken by the Assembly are __________.

The _________________________ is in New York City but the land and buildings are international

territory. The United Nations has its own _______, its own post office and its own postage

_________. Six official __________ are used at the United Nations - Arabic, Chinese, __________,

French, Russian and Spanish. The senior officer of the United Nations Secretariat is the

___________________.

The________________________, while part of the UN system, are separate, autonomous

intergovernmental organizations, which work with the UN and with each other. The

agencies carry out work relating to ______________________.

Recently, ______________________organised by the UN have gained significance. With the moral

weight of international conferences and the pressures of ___________ and NGOs, Member

States are more likely to endorse the agreements and put them _________________.