 THE UNITED NATIONS Global Classrooms IES San Juan Bautista

What does it do? 

Key Words  People of the world  Better  Humanitarian  Remembering and Celebrating People  Helping Others  Need  Support

What does this mean to you? “The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.”

U.N. History  Began as the League of Nations in 1920 after the First World War (WWI).  Served as an international organization to discuss the world’s biggest problems.  Proposed by U.S. president Woodrow Wilson

 The United Nations, as we know it today, was founded after World War II in response to the failed efforts of the League of Nations and the horrors of WWII.

Why create the U.N. after WWII?  World War II was a global conflict that resulted in more lost lives than any other war  million were killed in total  6 million Jews were murdered in concentration camps as part of Hitler’s Nazi regime (known as the Holocaust )

 The name was decided by U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt  In 1945, representatives from 51 countries united in San Francisco to sign the United Nations Charter

Member States (Countries)  The U.N. currently has 193 members.  WHEN DID SPAIN JOIN? 1955

Official Languages  Arabic  Chinese  English  French  Russian  Spanish

Headquarters in New York

Symbol of the U.N.

Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki-Moon

What has the U.N. done recently?  Raised literacy (being able to read and write) by 20% for women  Provided safe drinking water for over 1.3 billion

SIX MAIN BODIES  General Assembly (GA)  The Security Council (SC)  The Economic and Security Council (ECOSOC)  The Trusteeship Council  The International Court of Justice  The Secretariat

General Assembly

About the GA  All Un Member States are represented.  Each country has 1 vote.  Topics include: globalization, AIDS, conflict in Africa, protection of the environment  Cannot force action by any state but it’s recommendations are important and represent moral authority

The Security Council

About the SC  There are 15 members.  Five permanent members : China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the USA  Other 10 are elected for two-year tearms  Primary responsibility: maintain international peace and security

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

About ECOSOC  This council has 54 members, elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms.  Coordinates the economic and social work of the United Nation and UN family of organizations  Focuses on issues such as social development, the status of women, crime prevention, narcotic drugs, and environmental protection

Loosely related to ECOSOC… International Monetary Fund

The Trusteeship Council

About the Trusteeship Council  Established to provide international supervision to 11 Trust territories (linked to colonization) administered by seven member states to ensure that adequate steps are taken to prepare territories for self-governance and independence.  Five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, UK, USA

 Now, all Trust territories have attained self-governance.  Suspended operations on November 1, 1994 with the independence of Palau.  A resolution adopted in 1994 states that the committee will meet only as needed.

International Court of Justice

About the ICJ  Also known as the World Court, the main judicial organ of the UN  15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council  Decides disputes between countries

The Secretariat

About the Secretariat?  Does the administrative and substantive work of the United Nations  The Secretary-General is its head and provides overall administrative help

Millennium Development Goals

What is Global Classrooms?  A program for secondary school students to act as UN Ambassadors to debate world issues  Exists in 19 cities around the world

What will you be doing?  Representing your country  Researching politics  Debating world issues  Improving your English  HAVING LOTS OF FUN!!

Video

Discussion Questions  Do you know of any projects that the United Nations has supported?  Why is it important to have a global community that works to address the world’s problems?  Do you think the UN is effective?  What can we do to strengthen the international organization?

Homework  Ask a family member: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING OUR WORLD TODAY? WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT IT?  Write down the response.