1. The United Nations
Core business: PEACE

2. The UN’s core business: PEACE
The UN Charter:
Article 2.3: “All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.”
Article 2.4: “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”
Article 51: “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.”
How many tasks the UN System as a whole is dealing with, its core business, its raison d’etre is ‘no more war’, peace. In the UN Charter // itself ‘peace’ is dealt with in Chapter VI and VII. However it all starts with article 2 // There is one exception to this, which is article 51 // At least untill the Security Council takes action. So if nevertheless a conflict arises, the Security Council is the organ to take action. When there is a conflict which threatens international peace and security, then first of all chapter VI should be followed by the SC.

3. The UN’s core business: PEACE
The UN Charter:
Chapter VI Pacific settlement of disputes
Parties to a dispute … shall seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.
SC may investigate..
Any member may bring a conflict to the attention of the SC
SC may recommend approriate procedures…
How many tasks the UN System as a whole is dealing with, its core business, its raison d’etre is ‘no more war’, peace. In the UN Charter // itself ‘peace’ is dealt with in Chapter VI and VII. However it all starts with article 2 // There is one exception to this, which is article 51 // At least untill the Security Council takes action. So if nevertheless a conflict arises, the Security Council is the organ to take action. When there is a conflict which threatens international peace and security, then first of all chapter VI should be followed by the SC.

4. The UN’s core business: PEACE
The UN Charter:
Chapter VII Action by the Security Council
First the SC needs to establish that there is a threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of agression
SC may take provisional measures.
Article 41 Non-military measures (economic or diplomatic measures)
Article 42 Actions by land- sea- or airforces as may be necessary to maintain or restore peace and security.
Military Staff Committee / vs. Ad hoc military coalitions
How many tasks the UN System as a whole is dealing with, its core business, its raison d’etre is ‘no more war’, peace. In the UN Charter // itself ‘peace’ is dealt with in Chapter VI and VII. However it all starts with article 2 // There is one exception to this, which is article 51 // At least untill the Security Council takes action. So if nevertheless a conflict arises, the Security Council is the organ to take action. When there is a conflict which threatens international peace and security, then first of all chapter VI should be followed by the SC.

5. The UN’s core business: PEACE
The use of the veto throughout the decades:
Majority of vetoes by the Soviet Union (most of them before 1965)
Since 1966 Majority of vetoes by one or more NATO allies (US-UK-Fr)
Recent vetoes include:
RF-China on UN Sanctions over chemical weapons in Syria – Feb 2017
US on Israeli settlements in the West Bank – Feb 2011
US, UK and Fr on US invasion of Panama – Dec 1989

6. The UN’s core business: PEACE
Uniting for Peace Resolution by the General Assembly
RES 377 Oct 1950 / Korean question / US and allies bypassed the veto-power of the SU
Resolves that if the Security Council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in any case where there appears to be a threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression, the General Assembly shall consider the matter immediately
First used against UK and Fr in Suez-crisis / 10 Emergency-sessions / Not widely applied

7. The UN’s core business: PEACE
Peace enforcing > peace keeping
Peace-keeping operations decided by the Security Council; funds are allocated by the General Assembly
Three principles: consent of the parties; impartiality; non-use of force except in self-defense
Goals: maintaining peace, facilitate a political process, protect civilians, disarm/demobilise/reintegrate
Current operations: Haiti, 9 in Africa (f.i. Mali and South Sudan), India- Pakistan, 3 Middle East (Syria, Lebanon), 2 in Europe (Kosovo-Cyprus)
Many times it is successful, sometimes it fails desperately (Srebrenica)

8. The UN’s core business: PEACE
International Conflicts vs internal conflicts
Iraq invading Kuwait August 2, 1990 / UNSC met on August 3 called for full withdrawal / On August 6 decided to impose economic sanctions / November 29th it authorized the use of force
But conflicts no longer straightforward: one state attacking another
Internal conflicts; crossborder conflicts; involving different types of combattants; groups supported by different foreign powers
Current conflict in Syria: the number of internal and external parties to the conflict is enormous; alliances changing all the time
Involving civilians, internal and external political activists etc.

9. The UN’s core business: PEACE
Peace enforcing > Peace building:
Johan Galtung called for the creation of peacebuilding structures to promote sustainable peace by addressing the "root causes" of violent conflict and supporting indigenous capacities for peace management and conflict resolution.
1992 An Agenda for Peace (Boutros Boutros Ghali): peacebuilding is to solidify peace and avoid relapse into conflict
The term Peacebuilding has covered a multidimensional exercise and tasks ranging from the disarming of warring factions to the rebuilding of political, economic, judicial and civil society institutions. 
Actors: civil society inside and from outside the country; peace- keeping forces; special missions

10. The UN’s core business: PEACE
Responsibillity to Protect / R2P / follow up to “Humanitarian intervention / Notion introduced in 2001 by the African Union
2005 World Summit: R2P - commitment to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity
Decisions on the use of force still with Security Council
Two Special Advisors (SA on Prevention of Genocide; SA on R2P) coordinating all other efforts
International Coalition for R2P “to bring together NGOs from all regions of the world to strengthen normative consensus for R2P, further the understanding of the norm, push for strengthened capacities to prevent and halt genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and mobilize NGOs to push for action to save lives in RtoP country-specific situations.”

11. The Greens and the UN The Green Movement and the UN System
In 2020 UN exists 75 years / The Greens should use 2017 to 2019 to get the UN back on the international agenda
Facilitate the discussions nationally on the UN, peace activities, national positions in the UN
Develop a common platform for the Green Movement on Reforming the United Nations
Investigate a possible consultative status with ECOSOC for the Global Greens