1. The United Nations

2. United Nations Structure
Six main “organs” of the UN
General Assembly
Security Council
Secretariat
International Court of Justice
Economic & Social Council
Trusteeship Council
Many other agencies & organizations within the UN system

4. UNHQ – “New York City”

5. Secretariat (& Secretary-General)
Secretariat is the “business”
Secretary-General acts as a diplomat, advocate, civil servant, and CEO
Spokesman for the interests of the world’s peoples, in particular the poor and vulnerable
H.E. Ban Ki-moon of Korea (2007-)

6. General Assembly

7. Security Council

8. Economic & Social Council

9. Trusteeship Council (to 1994)

10. International Court of Justice - The Hague

11. UN European HQ – Geneva
Former HQ of the League of Nations

12. UN Office at Vienna
UNHCR, Space, Drugs

13. UN Office at Nairobi
UNEP, UNHABITAT

15. Purpose of the UN Maintain international peace & security
Achieve international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural, & humanitarian problems
Promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
Be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining common goals

16. UN Priorities: Conflict Resolution
Peaceful Settlement of Differences
International Court of Justice
Economic Sanctions
Peacekeeping Force
Regular Military Force
Must be made available by all member states on an individual basis

17. UN Priorities: Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
High Commission for Human Rights
- replaced by the Human Rights Council on June 16th, 2006
Refugees
High Commission for Refugees

18. UN Priorities: Sustainable Development
“Programs that improve people’s quality of life without impairing future generations’ ability to improve their quality of life”
UN Conference on Human Environment
The Earth Summit
United Nations Environment Program

19. UN Priorities: The Middle East
Whereas many other conflicts were resolved in a relatively short time….
Israeli/Arab &Palestinian Conflict has dominated the Security Council agenda for decades
Wars: 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982
Problems still exist today
Why?

20. UN Priorities: Other Major Issues
Women
Child Labour
Colonies (success!)
Apartheid (success!)
Population
Development (including the HDI)
Health

21. The Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson
Invented the concept of peacekeeping
President of the General Assembly
Won the Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to resolve the Suez Crisis of 1956
Canadian Prime Minister

22. Mrs. Louise Arbour UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 2004-Present
Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda

23. H.E. Stephen Lewis UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa 2001-2006
Deputy Director of UNICEF
Canadian UN Ambassador
Leader of the Ontario NDP

24. LGen The Hon. Roméo Dallaire
Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda 1994
Author of Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda
Canadian Senator

25. MGen Lewis Mackenzie
Commander of the United Nations Protection Force in Yugoslavia 1994
Author of Peacekeeper, Road to Sarajevo

26. Canada’s Financial Contributions to the UN
7th leading contributor to the UN – 2.5% of the UN’s budget (US $34.5 million)… more than China or Russia!
Canada has a perfect payment record – always in full, on time, and without conditions
In addition, Canada contributes $77 million annually for UN peacekeeping

27. Canada and International Development
Canada spent US $2 billion in 2002 on Official Development Assistance (ODA)
.28% of our Gross National Income
$100 from every Canadian
Canada plans to double ODA by 2010

28. Canada and Children
Canada played a key role in creating the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of a Child
Canada Co-Chaired the 1990 World Summit for Children
Canada hosted the 2000 International Conference on War Affected Children

29. Canada and Development in Africa
Canada dropped its tariffs and quotas on nearly all imports from least-developed countries in 2003
Canada led the G8 Africa Action Plan that helped African nations launch the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
Canada added another $500 million in aid through the Canada Fund for Africa

30. Canadian Missions to the UN
Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York (UNHQ)
Geneva Mission, Vienna Mission
Delegation to UNESCO in Paris
Mission UN HABITAT in Nairobi
Mission to UNEP in Nairobi
Mission to FAO in Rome
Mission to ICAO in Montreal

31. Questions About the UN? www.un.org www.un.int/canada
United Nations Watch