1. SHSMUN Model United Nations
What is the United Nations? And what can it do?

2. What is the United Nations?
.International organization established in 1945 following World War II, UN Charter signed and marked the beginning
.Their mission is to secure basic human rights, international security,develop friendly relations, and collaborate on problems that threaten international peace
.There are currently 193 member states
.Official languages include: English, German,French, Spanish,Russian, Arabic and Chinese
.English, French and Spanish are working languages in General Assembly and Security

3. What are the “core”bodies?
The Secretariat: Executive branch headed by Secretary-general,(currently Ban Ki-moon) , sets UN Agenda and coordinates activities
General Assembly: 192 voting members (non-voting members) oversee budget, can make recommendations/strategize solutions concerning global problems, elect members in other bodies, review reports. It is composed of 6 subcommittees, the most important are:
Disarmament and International Security - deal with problems of international peace and seek solution to challenges
Economic and Financial Committee-focuses on economic growth, development initiatives and funding, and global interdependency, technological advancement
Social Cultural and Humanitarian- deal with global social issues that challenge human rights (i.e. gender inequality, poverty, indigenous issues), oversee reports of human rights abuses
Special Political and Decolonization- human rights, decolonization,unchartered territory and outer space

4. What are the core bodies cont.
3. Economic and Social Council- policymakers on economic,social and environmental issues, can implement solutions, oversee non-governmental organizations and work toward goals
4. International Court of Justice-settles legal disputes between countries in accordance with international law, autonomous from the rest of the UN (located in Hague,Netherlands)
5. Security Council- 5 permanent members (U.S.,France,Britain,Russia and China), dispatches military operations, orders U.N. peacekeepers, imposes sanctions (diplomatic, economic and military), orders mandates and inspections, and election monitors in unstable countries, veto power

5. Strengths of the United Nations
Creates platform for recently decolonized, developing countries to voice opinion and discuss issues otherwise unknown to international community
Unifies countries with the common goal of international stability→development initiatives, a multilateral approach to many difficult conflicts that pose a global threat, intervention in crises if human rights violated, etc.
Prevented another World War and provide humanitarian support for innocent civilians in war, broker peace treaties,facilitate/oversee negotiation and peace talks
Balances countries’ sovereignty while promoting globalization and interdependence

6. Weaknesses of the United Nations
Transnational threats posed by non-state entities ( illegal trade and terrorism) result in UN inaction, constrained by law
No international army under direct order of Security Council
No way to ensure the implementation of the International Court of Justice’s rulings