1. Strand 3
Exploring democracy
PPT 17: The United Nations (UN)

2. The United Nations (UN)
A most important global organisation
The UN logo is a view of the world as seen from the North Pole axis, surrounded by olive branches – the symbol of peace.
The UN Headquarters, New York 2

3. 1 2 3 4 The United Nations: purpose The UN has four purposes.
To keep peace in the world 2
To promote and respect human rights 3
To encourage friendly
relationships between countries
To work together to solve international problems 4 3

4. International Court of Justice Economic and social council
The United Nations: members
The United Nations has 193 countries as members.
All UN member states meet in the General Assembly. It is like a world parliament.
The General Assembly
The Security Council has 15 members, five permanent members and 10 elected every two years. The five permanent members have a veto.
The Security Council
The International Court of Justice is the main legal body of the UN
The International Court of Justice
Security Council
International Court of Justice
Secretariat
Trusteeship Council
Economic and social council
General Assembly
The UN has many other bodies such as UNICEF, UNESCO, the WHO – find out about some of them. 4

5. The United Nations and Ireland
Ireland has always played its part in the UN since joining in 1955.
JUST A FEW FACTS:
There is a permanent Irish mission to the UN in New York.
Irish Aid works with UN development agencies.
Mary Robinson was UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 1997–2002.
Ireland has been a non-permanent member of the Security Council on three occasions.
Irish soldiers carry out UN peacekeeping work.
People from Ireland get the opportunity and honour to address the United Nations.
Joanne O’Riordan, who addressed the UN Girls in Technology Conference, 2012
When Ireland first applied to the UN in 1946 it was refused membership because it had not fought for the Allies against Hitler in the Second World War. 5

6. The United Nations: peacekeeping
The UN peacekeeping force works in conflict zones and in parts of the world where there is tension and unrest.
The Irish Defence Forces are part of the UN peacekeeping force and have served on missions to the Congo, Cyprus, Sinai, the Lebanon, Timor Leste, Kosovo and other places.
Try to find the places listed above on a map … 6

7. The United Nations: ambassadors
UN goodwill ambassadors
A UN goodwill ambassador is usually a famous actor, musician, athlete, author – a celebrity who will stand up for a cause, take part in a campaign or programme to help highlight its importance.
Katy Perry
Rory McIlroy
Emma Watson
Can you name any other UN goodwill ambassadors? 7