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INT 313: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Fall 2002

14 November 2002

The United Nations I: An Introduction

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Summary (12.11.2002)The Genesis of the United Nations

1. Preliminary Stages of Postwar Planning

2. The Dumbarton Oaks Conversations

3. From Yalta to San Francisco4. The San Francisco Conference5. Establishment of the UN

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Lecture Outline (14.11.2002)The United Nations I: An Introduction

1. The Charter of the UN2. The Objectives of the UN3. The Principles of the UN4. The Organization of the UN

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The UN Charter

signed on 26 June 1945, in San Francisco; and came into force on 24 October 1945.

The Statute of the International Court of Justice is an integral part of the Charter.

The Charter has a preamble and 19 chapters: purposes, principles, structure and functions

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Objectives of the UN1. To maintain international peace and security 2. To promote international economic and social

cooperation3. To promote respect for human rights for all

peoples4. To develop friendly relations among nations 5. To be a center for harmonizing the actions of

nations in the attainment of these common ends

(Article 1 of the Charter)

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Principles of the UN1. the sovereign equality of the members

(legal equality o all the members)2. 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

3. All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means

4. All members shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter

5. All Members shall give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present Charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance the target enemies

(Article 2 of the Charter)

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Other Principles 1. Domestic jurisdiction (article 2,

Exception Chapter VII)2. Right of individual or Collective self-

defence (article 51)3. Registration of international treaties4. Priority of the Charter over other int

agreements5. Juridical capacity of the UN

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The Organization of the UN The Principal Organs of the UN are:• General Assembly• Security Council• Economic and Social Council• Trusteeship Council• Secretariat• International Court of Justice

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The General Assembly • composed of representatives of all Member States • decisions of the Assembly have no legally binding force

for Governments – carry the weight of world opinion – the moral authority of the world community

• Regular and irregular sessions» Palestine» Disarmament

• Execute its functions through committees– Political and Security Committee– Economic and Financial CommitteeSocial, Humanitarian and

Cultural Committee– Trusteeship Committee– Administrative and budgetary Committee– Legal Committee

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Functions of the General Assembly • To discuss and recommend

– on cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security

– the powers and functions of any organ of the United Nations – the scope of the Charter – the peaceful settlement of any situation

• To supervision and review– Central coordinating body– Periodic reports– Supervise other organs

• Amendment and Revision of the Charter (2/3 Majority)

• Deciding Financial Matters– Consider and approve the budget

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Functions of the General Assembly • Elective Functions

– Non-permanent members of the SC– Members of ECOSOC– Non-administering members of the Trusteeship

Council– The selection of judges for ICJ– The appointment of the Secretary General– Admission and expulsion of the members