(United Nations Logo, Peace Women)
The United Nations was created immediately after World War II in order to prevent further wars and maintain international peace (United Nations Fifty Years). The United Nations met for the first time in San Francisco, California where the 50 member countries at that time unanimously agreed upon the U.N. Charter (United Nations Fifty Years). Article 1 of the U.N. Charter states,
“The Purposes of the United Nations are:
- To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
- To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
- To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and
- To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.”
(Charter of the United Nations)
This idea for peace was mainly western as the U.S. was the driving force behind the creation of the U.N. because the then President Roosevelt claimed that the U.N. would become the “policemen of the world” (United Nations Fifty Years). Throughout this post you will learn that the U.N. has helped the world in some regards, but has also failed to accomplish some of the basic goals that it was created to do.
(Capitalism Magazine, 2004)
U.N. foreign aid frequently disappears during armed conflicts, where either the rebels or government in a revolution or war will steal it all in order to gain civilian support through bribery, this has recently been occurring in Syria whenever there have been UN convoys of aid sent out (Afanasieva, Dasha). Because of this, the victims of these conflicts have been unable to receive the help that they need. In spite of this, the UN has still done a tremendous amount of aid work in numerous countries around the world, including refugees and victims of natural disasters (60 Ways the United Nations Makes a Difference). However, aid going to countries in the midst of conflicts rarely ever reaches the people who need it the most as it is often stolen (Afanasieva, Dasha). Of course this does happen with any humanitarian aid organization, but this certainly is still an issue. The only way that aid is reaching the victims of these atrocities is through refugee camps, which the U.N. must focus on more instead of basically giving away free food, medicine, and other necessities to dictators and rebels.
(Chery, Dieu Nalio. Sexual Assault on Civilians)
There has also been quite a few causes of U.N. Peacekeepers assaulting civilians while they are serving on missions. 63% of misconduct allegations on UN Peacekeeping missions personnel are sexual abuse or exploitation, some of these involving children where the peacekeepers would take sex in exchange providing food and shelter for civilians (Elliot, Francis, and Ruth Elkins). Almost 200 UN peacekeepers were disciplined between 2004-2007 for sexual offences and 319 were being investigated for sexual offences. The UN only cited dismissals but no prosecutions (Elliot, Francis, and Ruth Elkins). Not prosecuting their peacekeepers demonstrates the UN’s lack of interest in dealing with this issue. Even though there are thousands of peacekeepers are rotating on missions across the world, and many say this is bound to happen, there can still be improvements made to end this assault.
(Capitalism Magazine, 2003)
The United States, Russia, Great Britain, France, and China are the five permanent members of the 15 member UN Security Council and they have veto power (United Nations Fifty Years). In essence, this means that if any of the these five permanent members of the security council decide to use their veto power(vote against a resolution or sanction) it cannot be passed, even if all the other fourteen nations agree to it. Division during the Cold War between the western capitalist nations vs communist nations. Many countries in the General Assembly were former colonies and voted against the US on any voting taking place (United Nations Fifty Years).
Russia and China used their veto power at the U.N. Security Council on a resolution to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court for the war crimes that they have been committing on their own people since the start of the uprisings, including using chemical weapons. This resolution was backed by the rest of the Security Council and 65 other countries. Russia has used its veto 4 times at the Security Council on resolutions regarding Syria since the civil war began (Black, Ian).
Overall, since we live in a such a multicultural world, having one governing body over numerous global affairs, such as the United Nations, is very hard since different countries have different values, beliefs, and interests. Clearly, because of this it should not be expected that every single U.N. member country agrees on every bill or resolution. Even with all of this, the U.N. has done a good job on foreign aid in some regards, and developing treaties between various countries. However, over the past nearly 70 years of the U.N.’s existence, it has been demonstrated that there needs to be improvements in area such as the voting system, the Security Council, accountability of employees, and foreign aid in order for the organization to serve its intended purpose of maintaining international peace, security, and dialogue. Although it is clear that the United Nations needs reform in order to progress, the main question is, how?
Works Cited
Afanasieva, Dasha. “Aid Workers Question Effectiveness of U.N. Syria Aid.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 13 May 2014. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/13/us-syria-crisis-aid-idUSBREA4C05D20140513>.
Black, Ian. “Russia and China Veto UN Move to Refer Syria to International Criminal Court.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 22 May 2014. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/22/russia-china-veto-un-draft-resolution-refer-syria-international-criminal-court>.
Brancroft-Hinchey, Timothy. “2013: What Is the United Nations Organization For?” Global Research. N.p., 10 Jan. 2013. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.globalresearch.ca/2013-what-is-the-united-nations-organization-for/5318343>.
Capitalism Magazine. N.p., 2004. Web. 15 June 2014. <http://capitalismmagazine.com/2004/06/president-bushs-faith-based-foreign-policy-a-post-mortem/>.
Capitalism Magazine. N.p., 2003. Web. 15 June 2014. <http://capitalismmagazine.com/2003/11/the-united-nations-a-totalitarian-appeasing-debating-society/>.
“Charter of the United Nations.” United Nations. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2014. <http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter1.shtml>.
Chery, Dieu Nalio. Sexual Assault on Civilians. The New York Times. N.p., 7 Sept. 2011. Web. 15 June 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/world/08nations.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>.
Elliot, Francis, and Ruth Elkins. “UN Shame over Sex Scandal.” Independent. N.p., 7 Jan. 2007. Web. 12 June 2014. <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/un-shame-over-sex-scandal-431121.html>.
Lamp, Nicolas, and Dana Trif. “United Nations Peacekeeping Forces and the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.” Hertie School of Governance. N.p., Nov. 2009. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.hertie-school.org/fileadmin/images/Downloads/working_papers/47.pdf>.
“60 Ways the United Nations Makes a Difference.” United Nations. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2014. <http://www.un.org/en/un60/60ways/index.shtml>.
“United Nations Fifty Years.” Constitutional Rights Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2014. <http://www.crf-usa.org/america-responds-to-terrorism/united-nations-fifty-years>.
United Nations Logo. Peace Women. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2014. <http://peacewomen.org/peacewomen_and_the_un/un-basics>.
“UN Peacekeepers ‘Traded Food for Sex with Underage Girls’ in West Africa.” The Daily Mail. N.p., 2 Sept. 2011. Web. 12 June 2014. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032951/WikiLeaks-releases-U-S-diplomatic-cable-exposing-scandal-U-N-peacekeepers-traded-sex-food-underage-girls.html#ixzz1WzV1dd00>.
You do make some good points Maxine, but some of your arguments are based off somewhat deluded and exaggerative notions. For example, the notion that the U.N is “basically giving away free food, medicine, and other necessities to rebels and dictators” implies that they are apathetically facilitating the actions of said rebels and dictators. A notion, which undermines the entire basis by which the UN is run. Yes rebels in some cases are stealing these provisions, but to imply that the UN is apathetic to such instances subsequently implies the U.N’s unbothered facilitation of the very thing they are trying to fight. And as such, accuses the United Nations of corruption, an idea which perpetuates the UN’s toleration of the depraved regimes that are fueling such crisis’. Moreover, I also disagree with the statement you made regarding the efficiency of the United Nations, and that “since we live in such a multicultural world, having one governing body over numerous global affairs, such as the united nations, is very hard since different countries have different values, beliefs, and interests”. However, I argue the opposite: that it is the diversity of the values, beliefs, and interests of the countries comprising the United Nations, that makes the United Nations more effective as a governing body. Western society is constantly forcing their ideals on the rest of the world, and the United Nations should not be another excuse for Western Society to do so. The diversity of the beliefs, values and interests of the countries, allows for the United Nations be a more effective governing body as it takes into account the objectives and values of all countries rather than just western society, thereby promoting equality amongst the world. In essence, I think you pose some really great points regarding the questionable efficiency of the United Nations, but some of your arguments are somewhat misguided and dismissive of the negative effects that the constant perpetuation of western ideology in global society can have.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I find her comments a little harsh, I tend to agree with Melissa.
ReplyDeleteI think you're research is based on some specific examples, but is written in a much more generalized way (as if it's happening all the time, and with acceptance by the UN). A discussion of why the mismanagement happens would be interesting.
I also agree with Melissa's point that is is the diversity in the world that makes the UN so important. We live in a world that in many ways truly is a 'global village' yet we have a ton of police forces in that village. I wonder if we will ever be able to give the UN more power as a policing agency?