United Nations Association of the UK04
The aim of this lesson is to introduce students to the United Nations
(UN) system and how it works to achieve international peace and
security, fight poverty, and protect human rights. Students will learn
some key UN terminology, and will focus on the roles and functions
of the main UN agencies.
What is the UN and why was it created?
The origins of the United Nations lie in the Second World War.
During the war, 26 nations forged a coalition to fight the Axis
powers. They agreed not to enter into any separate deals with
Nazi Germany and its allies, and adopted a set of principles to
underpin their efforts: freedom, human rights and justice for all.
The UN embodies these principles and represents the
culmination of the Allies’ efforts. Founded in 1945, in the
aftermath of the war and the horrors of the Holocaust, they hoped
that the UN would be able to prevent such catastrophes from
happening in the future by stabilising international relations and
giving peace a more secure foundation.
What are the aims of the UN?
The ‘blue helmets’ worn by UN peacekeepers are among the most
common images associated with the UN, and conflict resolution,
peacekeeping and peacebuilding continue to be core activities of
the organisation. But the UN does more than that.
The primary aims of the UN are:
AIM 1 Secure international peace
AIM 2 Eliminate poverty
AIM 3 Protect human rights
The UN believes that peace, development and human rights
are interdependent. They are mutually reinforcing objectives and
are often called the ‘three pillars’ of the UN. Today, these ‘pillars’
cover a vast array of issues, including sustainable development,
gender, population, health, education and trade, as well as issues
that were not on the global agenda in 1945, such as climate
change, international terrorism and cyber security. From its
headquarters in New York City to its local offices around the
world, the UN tackles all these issues and works to improve
the lives of people everywhere.
Who runs the UN?
The UN is not a ‘world government’. Its purpose is to bring all
nations of the world together to work for peace and sustainable
development, based on the principles of justice, human dignity
and the wellbeing of all people.
The UN is made up of 193 countries known as ‘member
states’. The member states finance the UN’s work and govern
its activities. To facilitate its role as an international forum for
discussion, the UN has adopted six official languages: Arabic,
Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
UN staff are international civil servants and answer to the
United Nations alone for their activities. When joining the UN,
staff members take an oath not to seek or receive instructions
from any government or outside authority.
The UN symbol – a world map surrounded by olive branches
on a blue background – symbolises the tasks of the organisation:
promoting peace and cooperation across the world.
Does the UN have a constitution?
The Charter of the United Nations is essentially the constitutional
document of the UN. It sets out the structure and powers of the
main bodies of the UN. The Charter came into force – i.e. became
legally-binding – on 24 October 1945, and all member states of
the UN must adhere to its provisions. This day is now celebrated
as United Nations Day across the world.
How is the UN structured?
The UN is made up of many bodies, each with a different function
and remit. Two of the most well-known bodies are:
The General Assembly: the UN’s 193 member states meet in the
General Assembly, which is the closest thing there is to a world
parliament. Each country, large or small, rich or poor, has a single
vote. While the Assembly’s decisions are not binding on member
states, they carry the weight of world governmental opinion.
The Security Council is responsible for maintaining peace, and
tries to settle conflicts that threaten international security. All
UN member states must respect and abide by its decisions.
It can set up peacekeeping operations in countries. These
The United Nations:
Working for us all
