Anna Sękiewicz‑Magoń United We Stand, Divided We Fall

A)

When the winds of the II World War subsidedsubsided [subside]subsided, people decided that steps needed to be taken to make sure nothing equally atrociousatrociousatrocious happens ever again. In an effort to safeguard peacesafeguard peacesafeguard peace, 51 countries came together to form the United Nations. Although the beginning of the organisation can be traced backtraced back [trace back]traced back to the early 1940s, it wasn’t until the international conference in San Francisco in 1945 when the official ChartercharterCharter was signed. It contains the regulationsregulations [regulation]regulations of the UN and it’s a legally binding documentlegally binding documentlegally binding document for all member statesmember states [member state]member states. The Charter has got 19 chapters which specify the functioning of every aspect of the organisation. At the moment, the UN has got 193 member states, but all other peace‑loving countries which accept the obligationsobligations [obligation]obligations contained in the Charter are free to join the organisation. The Security Council makes a recommendationmakes a recommendation [make a recommendation]makes a recommendation and the General Assembly grants admissiongrants admission [grant admission]grants admission to new members.

B)

The United Nations set upset upset up very important and noble objectives. First and foremost, it’s been working towards preserving global security and peacepreserving global security and peace [preserve global security and peace]preserving global security and peace. The Security Council may get involved in conflicts as a mediatormediatormediator, or negotiatornegotiatornegotiator to help countries and local communities resolve their disputesresolve their disputes [resolve a dispute]resolve their disputes. The main objective is to ensure no situation escalates to endangerendangerendanger international peace and security. Similarly to NATO, aggression against one member state is treated as an attack on the whole organisation and can be met with collective responsecollective responsecollective response. The means of reaction range from diplomatic negotiations, to sanctionssanctions [sanction]sanctions and involvement of armed forces. The two further points on the UN agenda are the protection of human rights and sustainable developmentsustainable developmentsustainable development. To break these issues into more practical points, the actions taken by the UN are aimed at ending povertyending poverty [end poverty]ending poverty, fighting inequalityfighting inequality [fight inequality]fighting inequality and combating climate changecombating climate change [combat climate change]combating climate change by 2030. Dedication to equality is manifested, for example, by the fact that all UN member states, no matter how large or small, have one vote and the same say in deciding common issues.

C)

The Charter of the United Nations created 6 branches, each of them being responsible for different aspects of the UN functioning. The SecretariatSecretariatSecretariat lays outlays out [lay out]lays out the agenda that is discussed. The General AssemblyGeneral AssemblyGeneral Assembly gathers the maximum of 5 representatives from each member state who make big decisions called resolutionsresolutions [resolution]resolutions. The Security CouncilSecurity CouncilSecurity Council has got the right to authorise military operationsauthorise military operations [authorise a military operation]authorise military operations. The Economic andEconomy and Social CouncilEconomic and Social CouncilEconomy and Social CouncilSocial Council deals with financial and social matters. The International Court of JusticeInternational Court of JusticeInternational Court of Justice settles legal disputes and finally, the Trusteeship CouncilTrusteeship CouncilTrusteeship Council was responsible for managing colonial possessions. After the Republic of Palau gained independence in 1994, this body suspendedsuspended [suspend]suspended its activity.

D)

The objectives established by the UN are diverse and ambitious. For that reason, 15 specialised agencies and commissions have been formed to focus on various aspects of the UN activity. UNICEF focuses on the well‑being of children. The World Health Organisation supervises and manages issues connected with health, including the recent outbreak of the COVID‑19 pandemic. UNESCO makes an effort to preserve the world’s cultural heritagecultural heritagecultural heritage. Famous people often become ambassadors of these agencies using their popularity and financial means to endorse the good causesendorse the good causes [endorse a good cause]endorse the good causes.

E)

Nowadays, the UN more and more often comes in for criticismcomes in for criticism [come in for criticism]comes in for criticism for not being able to deal with modern conflicts. The Security Council sent military forces to numerous places around the world, but also failed to intervene in places like Rwanda, where almost a million people were killed in acts of genocideacts of genocide [act of genocide]acts of genocide. It is said that the organisation is in need of significant reforms to maintain its status as an international peacekeeperpeacekeeperpeacekeeper and peacemakerpeacemakerpeacemaker. Regardless of its shortcomingsshortcomings [shortcoming]shortcomings, the UN remains the biggest alliancealliancealliance working for the world’s peace.

1 Źródło: Anna Sękiewicz‑Magoń , [na podstawie:] https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text [dostęp 22.08.2022], https://www.un.org/en/about-us/main-bodies [dostęp 22.08.2022], https://www.un.org/en/ga/about/background.shtml [dostęp 22.08.2022], https://www.thoughtco.com/the-united-nations-p2-1435441 [dostęp 22.08.2022], https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/onz-na-czym-polega-dzialalnosc-organizacji-narodow-zjednoczonych-6617245119634016a.html [dostęp 22.08.2022], https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/the-united-nations-by-the-numbers/ [dostęp 22.08.2022], licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.