Transcript Deficiencies in the Internal Structure of the UN affecting

Deficiencies in the Internal Structure
of the UN affecting its
Independency
Presented By:
Alshymaa AboulKheir
"The world's biggest arms suppliers are the US,
UK, Russia, France and China. They are also
the five permanent members of the UN
security council"
(Andrew Niccol, 2005).
Lord of War, the Movie
Introduction
• About the World War II
• UN established in 1945 by the “Allied Powers”
• The Charter signed by 50 representatives on the 26th
of June
• Officially formed on the 24th of October by the
authorization of the Big Five and other nations.
Main Purposes
• Maintaining peace and security
• Developing friendly relations among nations
• Attaining international cooperation in solving
international problems
Secretariat
• International UN working staff, responsible for
executing several tasks of the UN offices everywhere
• Headed by the UN Secretary-General
Responsibilities
• Detecting peace and security threats and
administering peace-keeping operations
• Surveying economic and social trends and preparing
reports on sustainable development of nations and on
humanitarian related issues.
General Assembly
• Consists of representatives of all member states of the UN
• President elected yearly from among the representatives
• Special sessions and Special emergency sessions may take
place
Responsibilities
• mainly concerned with making recommendations regarding
all issues related to the UN, with the exception of discussing an
issue or a dispute that is currently discussed by the Security
Council.
General Assembly
• election of non-permanent members of the Security
Council, and other UN organs members
• The Assembly may also take action if the Security
Council fails to act
the Assembly is only capable of making "non-binding"
recommendations and resolutions to member states
on international issues.
Security Council
• Most powerful organ in the UN Organization
• Formed of 15 members, 5 permanent, and 10 non-permanent
members.
• Permanent members enjoy the Veto Power
• The Permanent members are the US, UK, China, Soviet
Union, and France
Security Council
Responsibilities
• Maintaining peace and security and investigating any dispute
or situation that may lead to international friction and violence.
• Recommending methods for settling these disputes and
formulating plans
• Determining the existence of any threats to peace and security
and to take military actions against an aggressor.
• Recommending the appointment of the Secretary-General, and
electing judges of the International Court of Justice.
International Court of Justice
• Concerned with a wide range of judicial activity
• Consists of 15 judges elected by the GA and the SC
• Its main function is to give advisory opinions on legal
issues
• Responsible for settling conflicts between states
The Economic and Social Council
• Concerned with the economic well-being of states,
and the maintaining economic development all
around the world.
• Consists of 54 member states, elected by the GA
Specialized agencies and programs:
• FAO, ILO, IMF, WHO, UNDCP, UNDP
Deficiencies
1. The Veto Power
2. The Increased Centralization
3. The Funding System
Veto Power
• gives them the power to abandon any substantive
decision regardless of the number of votes of all the
other 10 non-permanent member states.
• formerly found to guarantee the interests of the
founders of the UN
• since 1972, the United States became the most
frequent user of the veto
• Since the year 1989 till 2004 the veto was used 19
times, 13 of them by the US, and 11 of the 13 in
issues and resolutions regarding Israel.
Veto Power
Arguments against it
• Economical, Political, and Social changes since 1945... The 5
Big countries are no more good representatives of powers.
• slows down important political decisions
• exercising of the veto as a political aid for allied countries
• Permanent members are the most arms suppliers!!
Use of the Veto in the SC
Graph prepared by Benjamin Holt, September, 1999 (updated since then)
www.globalpolicy.org
Centralization
Arguments against it
• UN decisions are all tied to the SC, and the SC decisions are
tied to the 5 permanent members.
• The election system
– SG, elected by GA on “recommendations” of the SC (if any of the
permanent members of the SC refuses an elected person by the GA,
he/she would be eliminated.)
– ICJ judges, elected by GA and SC (Veto power still valid!)
– Trusteeship council, consists of the 5 permanent members of SC
The GA and the ESC are the only 2 organs that their members are elected
by the GA
The Funding System
• The UN is financed by measured voluntary contributions from
member states
• Contributions depends on the ability of each member state to
pay (its economical state)
• A ceiling is made for states contributions of 22%
• The US is the only state that meets that figure
UN regular budgets, and the monthly contributions of the 15
largest payers.
Source: United Nations: 2006 Status of Contributions to the Regular Budget,
International Tribunals, Peacekeeping Operations and Capital Master Plan
Member states debt vs US debt
Source: United Nations: 2006 Status of Contributions to the Regular Budget,
International Tribunals, Peacekeeping Operations and Capital Master Plan
Application: Humanitarian Decision Making
Israel war on Lebanon 2006
The case:
• On Wednesday the 12th of July 2006, Israeli military attacked
south Lebanon by intensive air strikes and bombing targeting
infrastructure and civilians
• This attack was a reaction by the Israeli government after
Hezbo Allah captured 2 of their soldiers
• The 34 days of war –from 12 July to 14 August 2006- killed
over 1,500 people, mostly Lebanese civilians, severely
damaged Lebanese infrastructure, and displaced about 900,000
Lebanese and 300,000 Israelis.
Israel war on Lebanon 2006
US role:
• "Washington-financed and organized war machine“ Piers
Mostyn, a socialist resistance, in the International view point, in his
article Israel’s new War on Lebanon
• "There is every indication that “never-ending war” is precisely
the strategy of the Bush administration in the Middle East“
Bill Van Auken, a writer in the world socialist website, in his article
Behind Bush’s truce plan
• "The suppression of Palestine which is being allowed to fester,
the invasion of Afghanistan, the conquest of Iraq and most
recently, the unrestrained destruction of Lebanon have all been
carried out in the name of the war against terrorism" Abdulla
Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia, in the 61st session of the UNGA
Israel war on Lebanon 2006
US role:
• “we’ve got a strategy—a strategy for freedom in the Middle
East which protects the American people in the long run. And
we’ve got a strategy to deal with the situations that arise in the
Middle East” George Bush, the US president, in a conference before
the UN resolution
• “The Arms Control Export Act forbids arms transfers to
countries that use American weapons for non-defensive
purposes, such as attacking civilians. Thus, in order to protect
the profits of politically influential American arms merchants,
the Democrats joined with Republicans in supporting language
in the resolution claiming that Israel’s actions were “legitimate
self-defense.”" Stephen Zunes, in his report for the FPIF
article 27 in the UN Charter states that, a party to a dispute shall
abstain from voting
Israel war on Lebanon 2006
UN Actions:
• “The UN itself serves only as a tool for imperialist policy“ Bill
Van Auken
• "The United Nation's highest body upholds Israeli War
Crimes, in Violation of the UN Charter" Michel
Chossudovsky, from the globalresearch.ca in his article
• "The UN system is potentially in jeopardy: The United
Nation's highest body has not only failed to acknowledge the
existence of pervasive war crimes in violation of the UN
charter, it has also acted in the interests of the Israeli
government which has ordered these war crimes". Michel
Chossudovsky
Israel war on Lebanon 2006
UN Actions:
• Amnesty International calls for the immediate establishment of
a comprehensive, independent and impartial inquiry into
violations of international humanitarian law. (Amnesty
International report as of August 2006 )
– should examine in particular the impact of this conflict on
the civilian population
– should propose effective measures to hold accountable
those responsible for crimes under international law
– ensure that the victims receive full reparation
Conclusion
• The UN had succeeded to significantly decrease the rate of
violence, wars, and human rights abuse in the world
• The paper discusses its failures and deficiencies in order to
enable it to improve and progress for attaining its aims and
purposes.
• Urgent radical reforms for the UN internal structure is terribly
needed
“To revitalize our common endeavor is to renew
our faith not only in the UN's programs and
purposes but also in each other”
Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretarty General of the UN, in his
acceptance speech, October 2006
Thank You for your Attention
Further Questions are welcomed