The United Nations is the most important public body in the world. It is within the United Nations that structures can be set in achieving international peace, fairness and harmony. It is our best hope.
Established after the 2nd World War, the UN is almost global in its membership of 192 countries. Its work is vital because it promotes and develops international co-operation to make national governments work together to build a safer, more peaceful world.
The work of
the UN is guided by the ideals set out in the UN Charter:
Article 1 of the Charter says offers a broad outline of THE FUNDAMENTAL
PURPOSE OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
Click here for the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations
The work of the United Nations is, by its very nature, diverse. Peacekeeping and peacemaking, the setting of standards for air safety and communications, dealing with natural disasters, responding to the AIDS pandemic, fairness within the international economy and ensuring fair elections are just a few areas under the UN umbrella. Kofi Anan, the former General Secretary, has asserted the need for greater co-operation with Civil Society - thus taking into account a wide range of views from people and NGOs. The UN provides ‘common ground’ for countries to be able to work together.
However, the UN is not short of critics. Most experts agree that Britain and America went to war AGAINST international law. Why couldn't the UN do more? People also question why the UN appears unable to 'tame' globalisation, unable to make it a fair and just system - keeping it in a context of unfair trading systems - keeping poverty and environmental devastation alive.
UN Association know that it is vital for the United Nations to be strengthened, for it to become a system that Governments will be unable to ignore. It must not only offer the framework for the potential of international peace and justice to happen, but that framework must become reality. The UN simply must become stronger. However, the United Nations IS doing valuable work in many areas - It has numerous agencies - helping poor and disenfranchised people around the world. As this site progresses, it will be clear as to the absolute value and need of the UN, and we will leave you in no doubt that the UN is essential in our world today.
Help us make the UN strong. Help make our world a safe, secure and just place.
UN ASSOCIATION IS INDEPENDENT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS ITSELF. We offer constructive feedback on UN policy as well as focus on the positive work it does.
In our region, we are lucky to have a wealth of knowledge and expertise on many of the issues and questions - e.g. international security, the middle east crisis, the environment - and will call on many people to write pieces and to comment. We welcome your comments and thoughts. We hope that you return again and again to what will be an informative and important site.
JOIN UNA Your membership will help us to work towards our aims - campaigning for a strong United Nations. Consider being an active member. Join a local Branch or join us in the Region. Help us to make the UN ideals a reality.