Lecture 9 FILLED IN.docx - Chenwi/Dyani-Mhango/Sucker...

Chenwi/Dyani-Mhango/Sucker – Lecture 9 Outline –26/27 September 2013
A. INTRODUCTION TO THE UN
1.
Establishment, Purposes and Principles of the UN (arts 1 & 2 of UN Charter)
UN was established in 1945.
 To maintain international peace and security, and take effective
collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats
to the peace,
 Settlement of international disputes by peaceful means.
 To develop friendly relations among nations
 International co-operation in solving international problems
(economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian)
 To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations
2.
UN structure / Introduction to its principal organs (see organisational chart)
General
Assembly
Main deliberative, policymaking & representative organ
Secondary responsibility – maintenance of international
peace
Meets annually in ordinary session
Comprises 193 members
Security
Council
Executive body of the UN
Primary responsibility – maintenance of international peace &
security
Comprises 15 members (5 permanent members – China,
France, Russia, UK & USA; & 10 non-permanent members
elected by GA for 2 years - SA (2007-2008 & 2011-2012)
Presidency of SC on a 1 month rotational basis)
Takes decisions binding on all members states
Economic
& Social
Council
Coordinates economic, social & related work of the
specialized agencies, which work on a particular issue
Comprises 54 members
Secretari
at
Day to day work of UN
Services other organs & administers programmes
Ban Ki-Moon, Current SG – Korean
Trusteeship Council: supervises administration of trust
territories (suspended in 1994)
Internati
onal
Court of
Justice
Main judicial organ
15 full time judges (also has ad hoc judges)
Only States can be parties to cases
Trusteesh
ip Council
Supervises administration of trust territories (suspended in
1994)
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Chenwi/Dyani-Mhango/Sucker – Lecture 9 Outline –26/27 September 2013
General Assembly
 The plenary body of the UN, with secondary responsibility for the
maintenance of international peace.
Meets annually in ordinary session and provides a forum for the discussion of
problems facing the nations of the world.
193 member states.
Each member has one vote.
GA is authorised to discuss and adopt resolutions on any question relating to the
maintenance of international peace or any question falling within the scope of
the Charter.
Particular disputes may be brought to its attention by member/non-member
states and the SC, and it may ‘recommend measures of peaceful adjustment’ to
any situation detrimental to relations among nations.
GA resolutions on its internal matters are legally binding.
Resolutions addressed to member states iro peace and security are not legally
binding on states.
GA resolutions have NB legal consequences:
 Provide a legal authorisation for states to engage in action that might
otherwise be legally questionable;
 If repeated frequently, may acquire the force of a customary rule;
 Resolutions must be considered in good faith with a view to their
implementation (failure to do so may have serious implications i.e.