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Do you agree with the view that despite the limitations in the functioning of the UN, it has distinguished and unique achievements to its credit? (UPSC CSE Mains 2017 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 2)
United Nations Organization was established in the year 1945 after the second world war. At first, it was established by joining 51 countries. The main purpose of this organization is to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations, to upgrade better living standards, to promote social progress and human rights.
Now, it has grown with its 193 member states. This is the only organization that takes action on a wide range of issues. Even it fulfills the commitment towards providing a forum for all interested countries and allows them to participate in the joint discussion and to give a free speech on their views.
Achievements of UNO
1) This organization has solved many international disputes and has promoted peace throughout the world. For example, it settled the disputes between Iran and Iraq, Israel, and Palestine, and also the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.
2) UNO has signed many Nuclear Test Ban treaties. For example, NTBT in the year 1963 and CTBT in the year 1996.
3) In 1992, it conducted a conference on environment and development in Rio de Janeiro. In this conference, all countries adopted -Agenda 21 " a blueprint to promote economic development and protect natural resources.
4) It has not only excelled internationally for making peace between countries but also it has established the International Research and Training Institute for women. Furthermore, it has supported and conducted many projects and programs in over 100 countries in order to improve the quality of life for women.
5) In the year 1956, UNO played a vital role in the Suez Canal Crisis. Also, France, Britain, and Israel withdrew troops from Egypt due to UNO. Also, the Korean War and the Vietnam War have been settled down with the support of UNO.
6) This organization has a unique decision-making process, worldwide legitimacy, and specialized agencies due to which UNO has become successful to create tools to accomplish a wide range of tasks. It includes the WFP (World Food Program) and IFAD (International Foundation for Agriculture Development). IFAD has its headquarter in Rome. Switzerland is represented, as a UN member, with a standing mission in WFP, IFAD, and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). In 1948, World Health Organisation (WHO) was founded to deal with communicable diseases like smallpox, malaria, HIV. At present the WHO is the apex organisation dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
7) The ICJ has a positive effect on the development of International Law and the propagation of the principles of sovereignty, non-conquest, human rights and the rights of existence and self-defence of a state. The ICJ provides an additional option for states to settle their disputes peacefully through third party intervention, and this has reduced the threat of open war.
8) More than 560 multilateral treaties on human rights, refugees, disarmament, trade, oceans, outer space, etc. encompassing all aspects of international affairs were negotiated by the U.N.
9) Global Think Tank: The United Nations is at the forefront of research that seeks solutions to global problems.
- The UN Population Division is a leading source of information and research on global population trends, producing up-to-date demographic estimates and projections.
- The UN Statistics Division is the hub of the global statistical system, compiling and disseminating global economic, demographic, social, gender, environment and energy statistics.
- The United Nations Development Programme’s annual Human Development Report provides independent, empirically grounded analyses of major development issues, trends and policies, including the groundbreaking Human Development Index.
- The United Nations World Economic and Social Survey, the Word Bank’s World Development Report, the International Monetary Fund''s World Economic Outlook and other studies help policymakers to make informed decisions.
10) The UN defined, codified and expanded the realm of international law, governing the legal responsibilities of States in their conduct with each other, and their treatment of individuals within State boundaries.