Aims and objectives of the UN

Introduction

The UN was born out of the horrors of the Second World War and the failure of the League of Nations (1920–1946) to prevent it. The name 'United Nations' was first used by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Declaration by United Nations of 1 January 1942.

Background and formation

• Atlantic Charter (August 1941): Churchill and Roosevelt set out principles for the post-war world.
• Moscow (1943), Dumbarton Oaks (1944) and Yalta (1945) conferences drafted the plan for a new organization.
• San Francisco Conference (April–June 1945): 50 countries drafted and signed the Charter on 26 June 1945; Poland signed later as the 51st founding member.
• The Charter came into force on 24 October 1945, celebrated every year as UN Day.

The four purposes (Article 1)

• To maintain international peace and security, take collective measures to prevent and remove threats to peace, suppress aggression, and settle disputes peacefully in conformity with justice and international law.
• To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.
• To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
• To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these common ends.

Achievements

• Preventing a third world war and helping end many conflicts through peacekeeping.
• Decolonization: over 80 former colonies became independent members.
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and many human rights treaties.
• Humanitarian relief for refugees and disaster victims.
• Global health campaigns, including the eradication of smallpox (1980).
• Development goals (MDGs, then SDGs) and climate agreements (Paris Agreement).

Failures and criticism

• The veto has paralysed the Security Council in crises such as Syria, Ukraine and Gaza.
• Failure to prevent genocides in Rwanda (1994) and Srebrenica (1995).
• Long-standing disputes unresolved, including Kashmir and Palestine.
• Dependence on contributions from powerful states, bureaucracy and slow reform.

Conclusion

Despite its weaknesses, the UN remains the only truly universal organization and an indispensable forum for cooperation on peace, development, human rights and global problems such as climate change.