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  • The United Nations

THE UNITED NATIONS

The UN was established on the 24th of October 1945 by 51 states after the disaster of Word War 2. The UN was a response taken by the great powers that led the war against Germany and Japan, and the big 5 (USSR, US, UK, China and France) become the head of the Security Council which still have veto power today.

In 2006, the number member states had grown 192, representing nearly every state in the world, and all member states must accept the obligations on the UN Charter.


THE UNHCR

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The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees) is the UN refugee agency and was established on the 14th of December 1950, by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action and protection of refugees world wide.
THE UNHCR IN SYRIA
The unrest that has unfolded in Syria has severely impacted upon one of the largest urban-refugee populations in the world. Damascus is home to many refugees from countries from all over the Middle East and Africa, and when the civil unrest in Syria broke out in late 2010 many of these refugees opted to move back to their own war torn countries. As of September 2012, 1.5 - 2.5 million people had fled their homes in Syria to find a safer place to live. In response to this crisis, the UNHCR developed a multi-sector emergency programme within the framework of the UN Syria Humanitarian Response Plan in collaboration with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC).
The main objectives and targets the UNHCR has set in Syria for 2013 are:
 - security from violence and exploitation
          - around 700 individuals benefit from counselling services
          - at least 300 SGBV survivors received legal assistance
          - the protection of children is strengthen through their capacity the                                  prevent the SGBV from harming children
 - fair protection processes and documentation
          - registration and renewal activities are undertaken within the guidelines set
 - basic needs and essential services
          - around 11,000 refugee families receive money assistance on a monthly basis
          - around 20,000 Syrian families are assisted with one time cash grants
          - ensuring that the population of concern has enough basic and domestic items
          - around 50,000 Syrian families receive non food items
          - around 100,000 refugees benefit from primary health care
          - ensuring that the population has access to optimal education
 - community empowerment and self-reliance
          - services are provided that bring together refugee outreach volunteers and local partners
          - community mobilisation is strengthened and expanded
          - self-reliance and livelihood opportunities are improved
 - durable solutions
          - around 5,100 individuals are submitted for resettlement while 3,500 have been facilitated
          - the potential for voluntary return to their country of origin is promoted with some 3,000 Iraqi refugees opting to be assisted to return home


The UNHCR is unable to put these measures in effect without the suport of the SARC, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NGOs and other local associations.


WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is aimed at fighting poverty and hunger. The main programmes that run are:
 - cash and volunteers
 - Food for Assets
 - HIV/AIDS
 - Purchase for Progress
 - School Meals
As well as the UNHCR working in Syria, the WFP has also responded with an operation to provide food for those refugees that have fled Syria to Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Lebabnon and Egypt. This is mainly done through food vouchers that are redeemable in local shops as well as direct food distributions.

UN PEACEKEEPING

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The UN is currently working in the Middle East to help bring stability to the area through the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO).


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The UN's most fundamental aim is to keep peace throughout the world; however they have objectives below this that include:
 - helping to develop friendly relationships between States
 - attempting to eliminate poverty
 - focussing on eradicating disease and illiteracy
 - stopping environmental damage
 - encouraging respect for rights and freedoms
 - helping States in achieving these aims



HOW DOES THE UN ACHIEVE THESE AIMS?
The Untied Nations achieves its aims through subgroups when it cannot deal with them directly. These subgroups wield a lot of power and influence in the Global arena. Organisations include the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank , World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). The World Health Organization exercised this power through their "3 by 5" initiative, in December 2003 they increased the amount of people that they treated for HIV and in 2006 the amount of HIV treatment in low and middle income countries had gone from 400,000 to a staggering 1.65 million. The Acting Directing-General of WHO Dr Anders Nordstrom said "The AIDs epidemic provides us with clear evidence that even some of the most complex health and development problems can be successfully addressed."

CRITICISMS

The current crisis in Syria has created a large amount of turmoil within the UN and more specifically the Security Counsel. After the passing of the 2042 and 2043 Resolution in Syria on April 14th and April 21st 2012 respectively, there was a feeling that the Syrian crisis would processed just as the crisis had been resolved in Libya. However the later withdrawal of 30 unarmed military advisors in Syria, on June 16th 2012, due to Norwegian Major General Robert Mood believing that the "escalating violence" endangered the people on the mission. Discontent was growing in the ranks of the UN because the Security Counsel could not come to an agreement on how to resolve the escalating crisis. Both Russia and China believe that the UN overstepped their authoritative power in the Libyan conflict by becoming militant, which therefore reduced Libya's sovereignty, and are continually rejecting the proposals made by France, the UK and the US who believe that imminent military action must be taken. Regardless of the debate between the two sides; the dysfunction of the Security Counsel is seen because of the lack of action from either side occurring, due to the problematic veto power of the "big five."

POSITIVE WORK OF THE UN
In February 2011, The United Nations in affiliation with the Arab League finally accepted to take action against the growing domestic violence in Libya; mainly due to the authoritarian Gaddfi regime that was in power at the time. The UN Resolution 1973 was passed on the 17th of March; which was proposed by France, Lebanon and the United Kingdom. This Resolution allowed the UN to freeze all assets to the Gaddfi regime, classify Libya as a no fly zone, demand an immediate ceasefire, stop the supply of weapons to the regime and for a legal basis military intervention. Ten of the security council members voted in the affirmative for this action including United States, France and UK, with five members abstaining these were India, China and Russia, Brazil and Germany. This Resolution lead to both Operation Unified Protector and Operation Odyssey Dawn, both of these operations were run through NATO, however this was due to the USA passing the command of Odyssey to NATO. These operations lead to the elimination of vital military bases in the civil war, this lead to a drastic decrease in both sides ability to continue the conflict and resulted in the death of Gaddfi and the progression to a more democratic society. 


LEVEL OF INFLUENCE

The UN directly cannot have an effect on crisis, as the UN's principle that member States must avoid using force or threating to use force, that they must try and settle there differences by peacful means, the UN may not interfere in domestic affairs, and that member states don't have to ratify the documents that are signed by other member states and they have no direct military force. 
All these issues contribute to the UN having very little direct influence, power and authority over any individual States, and it is more the independent power of NGO's and States that use the UN as a medium for there own political agenda and national interest; as Russia is doing at the moment with the supply of 1.5 billion dollars worth of arms in 2000-2010 to the Syrian regime. This has resulted in Russia exercising their veto power for there own State based gain. However the gain of the States interest has always outweighed the collective interest of the UN, and the UN doesn't have the power to prevent this which results in a lack of political influence in the global arena. 

MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Afghanistan - Nov 19, 1946

Albania - Dec 14, 1955

Algeria - Oct 8, 1962

Andorra - July 28, 1993

Angola - Dec 1, 1976

Antigua and Barbuda - Nov 11, 1981

Argentina - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Armenia - March 2, 1992

Australia - Nov 1, 1945 (original UN member)

Austria - Dec 14, 1955

Azerbaijan - March 2, 1992

The Bahamas - Sept 18, 1973

Bahrain - Sept 21, 1971

Bangladesh - Sept 17, 1974

Barbados - Dec 9, 1966

Belarus - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Belgium - Dec 27, 1945 (original UN member)

Belize - Sept 25, 1981

Benin - Sept 20, 1960

Bhutan - Sept 21, 1971

Bolivia - Nov 14, 1945 (original UN member)

Bosnia and Herzegovina - May 22, 1992

Botswana - Oct 17, 1966

Brazil - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Brunei - Sept 21, 1984

Bulgaria - Dec 14, 1955

Burkina Faso - Sept 20, 1960

Burundi - Sept 18, 1962

Cambodia - Dec 14, 1955

Cameroon - Sept 20, 1960

Canada - Nov 9, 1945 (original UN member)

Cape Verde - Sept 16, 1975

Central African Republic - Sept 20, 1960

Chad - Sept 20, 1960

Chile - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

China - Oct 25, 1971

Colombia - Nov 5, 1945 (original UN member)

Comoros - Nov 12, 1975

Republic of the Congo - Sept 20, 1960

Democratic Republic of the Congo - Sept 20, 1960

Costa Rica - Nov 2, 1945 (original UN member)

Cote d'Ivoire - Sept 20, 1960

Croatia - May 22, 1992

Cuba - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Cyprus - Sept 20, 1960

Czech Republic - Jan 19, 1993

Denmark - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Djibouti - Sept 20, 1977

Dominica - Dec 18, 1978

Dominican Republic - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

East Timor - Sept 22, 2002

Ecuador - Dec 21, 1945 (original UN member)

Egypt - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

El Salvador - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Equatorial Guinea - Nov 12, 1968

Eritrea - May 28, 1993

Estonia - Sept 17, 1991

Ethiopia - Nov 13, 1945 (original UN member)

Fiji - Oct 13, 1970

Finland - Dec 14, 1955

France - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Gabon - Sept 20, 1960

The Gambia - Sept 21, 1965

Georgia - July 31, 1992

Germany - Sept 18, 1973

Ghana - March 8, 1957

Greece - Oct 25, 1945 (original UN member)

Grenada - Sept 17, 1974

Guatemala - Nov 21, 1945 (original UN member)

Guinea - Dec 12, 1958

Guinea-Bissau - Sept 17, 1974

Guyana - Sept 20, 1966

Haiti - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Honduras - Dec 17, 1945 (original UN member)

Hungary - Dec 14, 1955

Iceland - Nov 19, 1946

India - Oct 30, 1945 (original UN member)

Indonesia - Sept 28, 1950

Iran - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Iraq - Dec 21, 1945 (original UN member)

Ireland - Dec 14, 1955

Israel - May 11, 1949

Italy - Dec 14, 1955

Jamaica - Sept 18, 1962

Japan - Dec 18, 1956

Jordan - Dec 14, 1955

Kazakhstan - March 2, 1992

Kenya - Dec 16, 1963

Kiribati - Sept 14, 1999

Korea, North - Dec 17, 1991

Korea, South - Dec 17, 1991

Kuwait - May 14, 1964

Kyrgyzstan - March 2, 1992

Laos - Dec 14, 1955

Latvia - Sept 17, 1991

Lebanon - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Lesotho - Oct 17, 1966

Liberia - Nov 2, 1945 (original UN member)

Libya - Dec 14, 1955

Liechtenstein - Sept 18, 1990

Lithuania - Sept 17, 1991

Luxembourg - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Macedonia - April 8, 1993

Madagascar - Sept 20, 1960

Malawi - Dec 1, 1964

Malaysia - Sept 17, 1957

Maldives - Sept 21, 1965

Mali - Sept 28, 1960

Malta - Dec 1, 1964

Marshall Islands - Sept 17, 1991

Mauritania - Oct 27, 1961

Mauritius - April 24, 1968

Mexico - Nov 7, 1945 (original UN member)

Micronesia, Federated States of - Sept 17, 1991

Moldova - March 2, 1992

Monaco - May 28, 1993

Mongolia - Oct 27, 1961

Montenegro - June 28, 2006

Morocco - Nov 12, 1956

Mozambique - Sept 16, 1975

Myanmar (Burma) - April 19, 1948

Namibia - April 23, 1990

Nauru - Sept 14, 1999

Nepal - Dec 14, 1955

Netherlands - Dec 10, 1945 (original UN member)

New Zealand - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Nicaragua - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Niger - Sept 20, 1960

Nigeria - Oct 7, 1960

Norway - Nov 27, 1945 (original UN member)

Oman - Oct 7, 1971

Pakistan - Sept 30, 1947

Palau - Dec 15, 1994

Panama - Nov 13, 1945 (original UN member)

Papua New Guinea - Oct 10, 1945

Paraguay - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member country)

Peru - Oct 31, 1945 (original UN member)

Philippines - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Poland - Oct 24, 1945

Portugal - Dec 14, 1955

Qatar - Sept 21, 1977

Romania - Dec 14, 1955

Russia - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Rwanda - Sept 18, 1962

Saint Kitts and Nevis - Sept 23, 1983

Saint Lucia - Sept 18, 1979

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Sept. 16, 1980

Samoa - Dec 15, 1976

San Marino - March 2, 1992

Sao Tome and Principe - Sept 16, 1975

Saudi Arabia - Oct 24, 1945

Senegal - Sept 28, 1945

Serbia - Nov 1, 2000

Seychelles - Sept 21, 1976

Sierra Leone - Sept 27, 1961

Singapore - Sept 21, 1965

Slovakia - Jan 19, 1993

Slovenia - May 22, 1992

Solomon Islands - Sept 19, 1978

Somalia - Sept 20, 1960

South Africa - Nov 7, 1945 (original UN member)

South Sudan - July 14, 2011

Spain - Dec 14, 1955

Sri Lanka - Dec 14, 1955

Sudan - Nov 12, 1956

Suriname - Dec 4, 1975

Swaziland - Sept 24, 1968

Sweden - Nov 19, 1946

Switzerland - Sept 10, 2002

Syria - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Tajikistan - March 2, 1992

Tanzania - Dec 14, 1961

Thailand - Dec 16, 1946

Togo - Sept 20, 1960

Tonga - Sept 14, 1999

Trinidad and Tobago - Sept 18, 1962

Tunisia - Nov 12, 1956

Turkey - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Turkmenistan - March 2, 1992

Tuvalu - Sept 5, 2000

Uganda - Oct 25, 1962

Ukraine - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

United Arab Emirates - Dec 9, 1971

United Kingdom - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

United States of America - Oct 24, 1945

Uruguay - Dec 18, 1945

Uzbekistan - March 2, 1992

Vanuatu - Sept 15, 1981

Venezuela - Nov 15, 1945 (original UN member)

Vietnam - Sept 20, 1977

Yemen - Sept 30, 1947

Zambia - Dec 1, 1964

Zimbabwe - Aug 25, 1980


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