United Nations

THE UNITED NATIONS

It is an international organization created at the San Francisco Conference which was held in the
United States from April 25 to June 26, 1945. The U.N., as it is commonly called, succeeded the
League of Nations and is governed by a charter which came into force on October 24, 1945.
Composed originally of only 51 members, the UN has grown rapidly to include most of the states in
the world.

Who was the advocate of forming the UN?

In his famous Fourteen Points for the peace settlement, Woodrow Wilson called for the
establishment of a “general association of nations for world peace under specific covenants for
mutual guarantees of political independence and
territorial integrity to large and small States alike.” And so, the League of Nations was formed.

Who coined the name UN?

It was President Roosevelt who suggested early in 1942 the name UN for the group of countries
which were fighting the Axis powers.

What are the principal purposes of the UN?

1. To maintain international peace and security
2. To develop friendly relations among nations
3. To achieve international cooperation in solving international economic, social, cultural and
humanitarian problems
4. To promote respect for human rights
5. To be a center of harmonizing the actions of nations towards those common goals.

What are the principles of the UN?

1. All its members are equal and all are committed to fulfill in good faith their obligations under the
Charter
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2. To settle their disputes with each other by peaceful means
3. To refrain form the threat or use of force in their international relations
4. To refrain from assisting any State against which the UN is taking preventive or enforcement
action.

2 Kinds of Membership
a. Original
b. Elective – those subsequently admitted upon the recommendation of the UN Security Council.

Qualifications for Membership

1. Must be State
2. Must be Peace-loving
3. Must accept the obligations as member
4. In the judgment of the Organization, be able and willing to carry out such obligation.

How is Admission conducted?

1. Recommendation of a qualified majority in the Security Council
- The affirmative vote of at least 9 members including the Big 5.

2. Approval of the General Assembly (GA) by a vote of at least 2/3 of those present and
voting.

Note: Both SC and GA votes must be complied with.

Suspension of Membership
Suspension may occur when a preventive or enforcement action has been taken by the SC. The SC
may, by a qualified majority, recommend suspension to the GA who shall in turn concur with a 2/3
vote of those present and voting. Discipline does not suspend the member’s obligations but only the
exercise of its rights and privileges as a member. Only the SC may lift the suspension by a qualified
majority.
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Expulsion of a Member
The penalty of expulsion may be imposed upon a member which has persistently violated the
principles in the UN Charter. Same voting requirement as to suspension.

Withdrawal of Membership
– Indonesia Case
The Charter is silent regarding withdrawal of membership. In 1985, Indonesia withdrew its
membership from the UN and it was not compelled to remain. Subsequently, upon President
Sukarno’s overthrow, Indonesia resumed its membership, which was accepted by the UN.

The Principal Organs

1. General Assembly (GA)
2. Security Council (SC)
3. Economic and Social Council (ESC)
4. Trusteeship Council (TC)
5. International Court of Justice (ICJ)
6. Secretariat

Subsidiary Organs – those which was created by the Charter itself or which it allows to be created
whenever necessary by the SC or GA.

1. Little Assembly – Interim Committee, created in 1947 for a term of one eyar and re-
established in 1949 for an indefinite term.
a. Composed of one delegate for each memberstate, it meets when the General
Assembly is in recess and assists this body in the performance of its functions.
2. Military Staff Committee
3. Human Rights Commission

Specialized Agencies – not part of the UN, but have been brought into close contact with it
because of their purposes and functions, such as:
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1. World Health Organization

2. International Monetary Fund
3. Technical Assistance Board

Proposals for Amendments to the UN Charter and Ratification

2 ways of adopting proposals:

a. directly, by 2/3 votes of all GA members

b. by 2/3 of a general conference called for this purpose by 2/3 of the GA and any 9
members of the SC.

Any amendment thus proposed shall be subject to ratification by at least 2/3 of the GA, including
the permanent members of the SC.

UN General Assembly
This is the central organ of the UN. The principal deliberative body of the organization and is vested
with jurisdiction over matters concerning the internal machinery and operations of the UN.

GA Composition
Consists of all the members of the UN. Each member is entitled to send no more than 5 delegates
and 5 alternates and as many technical and other personnel as it may need.

The reason for this system of multiple delegates is to enable the members to attend of several
meetings that may be taking place at the same time in the different organs or committees of the
Organization. However, each delegation is entitled only to one vote in the decisions to be made by
the GA.

GA Sessions
1. Regular sessions – every year beginning the third Tuesday of September.
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2. Special sessions – may be called at the request of the SC, a majority of the member states, or
one member with the concurrence of the majority.
3. Emergency special session – may be called within 24 hours at the request of the SC by vote
of any 9 members or by a majority of the members of the UN.

Some Important Functions of the GA

1. Deliberative – discuss principles regarding maintenance of international peace and security
and may take appropriate measures toward this end.
2. Supervisory – receives and considers reports from the other organs of the UN.
3. Elective – important voting functions are also vested in the GA, such as the election of the
non-permanent members of the SC, some members of the TC and all the members of the
SC, and with the SC selects the judges of the ICJ; also participates in the amendment of the
Charter.
4. Budgetary – controls the finances of the UN
5. Constituent – amendment of the charter.

GA Voting Rules

Each member or delegation has 1 vote in the GA. Important Questions are decided by 2/3 majority
of those present and voting. All other matters, including the determination of whether a question is
important or not, are decided by simple majority.

Important Questions include:

a) peace and security
b) membership
c) election
d) trusteeship system
e) budget

UN Security Council
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An organ of the UN primarily responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Their responsibility makes the SC a key influence in the direction of the affairs not only of the
Organization but of the entire international community as well.

SC Functions and Powers:

1. to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes
of the UN;
2. to investigate any dispute or situation which mightlead to international friction;
3. to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
4. to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
5. to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend
what action should be taken;
6. to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use
of force to prevent or stop aggression;
7. to take military action against an aggressor;
8. to recommend the admission of new Members;
9. to exercise the trusteeship functions of the UN in "strategic areas"; and
10. to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and,
together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.

SC Composition
Composed of 15 members, 5 of which are permanent. The so-called Big Five are China, France, the
European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The other ten members are elected
for 2-year terms by the GA, 5 from the African and Asian states, 1 from Eastern European states, 2
from Latin American states, and 2 from estern
European and other states. Their terms have been so staggered as to provide for the retirement of ½
of them every year. These members are not eligible for immediate reelection.

Chairmanship of the SC is rotated monthly on the basis of the English alphabetical order of the
names of the members.

SC Sessions
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The SC is required to function continuously and to hold itself in readiness in case of threat to or
actual breach of international peace. For this purpose, all members should be represented at all times
at the seat of the Organization.

SC Voting Rules
Each member of the SC has 1 vote, but distinction is made between the permanent and the
nonpermanent
members in the decision of substantive questions.

Yalta Voting Formula

a. Procedural matters – 9 votes of any of SC members
b. Substantive matters – 9 votes including 5 permanent votes.

No member, permanent or not, is allowed to vote on questions concerning the pacific settlement of
a dispute to which it is a party.

Rule of Great-Power Unanimity: a negative vote by any permanent member on a non-procedural

matter, often referred to as “veto”, means rejection of the draft resolution or proposal, even if it has
received 9 affirmative votes. - Abstention or absence of a member is not regarded as veto

Procedural and Substantive Matters Distinguished

Procedural matters include:
a. questions relating to the organization and meetings of the Council;
b. the establishment of subsidiary organs; and
c. the participation of states parties to a dispute in the discussion of the SC.

Substantial matters include those that may require the SC under its responsibility of maintaining or
restoring world peace to invoke measures of enforcement

What is the role of a Member of the UN but not a member of the Security Council?
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Although not a member of the SC, it may participate (without vote) in the discussion of any
question before the Council whenever the latter feels that the interests of that member are specially
affected. Such member is likewise to be invited by the Council to participate (without vote)in the
discussion of any dispute to which the Member is a party.

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its seat is at
the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). It began work in 1946, when it replaced the
Permanent Court of International Justice which had functioned in the Peace Palace since 1922. It
operates under a Statute largely similar to that of its redecessor, which is an integral part of the
Charter of the United Nations.

ICJ Composition and Qualifications

The Court is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations
General Assembly and Security Council sitting independently of each other. It may not include more
than one judge of any nationality.

Elections are held every three years for one-third of the seats, and retiring judges may be re-elected.
The Members of the Court do not represent their governments but are independent magistrates.

QUALIFICIATIONS OF JUDGES
1. They must be of high moral character;
2. Possess the qualifications required in their respective countries for appointment to the
highest judicial office or are jurists of recognized competence in international law; and
3. As much as possible, they must represent the main forms of civilization and the principal
legal systems of the world.

When the Court does not include a judge possessing the nationality of a State party to a case, that
State may appoint a person to sit as a judge ad hoc for the purpose of the case.
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ICJ Jurisdiction

The Court is competent to entertain a dispute only if the States concerned have accepted its
jurisdiction in one or more of the following ways:
a. by the conclusion between them of a special agreement to submit the dispute to the Court;
b. by virtue of a jurisdictional clause, i.e., typically, when they are parties to a treaty containing a
provision whereby, in the event of a disagreement over its interpretation or application, one
of them may refer the dispute to the Court. Several hundred treaties or conventions contain
a clause to such effect; or
c. through the reciprocal effect of declarations made by them under the Statute whereby each
has accepted the jurisdiction of the Court as compulsory in the event of a dispute with
another State having made a similar declaration. The declarations of 65 States are at present
in force, a number of them having been made subject to the exclusion of certain categories
of dispute. In cases of doubt as to whether the Court has jurisdiction, it is the Court itself
which decides.

Term of Office
Term of 9 years, staggered at three year year intervals by dividing the judges first elected into three
equal groups and assigning them by lottery terms of three, six and nine years respectively.
Immediate re-election is allowed. The President and the Vice President elected by the Court for
three years, may also be re-elected. Terms of office of 5 of the 15 members shall expire at the end of
every 3 years.

How members of ICJ are chosen

1. Nomination made by national groups in accordance with the Hague Conventions of 1907.
No group shall nominate more than four persons and not more than two of whom shall be
of their own nationality.
2. Candidates obtaining an absolute majority in the GA and SC are considered elected. In the
event that more than 1 national of the same state obtain the requisite majorities in both
bodies, only the eldest is chosen.
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3. In cases when membership is not completed by the regular elections, a joint conference shall
be convened. If this still fails, the judges elected shall fill the remaining vacancies.

ICJ Sessions
The Court shall remain permanently in session at the Hague or elsewhere as it may decide, except
during the judicial vacations the dates and duration of which it shall fix.

Procedure in the ICJ

The procedure followed by the Court in contentious cases is defined in its Statute, and in the Rules
of Court adopted by it under the Statute. The latest version of the Rules dates from 5 December
2000. The proceedings include a written phase, in which the parties file and exchange pleadings, and
an oral phase consisting of public hearings at which agents and counsel address the Court. As the
Court has two official languages (English and French) verything written or said in one language is
translated into the other.

After the oral proceedings the Court deliberates in camera and then delivers its judgment at a public
sitting. The judgment is final and without appeal. Should one of the States involved fail to comply
with it, the other party may have recourse to the Security Council.

The Court discharges its duties as a full court but, at the request of the parties, it may also establish a
special chamber. A Chamber of Summary Procedure is elected every year by the Court in
accordance with its Statute. In July 1993 the Court also established a seven-member Chamber to
deal with any environmental cases falling within its jurisdiction

ICJ Voting Rules

All questions before the Court are decided by a majority of the judges present, the quorum being
nine when it is sitting en banc. In case of tie, the President or his substitute shall have a casting vote.

Rule for Inhibition of Judges

No judge may participate in the decision of a case in which he has previously taken part as agent,
counsel or advocate for one of the parties, or as a member of a national or international court, or of
a commission of injury, or in any other capacity.
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Functions of ICJ
The principal functions of the Court are:
1. to decide contentious case; and
2. to render advisory opinions.

Who may file contentious cases?

Only states can file contentious cases and both must agree to the court’s jurisdiction. Only States
may apply to and appear before the Court. The Member States of the United Nations (at present
numbering 191) are so entitled.

Article 34(1): Only states may be parties in cases before the Court.
Article 36(1): The jurisdiction of the Court comprises all cases which the parties refer to it and all
matters specially provided for in the Charter of the UN or in treaties and conventions in force.

Advisory Opinions
The advisory procedure of the Court is open solely to international organizations. The only bodies at
present authorized to request advisory opinions of the Court are five organs of the United Nations
and 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations family.

On receiving a request, the Court decides which States and organizations might provide useful
information and gives them an opportunity of presenting written or oral statements. The Court's
advisory procedure is otherwise modelled on that for contentious proceedings, and the sources of
applicable law are the same. In principle the Court's advisory opinions are consultative in character
and are therefore not binding as such on the requesting bodies. Certain instruments or regulations
can, however, provide in advance that the advisory opinion shall be binding.

Only organizations can request advisory opinions [Article 65(1)]: The Court may give an advisory
opinion on any legal question at the request of whatever body may be authorized by or in
accordance with the Charter of the UN to make such a request.

There is no rule of stare decisis.

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The Economic and Social Council

Composed of fifty four (54) members with one vote each;
All elected by the GA;
Term of three (3) years with immediate re-election;
Staggered terms so as to provide for replacement or re-elections of 1/3 of the body every year.

Mandates of The ECOSOC

Exert efforts toward:
1. Higher standards of living, full employment and conditions of economic and social progress
and development;
2. Solutions of international economic, social, health and related problems, and international,
cultural and educational cooperation; and
3. Universal respect for, and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all
without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.

Subsidiary Organs of The ECOSOC Subsidiary:

1. Commission on the Status of Women
2. The different Regional Economic Commissions for Europe, Asia and the Far East, and
Latin America

Collaborative with:
1. International Monetary Fund; and
2. International Trade Commission

The Trusteeship Council

1. Administration of the International trusteeship system;
2. Composed of: a) the members of the UN administering trust territories, b) the permanent
members of the SC not administering trust territories; and
3. other members as necessary and elected by the GA for a 3-year term .