The norm against the use of nuclear weapons – the most destructive weapons ever created, with potentially unparalleled human costs – has stood strong for seven decades. But the only absolute guarantee that they are never used again is through their total elimination.
– Ban Ki-moon, eighth UN secretary general
United Nations Day is celebrated every year on October 24.
Someone I met at the weekend got into a conversation about it as I had just organised a United Nations Day blood donation campaign.
The general chat revolved around the UN’s relevance to today’s world. Has it fulfilled its role as originally intended? Does it serve its purpose to all the nations and their peoples?
However, before delving into this, I would like to share a quick outline of its background.
The United Nations, an international organisation, was founded in 1945. It is now supported by a staff of more the 35,000 to build a safer, more equal and sustainable world.
Its blue- and white-coloured logo with a map of the world surrounded by branches of the olive tree is recognised worldwide.
This “UN blue” colour is important and visually identifies the organisation. This ‘UN Blue” represents peace in opposition to red, for war.
Its membership has grown significantly from the original 51 member states in 1945 to the current 193 member states. For the year 2022, it operates with a budget of US$13.8 bllion (about RM64 billion)
The central bodies in the United Nations are as follows.
The General Assembly is the UN’s main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN.
Next is the Security Council (five permanent and 10 non-permanent members). It is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Security Council is meant to oversee issues relating to threats to the peace or act of aggression.
The Economic and Social Council focuses on economic, social and environmental issues and the implementation of internationally agreed development goals.
The Trusteeship Council was initially set up to provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories that had been placed under the administration of seven member states. All are now self-governing or independent.
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).
Finally, the Secretariat. This is led by the secretary-general and carries out the day-to-day work of the UN.
The key documents that the United Nations is identified with are the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the
Statute of the International Court of Justice.
The United Nations also has many funds, programmes and specialised agencies. The UN coordinates its work with these separate entities.
These many UN bodies and agencies are now meant to keep the peace and implement policies such as the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. A daunting and challenging task considering that even within nations, it can be difficult to unify its own peoples.
However, going back to the relevancy of the UN, my friend highlighted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an example of the UN’s failure.
He mentioned that the UN is dominated by the nations that won World War II the US, China, France, the UK and Russia.
Also mentioned was that these are the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and have veto powers on the UN Security Council, therefore the most powerful UN body compared to the General Assembly.
These five nations can block action via their vetoes and prevent measures from being implemented. But it is usually these very nations that are involved in acts of aggression.
Currently, the US and Russia are poles apart. They have used their veto powers on several occasions to prevent meaningful resolutions. Ukraine is a current prime example, and various other acts of ‘invasions’ in the name of stabilisation or peace.
Also, many consider it difficult for small nations to get support on essential matters without the help of the stronger countries.
The UN is also seen to be slow acting and bureaucratic organisation. Issues nowadays are ever-changing. The UN and its agencies are deemed to be cumbersome in a volatile world.
However, from my perspective, I would say that the UN remains an important and very relevant international organisation. The main reason I would give is that it is the only viable platform where all nations can still get together under one roof to thrash out their issues and come to a consensus or, at the worse, agree to differ.
To set up alternatives or use regional bodies such as ASEAN, European Union etc., to engage nations would probably be more divisive.
In addition, at least the smaller nations can ‘club’ together to have a stronger voice at the UN rather than speak solo from a weaker position.
Without viable options, the UN and its agencies are still essential and only feasible and stable bodies for all nations. In fact, there are also many success stories. Hopefully, various proposed reforms can be implemented to make it more effective.
Ultimately, it is also for each nation to take care of its own people through civil, unifying policies and peaceful means. Ideally, this should be through democratic institutions answerable to its citizens.
In Sarawak, we will face choices soon at our 15th general election. Do cast your vote for a government that focuses on unity, stability and Sarawak First policies.
In the meantime, let’s all wish the United Nations a Happy 77th Anniversary.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
