Important Questions: International Organisations

Step-by-step formation of the UN:

• 1941 - Atlantic Charter: USA President Roosevelt and UK Prime Minister Churchill met and made a plan for a peaceful world after the war.
• 1942 - Declaration by United Nations: 26 countries fighting against Germany and Japan signed this paper in Washington. They promised to work together and not make separate peace.
• 1943 - Tehran Conference: The leaders of USA, UK, and Soviet Union (the Big Three) met and agreed to make a new world organisation.
• 1945 - Yalta Conference: The Big Three again met and finalised ideas about the UN, like the Security Council and veto power.
• April-June 1945 - San Francisco Conference: 50 countries met and wrote the UN Charter. This is the rule book of the UN.
• 26 June 1945 - Charter Signed: The UN Charter was signed by 50 countries. Poland signed later, making 51 founding members.
• 24 October 1945 - UN Started: The Charter came into force. This day is now UN Day.
• 30 October 1945 - India Joined: India became a member even before independence.

Today, the UN has 193 member countries. It works for peace, health, education, and human rights. The UN is not perfect, but without it, the world would have more fights and problems.

Main reasons for change:

• Only 5 permanent members since 1945: USA, Russia, UK, France, China. No new permanent member was added after 1965.
• Developing countries have no voice: More than 100 countries are from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, but none have a permanent seat.
• World power has changed: The Soviet Union broke up, USA became very strong, India and China grew fast, Africa has many new countries.
• New problems need new ideas: Terrorism, climate change, diseases, and nuclear weapons need decisions from more countries.
• Decisions look one-sided: Only a few rich countries decide for the whole world. This is not fair.
• UN said it in 1992: The General Assembly passed a resolution saying the Council must change to match today's world.

Many countries want more permanent and non-permanent seats. They want seats from Africa, Asia, and South America. Without change, people will not trust the UN. Change will make the UN stronger and fairer for everyone.

India's strong points for a permanent seat:

• Biggest democracy and population: India has 1.4 billion people and free elections. It speaks for a huge part of the world.
• Helps in UN peacekeeping: India has sent over 250,000 soldiers to UN missions - more than any other country. Many Indian soldiers have died for world peace.
• Gives money regularly: India pays its UN fees every year without delay. It also gives extra help for UN programs.
• Growing economy: India is one of the fastest-growing big economies. It will soon be in the top 3 economies.
• Follows peace and rules: India believes in talking, not fighting. It follows UN rules and helps poor countries.
• Represents developing world: If India gets a seat, poor and developing countries will feel the UN listens to them.

Some countries like Pakistan oppose India, but India says it has done more for the UN than many others. A permanent seat will help India do more for world peace, development, and fairness.

How the UN helps even if USA is strong:

• USA gives 22% of UN budget: It pays the most and has the UN office in New York.
• USA has veto power: It can stop any decision it does not like in the Security Council.
• But UN brings everyone together: 193 countries meet and discuss problems like war, poverty, and climate.
• Other countries can speak: Small countries can share ideas and sometimes change USA's plans a little.
• UN stops big fights: Without the UN, countries would fight more. The UN makes them talk first.
• World needs teamwork: With 8 billion people, no country can solve problems alone. The UN connects everyone.

The UN is not strong enough to control the USA, but it is very important. It makes the world safer by letting countries work together. Without the UN, powerful countries would do whatever they want.

Key decisions of the 2005 UN Summit:

• Peacebuilding Commission: Made to help countries after war. It stops fighting from starting again.
• Responsibility to Protect (R2P): If a government cannot stop killing its people, the world must help and protect them.
• Human Rights Council: Started in 2006 to watch human rights better than the old group.
• Millennium Development Goals: All countries promised to end poverty, give education, and improve health by 2015.
• Said no to terrorism: All forms of terrorism are wrong. But countries still argue about what terrorism means.
• Democracy Fund: Made to help countries become free and fair.
• Closed Trusteeship Council: Its job ended when the last UN trust area (Palau) became free in 1994.

These steps show the UN wants to do more than just stop wars. It now works on rights, health, and fair growth. But countries must agree to make these ideas work in real life.

Why veto is difficult to remove:

• Made after World War II: USA, Soviet Union, UK, France, and China won the war. Veto keeps them in the UN.
• Big countries may leave: If no veto, strong countries might not listen to the UN and act alone.
• All five must agree to change: To remove veto, all permanent members must say yes. They will not.
• Veto keeps balance: It stops small fights from becoming big wars among powerful nations.
• Many say it is unfair: But without it, the UN may become weak and useless.
• Some want small changes: Like no veto in genocide cases. But even this is hard to pass.

Veto looks undemocratic, but it keeps big countries inside the UN. The world is not ready to remove it. Change needs trust and agreement, which is missing now.