WORLD ORGANIZATIONS

THE UNITED NATIONS IGOs

& NGOs

THE UNITED NATIONS• Founded in 1945 to: -Provide a forum for disputes among

nations -Promote universal human rights -Support economic development -Work towards world peace

Declaration of Human Rights"All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights" Promotes human dignity worldwide Eleanor Roosevelt championed the Declaration Adopted by UN in 1948

Millennium Development Goals of the UN

• End Poverty/Hunger• Universal Education• Gender Equality• Child Health/Maternal health• Combat HIV/Aids• Environmental Sustainability• Global Partnerships

Organizational Structure

• General Assembly - Main body• Security Council - Elite subgroup• Secretariat - International

leadership• Economic & Social Council -

functional agencies• International Court of Justice

General Assembly• Main “parliamentary” body• One country, one vote• Grown from 51 to 192 members• 2/3 are developing countries• Oversees budget and subsidiaries• Elects non-permanent members to

Security Council• Makes recommendations or

resolutions

Security Council• 5 permanent members - US, UK, France,

China and Russia• 10 Non-Permanent – Azerbaijan, Colombia,

Germany, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, Togo. (2yr terms) (no veto power)

• Secret ballot voting (2/3) by Gen Assem. – each geographic region represented

• 9 votes required on substantive matters, including all 5 permanent members

• Great power – unanimity or veto power

Security Council Functions

• Military Ops• Economic sanctions• Weapons inspections• Election monitors• Peacekeeping Ops

The Secretariat• International in character• Should not be dominated by one

country or region• Carries out the day-to-day work of

the UN• Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon• World leader -personally steps in to

resolve international disputes or draw attention to an issue.

Secretary General

Ban Ki Moon (ROK)Nominated by Gen. AssemblyApproved by Security Council5 Year terms-Was recently re-elected for 2nd term

Behind the Scenes - A Day in the Life of Ban Ki-Moon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUR0gzFg2ss

• Click for Video Motorcades and Dictator Disneyland, NYT

U.N. Headquarters in New York City

European U.N. Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland

U.N. role in Palestinian Statehood?

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-22-2011/west-bank-story

International Court of Justice

• Established by UN charter• Sits in The Hague, Netherlands• Legal disputes between states• Provides legal opinions• 5 SC nations have veto power

International Criminal Court

Created in 2002Prosecutions of individuals accused of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity.Operates independently of UNThe US does not submit to the ICCMaximum sentence – life imprisonment

IGOs

• Inter-Government Organizations are Funded by Member Nations

• May be established for a specific purpose

• May be UN Agencies oUnicefoUN High Commission for Refugees17

Goal of UN IGOs

• Raise Awareness of Problems• Increase Local Capability• Train Local Personnel• Rarely Carry Out Programs on the

Ground

International Institutions

Large and Powerful Organizations Make PolicySet the Rules Promote and Facilitate Globalization• World Bank• IMF• World Trade Organization

The World Bank

Provides low interest loans to developing countries for education, agriculture and business projects.Goal is to promote “inclusive, sustainable growth.”

International Monetary Fund

Monitors currency marketsProvides loans to developing countries to stabilize marketsGoal is to “facilitate international trade, while promoting economic development.”

World Trade Organization

Establishes global rules of trade between nationsFramework for trade policy:Non-discrimination (all members treated equally)Binding enforceable commitmentsTransparencyNot part of UN systemPredecessor was GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

Protests Target WTOLabor Unions Environmental Groups Human Rights Advocates Animal Rights Groups

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization 1949

Inter - Governmental Military Alliance  Reflects Cold War divisions Response to threat from Soviet Union (Warsaw Pact countries) Mutual defense if attacked by outside power•     Afghanistan

 Intervention - Military Training - Disaster Relief•     Kosovo•     Libya

  

The European Union 1993Union of 27 European States • Single market  - 26% of global GDP• Open borders• Common environmental policy• Cooperation on security matters• Reciprocity between court systems• European Parliament & Court of Justice

 The Euro• Common currency 1999• 17 of 27 members and other non-members (not

UK)• Central Bank

 

Non-Governmental Organizations

• NGOs are many and varied – civil society organizations that operate outside of gov’t.

• Some well known NGOs areo The Red Crosso Habitat For Humanityo Amnesty Internationalo Doctors Without Borders o CAREo Oxfamo Green Peaceo Grameen Bank

What is the Advantage of NGOs?

• More Flexible • More Focused• More Streamlined• Work Directly With the People “on the

ground”• Can Be More Critical of Human Rights

Abuses

Relationship With The UN

• Must adhere to the humanitarian principles and practices of the UNo Must have transparent accounting practices

The Work of NGOs

• Social Justice• Humanitarian Aid• Economic Development• Environmental Preservation

Social Justice• Amnesty International

o Unlawful imprisonmento Torture

• Caritas (Catholic Charities) o Victims of violence, rape, kidnappingo Eviction or displacement of the poor

• Save the Children o Support for familieso Education

• The Girl Effect – to end poverty among women http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIvmE4_KMNw

Humanitarian Aid

• Red Cross/Red Crescent• Doctors Without Borders -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73zMcdGfXGE

Economic Development

• Microfinance - A new approach to economic development

• Small loans to needy individuals in developing areas

• Goal is to promote entrepreneurship• How is this sustainable development?

Economic Development

• KIVA oMicrofinance ProjectsoCreates a positive imageoNo starving babiesoPoor people who work hard to

support themselvesohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=MXk4GUGXNTQ

KIVA Entrepreneur

Economic Development• Grameen BankoFounded by Muhammad Yunus

(won Nobel Peace Prize)oGrameen – “rural” in BengalioMicrocredit – small loans to poor

people (esp. for women)ohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=veaVikY3u98

Environmental Preservation• GreenpeaceoWorks to change attitudes and

behaviors regarding the environmentoClimate and energy (oil, nuclear)oPromotes safe fishing & anti-whalingoSustainable agriculture (against toxic

fertilizers & use of Genetically Modified Organisms)

ohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVu9eawb1QY

Funding for NGOs

• Foundations o Grants

• Donations o Fundraisers

• Dues or memberships o Special interests (AARP)

• Bequests o Tax advantages

Problems With Funding

• NGOs are not immune to fundraising and other financial scandals

• A scandal in one organization taints the entire field

• Fundraising for NGOs is a field in itself

Bill Clinton on NGOs

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-17-2009/exclusive---bill-clinton-extended-interview-pt--1

Bill Clinton on North Korea

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-17-2009/exclusive---bill-clinton-extended-interview-pt--2

Tim in Vietnam with NGO field staff.