United Nations Initiatives
A history of initiatives taken by the United Nations on Peace and Security Issues.
The United Nations has been a key proponent of disarmament. Both its founding document, the UN Charter, and the very first resolution of the UN General Assembly deal with disarmament.A brief look at the history:>>24 October 1945
UN Charter enters into force; the Charter contains two references to disarmament (Articles 11 and 47) and urges the “least diversion for armaments” of the world’s human and economic resources (Article 26). (Read the UN Charter at http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter.)>>24 January 1946
First resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly creates a UN Atomic Energy Commission and sets forth the goal of eliminating all weapons “adaptable to mass destruction.”>>14 December 1946
General Assembly adopts resolution urging the Security Council to formulate practical measures “for the general regulation and reduction of armaments and armed forces.”
>>11 January 1952
General Assembly establishes the Disarmament Commission to draft treaties for (a) the “regulation, limitation, and balanced reduction of all armed forces and all armaments,” (b) the elimination of all weapons adaptable to mass destruction, and (c) the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
>>20 November 1959
General Assembly first identifies the goal of “general and complete disarmament under effective international control.”
The United Nations, since its creation, has sought two parallel and mutually reinforcing goals: the elimination of weapons of mass destruction (biological, chemical and nuclear) and the limitation or regulation of conventional arms. It deals with these issues through its most important organs and their subsidiaries.
Conference on Disarmament
The Conference on Disarmament (CD) is the sole multilateral body for negotiating disarmament treaties. It has 65 permanent members (2008) which meet in Geneva in three sessions each year (generally, January to March, May to June and July to September). Its past accomplishments include the Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (which has not yet entered into force). Its work has been largely stalled for the last ten years.
To learn more about the CD, check out the following websites: The Arms Control Association, Reaching Critical Will, The Acronym Institute and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Headquartered in Vienna, the IAEA was set up in 1957 to promote global cooperation in the field of nuclear technology. Its programs and budgets are set by the 35-member Board of Governors and the General Conference of All Member States. Its work falls broadly into three categories: safety and security, science and technology, and safeguards and verification. It is sometimes referred to as the world’s “nuclear watchdog.” The IAEA is an independent, international organization related to the UN.
UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations
>> view UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations website
Although “peacekeeping” is not mentioned in the United Nations Charter, it has become a major part of the work of the organization. While it was born during the time of the cold war (and used at this time primarily to maintain ceasefires and stabilize situations), the peacekeeping mandate has grown to include multidimensional missions aimed at ensuring the implementation of ceasefires and laying the groundwork for sustainable peace. In February 2008, there were 110,000 peacekeeping personnel deployed globally in 20 peace operations (a sevenfold increase since 1999). The peacekeeping mission is vital to the work of the UN, but it is also challenging. It has at times been difficult to raise the funds and recruit the troops needed for peacekeeping operations. Some recent peacekeeping missions have been plagued by charges of sexual exploitation and abuse.
UN Disarmament Commission
>> view UN Disarmament Commission website
The Disarmament Commission, a deliberative body (it can make only recommendations, not binding decisions), is a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly, mandated to consider and make recommendations on disarmament issues. It was established in 1978 at the first Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament (succeeding an earlier Disarmament Commission which ceased to convene in 1965). The Disarmament Commission consists of all Member States of the UN and holds annual sessions in New York for three weeks (usually in the late spring). It reports annually to the General Assembly.
To learn more about the Disarmament Commission, check out the following website: Reaching Critical Will.
UN General Assembly
>> view UN General Assembly website
The General Assembly is the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. Its members include all UN Member States (as of 2008, 192 members). The General Assembly meets in regular session from September to December each year. It can make only non-binding recommendations to states and works on the basis of one member, one vote. Votes on designated important issues (for example, peace and security) require a two-thirds majority of Member States. All other questions are decided by simple majority. The General Assembly has six main committees: First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), Second Committee (Economic and Financial), Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization), Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), and Sixth (Legal).
To learn more about the General Assembly, check out the following websites: The Arms Control Association,Reaching Critical Will, The Acronym Institute and the PeaceWomen Project.
UN General Assembly / First Committee (Disarmament and International Security)
>> view UN First Committee website
The First Committee of the General Assembly deals with issues of disarmament and international security. (See General Assembly, above, for more information.)
UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
Originally established in 1982 (although variously named as a “department,” “office,” and “center”), UNODA promotes the goal of disarmament and non-proliferation and the strengthening of disarmament regimes. It promotes disarmament in the areas of nuclear weapons, as well as conventional weapons, especially landmines and small arms. UNODA provides organizational support for the General Assembly, the Disarmament Commission, the Conference on Disarmament and other bodies; it encourages regional disarmament efforts; and it provides information on UN disarmament efforts.
UN Security Council
>> view UN Security Council website
The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is made up of five permanent members (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States) and 10 non-permanent members, the latter of which are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. The Presidency of the Security Council is held in turn by its members in English alphabetical order of the country names. Each president serves for one calendar month. The Security Council operates on the principle of one member, one vote. Decisions on procedural matters require nine of 15 affirmative votes. Decisions of substantive matters require nine of 15 affirmative votes, including all five permanent members. Under the UN Charter, all Member States agree to accept and carry out the decision of the Security Council. It is the only organ within the UN system that can make such binding decisions.
To learn more about the Security Council, check out the following websites: Security Council Report, Reaching Critical Will, Global Policy Forum and the PeaceWomen Project.
To learn more, visit these non-governmental organization sites:
UK-based. International focus. Key words: international security, disarmament, arms control, United Nations, space, Biological Weapons Convention, Chemical Weapons Convention, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), weapons of mass destruction, Conference on Disarmament, General Assembly.
PeaceWomen Project/Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
International. Educational/Advocacy. Key words: women, Security Council Resolution 1325, UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, country profiles, regional and international news.Reaching Critical Will/Women’s International League for Peace and FreedomUS-based. International focus. Educationa/Activist. Key words: United Nations, General Assembly, First Committee, Conference on Disarmament, Disarmament Commission, nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, space, NPT, biological weapons, chemical weapons, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, gender, fissile materials cut-off treaty, landmines, missiles, negative security assurances, small arms.Security Council ReportUS-based. International focus. Research/Think Tank. Key words: UN Security Council, Security Council Resolution 1325, conflict, peacebuilding, terrorism, sanctions, children, regional reports and more.