UN principles: not empty words

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

The historic moment when the United Nations was initiated is of special significance, and this explains almost all the purposes and principles of the UN. This happened immediately after World War II. At that time, the main purpose of the UN was to prevent wars and ensure peace in the international sphere. Those words weren't empty then.

How the UN strategy was created

The main document of the new international organization was its Charter, which sets out and explains the goals, objectives and main principles of the UN. The document was signed in 1945 after long and serious discussions and adjustments between the members of the anti-Hitler coalition. By the way, the author of the name "United Nations" is none other than Franklin Roosevelt, the President of the United States of that time.

All fundamental decisions on the creation of the UN were made in Y alta, at the famous meeting of the heads of three states: the USA, the USSR and Great Britain. Already on these decisions, the principles of the UN Charter began to be created, in which more than fifty countries took part. There were many disagreements, butin the end, they were all overcome.

The UN began to operate in accordance with the Charter that came into force in the autumn of 1945. The main principles of its existence and activities are set out in the Charter, which consists of a preamble, 19 chapters and 111 articles. Preamble declares

"belief in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women, and in the equal rights of nations large and small"

UN Fundamental Principles

They are few, clear and short:

• Equality and sovereignty of states.
• Prohibition of the use of force or threats to resolve any international disputes.
• Resolution of international disputes only through negotiations.
• Compliance by states with their obligations under the UN Charter.
• The principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of states.

Another important target principle of equality and self-determination of peoples is included in the article on goals. The same target principles of the UN are the support of international peace and the implementation of international cooperation.

In addition to the principles, the document also sets out the rules for the work of the organization. An important fact is that any obligations under the UN Charter have absolute priority over any other international agreements.

UN Goals

The first purpose stated in the preamble and article 11 is as follows:

"to save future generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lives causedunspeakable grief to humanity"

"maintain international peace and security…"

As for the goals in the field of international peace and security, they are formulated on the basis of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples from the first article of the Charter:

• help build friendly relations between countries of the world;
• initiate and support international cooperation in all areas of international life.

On International Rights

The basic principles of international law of the UN are set out again in the Charter. The history of their formation was also not easy. These principles play a special role in the control of the international order today. They can and should be regarded as universally recognized norms of law and ethics, which are of decisive importance in the activities of interstate organizations and associations. Only such a way of life can make solutions to international problems effective and positive.

Back in the 60s, at the request of several member countries, the UN began work on codification and some adjustments and clarifications of the main principles. The UN General Assembly approved and put into effect the famous Declaration on the Principles of International Law, which contained exactly seven principles:

1. Complete ban on the use of force or the threat of force.
2. Peaceful resolution of any conflicts at the international level.
3. Non-interference in the affairs of the internal competences of the state.
4. Cooperation of countries with each other.
5. Equality and self-determination of peoples.
6. Every state has the right to sovereign equality.
7. Fulfillment by countries of obligations under the UN Charter.

The story continued, new adjustments were made relatively recently. In 1976, the International Court of Justice decided on an interstate conflict between Canada and the United States of America over the boundary line in the Gulf of Maine. In this decision, for the first time, it was indicated that the expressions "principles" and "norms" are essentially the same. In the same decision, it was stated that the word "principles" means nothing more than legal principles, in other words, these are the standards of international law.

What does the UN end up doing

Based on the basic principles of the UN and as an exemplary universal international association, the United Nations performs a huge number of essential functions in almost all key areas of human activity. Here are just a few:

• peacekeeping solutions for conflict management;
• standardization of aviation safety rules with the compatibility of modern means of communication;
• international emergency disaster relief;
• fighting the global AIDS threat;
• help with soft loans in poor countries.

No statute, nor goals with principles, can be the same for a long time. This also applies to UN standards. They always corresponded to the current moment ininternational sphere. Let's wish them to remain as relevant and adequate.