10th Class Chapter No 1 - United Nations in civics for ICSE

United Nations Organisation (UNO)

Destructive and horrifying experiences of the two World Wars made the world realise the necessity of a peace maintaining organisation more powerful than the previous ones e.g., the League of Nations. The efforts finally took shape at San Francisco on 24th October, 1945 with the emergence of the United Nations Organisation (UNO).

Establishment of the UNO

• The two World Wars left a legacy of misery and depression in nearly every country. Millions of people lost their lives and many others became disabled, homeless and unemployed, apart from the millions of dollars that were spent during the war.
• The League of Nations was established with a promise of peace, but it had failed to prevent another war. All the countries feared, that another World War might lead to the end of the world as destructive weapons, like atom bombs, were now invented and already used.
• The world was divided in two Power Blocs, both having opposite ideologies. All the above mentioned events gave the world leaders a purpose to form a more powerful, transparent and impartial organisation, which would be able to resolve the differences between the countries/blocs amicably and save the mankind from any further destruction.

Purposes/Objectives of the United Nations

Objectives of the United Nations are as follows:

1. To maintain International Peace and Security.
2. To develop friendly relations among nations, based on the respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of people.
3. To achieve International Co-operation in solving various International, Economic, Social, Cultural or Humanitarian problems.
4. To be centre for harmonising the actions of nations in the attainment of goals.

Principles of the United Nations

Principles of the United Nations are as follows:

1. To respect the sovereign equality of all its members.
2. All members should fulfill, in good faith, the obligations assumed by them.
3. They should settle their International disputes by peaceful means.
4. They would refrain from threat or use of force against any state.
5. They should give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes.
6. The Organisation should ensure, that States, which are not members of the United Nations, act in accordance with these principles.