Summary: The United Nations, Part 1

Read the summary and the most important questions on The United Nations, Part 1

• 5 The United Nations, Part 1

• 5.1 UN General Assembly

• What kind of organ is the UNGA?

  A plenary organ, where all member states can take part. It meets on a regular period with different decision-making techniques.

• The UNGA also has subsidiary organs, what five do they have?

  
  

  • ●  Main committees
    
  • ●  Commissions (e.g. Peacebuilding commission)
    
  • ●  Councils (e.g. Human Rights Council).
    
  • ●  Joint Inspection Unit
    
  • ●  UN Dispute Tribunal
    

• 5.2 UNGA: Meetings

• When does the UNGA happen and what is being said about it?

  Considered the “Superbowl of diplomacy”, with a General Debate usually happening near the end of September (21-27/09/2021). This debate is the start and opening of the GA; it sets the tone for the year.

• 5.3 UNGA: Decision-Making

• How does the UNGA make decisions of what?

  With important issues, decisions are based on the 2⁄3 majority. These issues include:
  

  • ●  Peace and security.
    
  • ●  Election of members of the UNSC and ECOSOC.
    
  • ●  Acceptance of new members in GA.
    
  • ●  Suspension of GA membership.
    
  • ●  Budgetary issues.
    While other issues are based on a simple majority. This includes the question of whether other issues should even be decided by a 2⁄3 majority.
    ➔ With 193 states, 80% of issues are adopted by consensus with decisions.
    
    

• What is important to remind about UNGA decisions?

  It is important to remember that UNGA decisions are political recommendations NOT legally binding.

• 5.4 UNGA: UN Membership

• By who is the decision to let a state join?

  The ultimate decision is made by the GA.

• How is the procedure to join the UN?

  1. Formal application by a state
  2. Decision made by the secretary-general
  3. The UNSC: needs to give a positive recommendation (9 votes are needed, including all P5 states - no veto)
  4. The UNGA: Vote with a 2/3 majority

• What happened to palestine when they wanted to join the UN?

  1. Case Study: The membership request by Palestine.
     
  • ➔  Has had non-state observer status since 1974.
    

  ➔  Requested for full membership in 2011, HOWEVER, was vetoed by the US once the proposal reached the UNSC, leading to global questioning and controversy.
  

  • ➔  Palestine did get membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
    Organization (UNESCO) in 2011 and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2014. This
    caused the US to leave UNESCO the same year.
    
  • ➔  In 2012, Palestine’s request for an “Enhanced Observer Status” was accepted by the UNGA.
    

• 5.5 States and Other Entities in the UN

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• The UNGA ultimately decides what rights each actor has. What rights do member states have?

  There are 193 states who all carry one vote.

• What rights do non-member observer states have?

  There are two; the Holy See and Palestine (since 2012). Switzerland was also part of this group until 2002. Has the right to speak and vote on procedural matters. HOWEVER, has NO right to vote on matters of substance.