International Organizations: Structure, Role & Relevance in Global Governance

International organizations are formal institutions established by multiple countries working together to achieve global peace, cooperation, development, and rule-based governance. These bodies shape modern international law and diplomacy through collective efforts.

Definition & Purpose

International organizations are entities formed by nations to tackle global challenges, including conflicts, health crises, trade issues, and environmental threats.

Examples:
• UN (United Nations): Global peace and security
• WHO (World Health Organization): International public health
• WTO (World Trade Organization): Regulating trade rules

 Historical Background

✓ First Technical Organization:
• International Telegraph Union (ITU) – 1865, Paris
• Aim: Standardize international telegraph communication
• Now known as: International Telecommunication Union (under UN)

✓ First Political Organization:
• League of Nations (1920–1946)
• Aim: Prevent future wars
• Created by: Treaty of Versailles
• Failed to prevent WWII → Replaced by United Nations (UN) in 1945

United Nations (UN)

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945 after the devastation of World War II, with the aim of maintaining international peace and security, promoting cooperation among nations, and ensuring respect for human rights. It is the most significant multilateral institution in the world today, with 193 member states.

 Historical Background

• The League of Nations (1919) was the first international peacekeeping body but failed to prevent WWII.
• In 1945, 51 countries met in San Francisco and signed the UN Charter.
• The UN officially came into existence on 24th October 1945 (celebrated as UN Day).

 

Aims and Objectives (as per UN Charter)

1. Maintain international peace and security.
2. Promote friendly relations among nations.
3. Achieve international cooperation in solving problems (economic, social, cultural, humanitarian).
4. Promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
5. Be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations.

 

Organs of the United Nations (as per Chapter III of UN Charter)

The UN consists of six principal organs:

1. General Assembly (GA) – Article 9 to 22
• Deliberative body with equal representation from all 193 member states.
• Meets annually in September.
• Discusses international issues and adopts resolutions (non-binding).

2. Security Council (UNSC) – Article 23 to 32
• Primary responsibility: Maintenance of international peace and security.
• 15 members: 5 permanent (P5) with veto power, 10 non-permanent.
• Resolutions are binding on all member states.

3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) – Article 61 to 72
• Coordinates economic, social, and environmental work.
• Works with 15 UN specialized agencies.
• 54 members elected by General Assembly.

4. International Court of Justice (ICJ) – Article 92 to 96
• Judicial organ of the UN based in The Hague, Netherlands.
• Settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions.

5. Secretariat – Article 97 to 101
• Headed by the Secretary-General (currently António Guterres).
• Administrative organ of the UN, implements decisions of other organs.

6. Trusteeship Council – Article 86 to 91
• Set up to oversee the administration of trust territories.
• Became inactive in 1994 after the independence of Palau.

Security Council (Articles 23–32)

The Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, entrusted with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, as laid out under Chapter V (Articles 23 to 32) of the UN Charter.

🔹 Article 23 – Composition of the Security Council
• 15 members:
• 5 Permanent Members (P5) – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• 10 Non-Permanent Members – Elected for 2-year terms by the General Assembly with due regard to equitable geographical distribution.
• Non-permanent members are not immediately eligible for re-election.

🔹 Article 24 – Responsibility for Maintenance of International Peace and Security
• The UNSC has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
• In discharging this duty, it acts on behalf of all UN members.
• The powers and functions of the UNSC are granted under Chapters VI, VII, VIII, and XII of the UN Charter.

🔹 Article 25 – Binding Nature of Security Council Decisions
• All member states agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the Charter.
• This makes Security Council resolutions binding, unlike General Assembly resolutions.

🔹 Article 26 – Regulation of Armaments
• The UNSC, assisted by the Military Staff Committee, is responsible for formulating plans for the regulation of armaments.
• Aimed at promoting peace with the least diversion of the world’s human and economic resources for armaments.

🔹 Article 27 – Voting Procedure
• Each member of the Security Council has one vote.
• Decisions on procedural matters: Need the affirmative vote of 9 members.
• Decisions on substantive matters: Need 9 votes including the concurring votes of all 5 permanent members (i.e., veto power).
• If even one P5 member votes against, the resolution fails.
• Abstention by a permanent member is not considered a veto.

🔹 Article 28 – Participation in Meetings
• The UNSC shall be so organized as to function continuously.
• Each member shall have a representative present at all times.
• The Council may hold meetings at any place it deems most convenient.

🔹 Article 29 – Establishment of Subsidiary Organs
• The Security Council may establish subsidiary organs (e.g., peacekeeping missions, sanctions committees) as needed for performance of its functions.

🔹 Article 30 – Rules of Procedure
• The UNSC adopts its own rules of procedure.
• Includes the method of electing its President, agenda, meeting conduct, etc.

🔹 Article 31 – Participation of Non-Members
• A UN member state which is not a member of the Security Council may be invited to participate without a vote in discussions if its interests are specially affected.

🔹 Article 32 – Participation of Non-Member States or Parties to a Dispute
• If a non-member of the UN is party to a dispute under consideration by the UNSC, it shall be invited to participate (without vote).
• This ensures fair hearing to all concerned parties in disputes affecting international peace and security.

 International Court of Justice (ICJ)
• Based in: The Hague, Netherlands
• 15 Judges, elected for 9-year terms
• Jurisdiction:
• Contentious (between states)
• Advisory (for UN organs)
• Enforcement: Article 94 – Security Council can act if a country disobeys ICJ rulings
• Notable Indian Judge: Justice Dalveer Bhandari

 Specialized UN Agencies

1. ILO – International Labour Organization
• Function: Sets international labour standards, promotes decent work, and protects workers’ rights.
• Established: 1919
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

2. WHO – World Health Organization
• Function: Coordinates international health activities, controls pandemics, and promotes global health.
• Known for: Eradication of smallpox, COVID-19 coordination
• Established: 1948
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

3. FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization
• Function: Works to eliminate hunger, improve nutrition, and ensure global food security.
• Established: 1945
• Headquarters: Rome, Italy

4. UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Function: Promotes education, science, culture, and communication; protects world heritage sites.
• Established: 1945
• Headquarters: Paris, France

5. IMF & World Bank
• IMF: Ensures global financial stability, monitors economies, and provides short-term financial aid.
• World Bank: Provides long-term loans and technical assistance for development and poverty reduction.
• Headquarters: Washington D.C., USA

6. WIPO – World Intellectual Property Organization
• Function: Promotes protection of intellectual property rights globally (patents, trademarks, copyrights).
• Established: 1967
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

7. Other Technical Agencies (Grouped together in your image):
• ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organization: Regulates global air travel.
• ITU – International Telecommunication Union: Coordinates global telecommunication standards.
• IMO – International Maritime Organization: Regulates global shipping and maritime safety.
• UPU – Universal Postal Union: Coordinates international postal systems.
• WMO – World Meteorological Organization: Provides data and forecasts on global weather and climate.

 

Key Regional & Functional Organizations – Brief Overview

1. WTO – World Trade Organization
• Function: Regulates international trade, resolves disputes, and promotes fair trade.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

2. IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency
• Function: Promotes peaceful use of nuclear energy, ensures non-proliferation, and safety.
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria

3. OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
• Function: Coordinates oil production and pricing among oil-rich countries.
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria

4. ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations
• Function: Promotes economic and political cooperation in Southeast Asia.

5. SAARC – South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
• Function: Enhances regional integration among South Asian countries.

6. SCO – Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
• Function: Regional security, economic cooperation, and counter-terrorism (mainly Eurasia).

7. EU – European Union
• Function: Economic and political union of 27 European countries; has its own currency (Euro) and Parliament.

8. NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Function: A military alliance for collective defense mainly among North American and European countries.
• Established: 1949
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

Key Functions and Roles

1. Peacekeeping & Conflict Resolution
• Deploys peacekeeping missions (e.g., Congo, Mali).
• Mediates in international disputes.
2. Human Rights Protection
• Through the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
3. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• 17 goals to be achieved by 2030 — including poverty eradication, gender equality, climate action.
4. Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid
• UN agencies like WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF provide food, shelter, and emergency support during crises.
5. International Law & Justice
• ICJ settles disputes; UN Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Genocide Convention, etc., are major legal frameworks.
6. Climate Action
• UNFCCC, IPCC promote global climate dialogue and agreements (e.g., Paris Agreement).

 

 Major Achievements

• Prevention of another World War.
• Eradication of smallpox (with WHO).
• Decolonization of 80+ countries.
• Mobilization of global response to pandemics.
• Landmark agreements on climate, refugees, and human rights.

 Recent Global Developments (2024–2025)

🔹Middle East & Palestine:
• ICJ Advisory Opinion (2024): Declared Israel’s occupation illegal
• Rise in global recognition of Palestine

🔹UN Reform – Pact for the Future (2024):
• Covers: Digital governance, sustainable development, space law

🔹AI & Space Law:
• Artemis Accords: Peaceful space exploration
• AI Governance Treaty (Council of Europe, 2024): Ethical use of AI

 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted on 10th December 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly, is a milestone document in the history of human rights. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected, regardless of nationality, race, religion, or status. Though not legally binding, it has inspired over 60 regional and national human rights instruments and is considered the foundation of international human rights law.

Historical Background

• The atrocities committed during World War II, including the Holocaust, underscored the urgent need for a global framework for the protection of human dignity.
• The UN Charter (1945) committed member states to promote and respect human rights.
• A special drafting committee, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, prepared the UDHR.
• Adopted by the UN General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 (now celebrated as Human Rights Day).

• Structure of the UDHR

The UDHR consists of a preamble and 30 Articles, which can be broadly categorized into three parts:

Core Categories of Rights under UDHR

1. Civil and Political Rights (Articles 1–21):

These ensure individual freedoms and legal protections:

• Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
• Article 3: Right to life, liberty, and security.
• Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel treatment.
• Article 7: All are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection.
• Article 9: Protection from arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
• Article 10 & 11: Right to fair trial and presumption of innocence.
• Article 13: Freedom of movement and residence.
• Article 19: Freedom of opinion and expression.
• Article 20: Right to peaceful assembly and association.

2. Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (Articles 22–27)

These rights promote individual well-being and dignity:

• Article 22: Right to social security.
• Article 23: Right to work, equal pay for equal work, and protection from unemployment.
• Article 24: Right to rest, leisure, and reasonable working hours.
• Article 25: Right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being.
• Article 26: Right to education.
• Article 27: Right to participate in cultural life and benefit from scientific advancement.

3. Duties and Enforcement (Articles 28–30)

These address the broader legal and moral framework:

• Article 28: Right to a social and international order where rights can be fully realized.
• Article 29: Duties to the community; rights may be limited for general welfare.
• Article 30: No person or state can destroy the rights set forth in the UDHR.

 

✓ Legal Status of UDHR
• The UDHR is not a legally binding treaty, but its principles have become customary international law.
• It has inspired the drafting of binding international treaties like:
• ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) – 1966
• ICESCR (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) – 1966
Together, these three documents form the International Bill of Human Rights.

 India’s Role
• Original member of the UN
• Participates in peacekeeping, legal disputes (ICJ), WTO negotiations, and climate diplomacy

 Conclusion

International organizations play a crucial role in modern diplomacy, conflict resolution, law-making, and promoting global welfare. Understanding their structure, functions, and evolution is vital for law students, aspirants of competitive exams, and global citizens.

✓ For Judiciary Aspirants: Focus on key Articles (UN Charter), organs of UN, ICJ jurisdiction, specialized agencies, and current affairs like ICJ opinions on Palestine and climate change.

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