Home News Smart Talk The role of the United Nations - Radio Smart Talk, Thursday, Sept. 3

The role of the United Nations - Radio Smart Talk, Thursday, Sept. 3 PDF Print
Wednesday, 02 September 2009 13:28

UN LOGOWe've probably all seen comedy sketches portraying a not-so-smart beauty queen answering "world peace" as her wish for the future.  Those two words together are often ridiculed or the punch line of jokes today because apparently no one believes a world without war, conflict or human suffering is realistic.

 

But when the United Nations was chartered in 1945, cooperation amongst neighbors around the globe was designed to bring peace to it.

 

From the U.N. website:

 

 

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 192 Member States to express their views, through the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees.

 

The work of the United Nations reaches every corner of the globe. Although best known for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance, there are many other ways the United Nations and its System (specialized agencies, funds and programmes) affect our lives and make the world a better place. The Organization works on a broad range of fundamental issues, from sustainable development, environment and refugees protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, to promoting democracy, human rights, governance, economic and social development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production, and more, in order to achieve its goals and coordinate efforts for a safer world for this and future generations.

 

There are skeptics today who asked whether the U.N. is an effective peacemaker or peacekeeper.  Those same people often wonder whether the United States is responsible for too much of the U.N.'s budget and are critical of the organization for not supporting U.S. foreign policy positions.

 

LISTEN TO THE PROGRAM

 

Thursday's Radio Smart Talk will focus on the role of the U.N.

 

Abiodun Williams, U.S. Institute of Peace’s Vice President for the Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention

 

William Flavin, Directing Professor Doctrine, Concepts, Training, and Education, U.S. Army War College

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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