Purpose of the U.N. Charter
The Charter of the United Nations is essentially the organization's founding document. It guides everything the organization does, setting out its aims and objectives, along with the rights and obligations of member states. It also establishes the organs and procedures of the United Nations.
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History
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The United Nations and its Charter came into existence as a result of World War II. During the war, the Allied powers had discussed how an international organization might be able to use principles common to all countries to prevent armed conflict in the future. The idea that nations could work together to prevent conflict had been used with some limited success by the League of Nations in the interwar years, although the new discussions envisaged a larger organization with a much greater range of powers. Between April and June 1945, 50 nations attended a conference in Mexico City to discuss how such an organization could be established. The U.N. Charter is the end product of their discussions.
Signature
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The U.N. Charter was signed in San Francisco on June 26, 1945 and came into force on Oct. 24 of the same year. A total of 51 countries around the world signed the Charter. As of 2010, 192 countries are members of the U.N.
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Structure
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The Charter begins with a preamble, calling for the maintenance of peace around the world and respect for human rights. This is followed by 19 chapters, which are divided into two sections. The first sets out the internal workings of the United Nations, dealing with issues such as membership and internal procedure. The second outlines the external work of the United Nations, addressing how it can use its power to achieve its aims and objectives.
Areas Covered by the Charter
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The U.N. Charter covers all areas of the organization's work. It explains how the United Nations is integrated into international law and the maintenance of international peace and security. It also outlines the power of the organization's various organs and institutions, such as the power of the U.N. Security Council to become involved in international debates.
Amendments
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The Charter is not set in stone and has been amended on three separate occasions. In 1963, membership of the Security Council expanded from 9 to 15, and the decision-making process within the council was altered. In 1965, Article 61 was amended to increase membership of the Economic and Social Council from 18 to 27, while the same article was amended again in 1973 to increase membership of this Council to 54.
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References
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