United Nations: Specialised Agencies, Achievements & Failures

• At the 80^th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80), India’s External Affairs Minister emphasised the need for UN reforms.
• The UNGA 80 marks 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), 15 years of UN Women (2010), and 80 years of the establishment of the United Nations (1945).

About United Nations

• The United Nations (UN) is an international organization established to promote peace, security, cooperation, and development among countries worldwide.
• It serves as a platform where nations can resolve conflicts through dialogue, work together on global issues like human rights, humanitarian aid, and sustainable development, and coordinate responses to crises.
• It was founded October 24, 1945.
• Headquarters: New York City, USA.
• Founding members: 51 countries (now 193 member states).
• Objective: To prevent wars, maintain international peace and security, promote human rights, and foster social and economic progress globally.
• Main organs: General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat, and Trusteeship Council (inactive).

Inception of United Nations

• United Nations was created as a response to the devastation of World War II and the failures of its predecessor, the League of Nations.
• The UN was primarily tasked to maintain world peace & save future generations from the evils of war.
• Its inception was not a singular event but a meticulous process of diplomacy, negotiation, and visionary thinking that unfolded over several years, marked by a series of pivotal conferences and agreements.

From the Atlantic Charter to United Declaration

• In August 1941, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill held a secret meeting aboard naval ships in Placenta Bay (Newfoundland, Canada).
• They discussed the possibility of creating a body for international peace efforts and issued a statement called the Atlantic Charter that outlined a joint vision for a post-war world, emphasizing principles such as the right of all peoples to choose their own government, international collaboration for improved labor standards, and establishment of a wider and permanent system of general security.
• This vision gained broader acceptance on January 1, 1942, when representatives of 26 Allied nations met in Washington, including the “Big Four” – the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China – and signed the Declaration by United Nations. This document formally endorsed the principles of the Atlantic Charter and marked the first official use of the term “United Nations.”
• The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945 (celebrated annually as United Nations Day), after being ratified by 51 nations. It included five permanent members and 46 other signatories.
• The first meeting of the General Assembly took place on January 10, 1946.

Foundation Courses

Goals of UN

• The four main goals of the UN include:
  1. Maintaining international peace and security
  2. Developing friendly relations among nations
  3. Achieving international cooperation in solving international problems
  4. Being at the centre for harmonising nations’ actions in attaining these common ends.

Specialised Agencies of UN

• At present, the UN has a total of fifteen specialised agencies:
  1. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  2. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  3. World Bank
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  5. World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  6. International Maritime Organization (IMO)
  7. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  8. World Health Organization (WHO)
  9. International Labor Organization (ILO)
  10. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
  11. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
  12. United Nations Industrial Development Organization
  13. Universal Postal Union (UPU)
  14. International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
  15. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• Each specialised agency operates autonomously under the UN’s umbrella.

UN System

• The UN system, also known unofficially as the ‘UN family’, comprises the UN itself and many programmes, funds, and specialised agencies.
• Funds and Programmes of the UN:
  1. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  2. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  3. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
  4. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
  5. United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
  6. World Food Programme (WFP)

Achievements of the UN

• Facilitated Decolonization: By championing the principle of self-determination, the UN provided a platform for independence movements and helped over 80 former colonies gain independence and statehood, fundamentally reshaping the map of the world.
• Humanitarian Assistance: Provides aid to refugees, disaster victims, and people in crisis via agencies like UNHCR, WFP, and UNICEF.
• Conflict Resolution: The UN mediates disputes and deploys peacekeeping missions in conflict zones (e.g., Congo, Liberia, South Sudan).
• Health: In 1948, it created the World Health Organisation (WHO) to deal with communicable diseases like smallpox, malaria, and HIV.
• Refugees: In 1950, the UN created the High Commissioner for Refugees to care for the millions displaced during WWII. It continues to be on the frontlines of crises faced by refugees worldwide.

Failures of the UN

• Failure to Prevent Major Conflicts: The UN has often failed to stop large-scale wars and genocides, such as the Rwandan Genocide (1994) and the Srebrenica Massacre (1995), highlighting its limitations in maintaining global peace.
• Weak Security Council: The veto power of the five permanent members (USA, UK, Russia, China, France) frequently blocks decisive action, resulting in inaction in conflicts like Syria and Palestine.
• Ineffectiveness in Human Rights Protection: UN mechanisms for human rights are often slow, politicized, or reactive, as seen in the delayed international response to the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.
• Bureaucratic Inefficiency: Complex administrative structures and slow decision-making reduce the UN’s operational efficiency during emergencies, affecting timely humanitarian or peacekeeping interventions.
• Unequal Global Influence: Key decisions are dominated by powerful nations, particularly in the Security Council, marginalizing smaller or developing countries and making the UN less representative globally.

Need for UN Reforms

• Representation Gap: The Security Council’s outdated framework excludes Africa, Latin America, and India, diminishing its legitimacy and undermining equitable representation.
• Veto Paralysis: The veto powers of the P5 countries have obstructed collective responses in crises such as Ukraine and Gaza, resulting in stalemates and weakening trust in global security.
• Mandate Overload: Expanding mandates in development, climate, and terrorism, with a stagnant resource base, strain institutions and hinder SDG advancements.
• Consensus Deficit: The UN has failed to build consensus on issues such as terrorism, energy, and conflicts, which undermines its credibility and erodes multilateral trust.
• Funding Crisis: Persistent arrears and reliance on donors like the US and EU restrict budgetary stability, reducing resources for Global South missions.

India’s Recent Roles in the United Nations

• Security Role: India deploys 5,000+ peacekeepers across nine UN missions and has escorted ~3,000 vessels during anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.
• Humanitarian Responder: In 2024, India carried out 19 UN-supported relief missions, including Afghanistan and Myanmar, while cumulatively implementing 600 development projects in 78 countries.
• Reform Advocate: As a member of the G4 group, India demands the expansion of the UNSC, pushing for both permanent and non-permanent seats to represent current global realities.
• Food Security: In August 2025, India and UN-WFP initiated the “Indian rice goes global” program, committing to provide 200,000 tonnes of fortified rice for humanitarian assistance.
• Development Financier: Since 2017, India has jointly overseen the $150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund with UNOSSC, aiding SDG initiatives in African, Pacific, and Caribbean countries.

Way Forward

• Security Council Expansion: Include emerging powers like India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan as permanent members.
• Veto Power Reform: Limit or regulate the P5 veto to prevent paralysis during crises.
• Inclusivity: Ensure that developing and populous nations have a greater voice in decision-making.
• Peacekeeping Efficiency: Strengthen rapid deployment, accountability, & resources for UN missions.
• Human Rights: Depoliticize mechanisms for timely action on human rights and humanitarian crises.

“We need a United Nations that is strong, effective, and legitimate in the eyes of all nations.” The UN’s credibility suffers from paralysis and limited representation. India advocates reforms like Security Council expansion, veto regulation, and efficient peacekeeping to restore effectiveness.

Reference: The Hindu | PMFIAS: United Nations

Be Prelims Ready!

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 371

Q. The credibility of the United Nations is being increasingly questioned due to its structural paralysis and limited representativeness. Analyse this statement in light of India’s demand for comprehensive UN reforms. (150 Words) (10 Marks)

Approach

• Introduction: Write a contextual introduction by mentioning the current example.
• Body: Analyse the credibility challenges of the United Nations and mention India’s demand for comprehensive UN reforms.
• Conclusion: Emphasis on UN reform by mentioning the Pact for the Future.