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“In a world in which all problems are global, there is no way countries can handle issues by themselves; we need global responses.’’
Illustration by The Geostrata
This statement by Antonio Guterres underscores the necessity of a global institution such as the United Nations (UN). The UN was established in 1945 as a successor to the League of Nations. It has been 79 years since its formation, and there have been many developments in the world since then. An organisation that was originally established with 51 members has now increased its membership to 193.
This article aims to highlight the indispensability of the UN in addressing contemporary global challenges, with a focus on its role in the trade and health sectors.
The UN is responsible for solving conflicts, promoting economic and social welfare, solving environmental issues and settling legal disputes. The crucial bodies within the UN are the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) which focus on trade and health respectively.
The WHO’s role in conflict zones such as Gaza is remarkable. It provided health assistance and essential medical supplies to affected populations. Moreover, it played a significant role in combating crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO, established in 1948, aims to achieve the highest attainable standard of health worldwide.
The need for the WHO is indicated by the role it played during the COVID-19 pandemic which took the lives of 6.9 million people across the globe. The WHO issued guidelines, created awareness, assisted countries and developed the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.
Spreading awareness, busting myths, issuing protocols and training workers to search for a vaccine were also some of the efforts taken by the WHO which resulted in saving the lives of many people.
The "delivery for impact" approach, which is followed by WHO, has proven to be effective in countries like Nepal where it was successful in reducing the maternal mortality rate.
Similarly, the WTO, established in 1995 as a successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), plays a crucial role in promoting global economic development. The WTO focuses on principles such as supporting developing countries, fair competition between countries and environmental protection. It consists of 168 member nations which represent 98% world trade.
The requirement for an organization like the WTO can be underlined by the agricultural sector. For instance, the WTO, adopted an agreement to eliminate export subsidies in Nairobi in 2015, which was a decision taken to ensure fair competition.
The 13th ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi underscored the importance of a multilateral trading system and emphasized women's economic empowerment as a means to achieve sustainable development goals.
Moreover, the body provides a platform for least-developed countries like Afghanistan to trade with developed nations such as the United Kingdom and voice their concerns.
The United Nations addresses global issues through various bodies and programs. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has its presence in 190 countries and aids children in reaching their full potential. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps countries in achieving their sustainable development goals. Additionally, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and World Food Programme (WFP) actively contribute to building a sustainable world.
The UN also consists of specialised agencies which cater to the emerging needs of the nations. For example, the World Bank, established in 1944, provides low-interest loans to developing nations across over 100 countries.
Similarly, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) endeavours to enhance the quality of education worldwide.
To conclude, “The United Nations was not created to take humanity to heaven, but to save it from hell.’’ This statement by Dag Hammarskjold reflects upon the purpose of the UN.
As the organization continues to evolve, there remain avenues for improvement to ensure its efficacy in addressing contemporary global realities. The role of the United Nations would increase in a globalized world. Issues such as poverty, global warming, illegal migration and terrorism require the cooperation and collaboration of all the countries and the UN provides them the platform for the same. The UN, a global organization, continues to be a relevant body in the 21st century.
BY VANSHIKA KAKKAR
TEAM GEOSTRATA
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