Category: United Nations

First and foremost, the article describes the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, that includes essential directions of improvement in terms of sustainable development of the planet. It was adopted by all of the United Nations members in September 2015 at Sustainable Development Summit in New York. The proposed incentives focus on upgrading quality of life of minorities, preserving natural habitat of the animals, and generate economic growth all over the planet. The work towards achieving these goals is already in the process of implementation, and the progress made is reported annually.

The source, where the article is posted is the official website of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. It is an established and globally recognized organization. That is why, I find this particular source reliable. Moreover, the incentive, described in the article is of great public importance. It positively affects all the segments of the world population, especially the most vulnerable ones, by providing them with the essential resources and help. Additionally, it puts a focus on improving climate and environmental situations, along with aiming for economic growth in an ethical way, which is beneficial for society, as well.

In my opinion, the ideas of the Agenda for Sustainable Development are closely related to the Marians Franciscan values, such as dignity of the individual, responsible stewardship, peace and justice, and reconciliation, as they put well-being of people and nature as their prime concern. Therefore, it can also be said, that the article is relevant in terms of our class, since it covers an important initiative, that simultaneously covers and interconnects social, economic, psychologic and scientific fields of research.

Reference

The 17 Goals / Sustainable Development. (n.d.) Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development. Web.

Generally, it is obvious that wherever an organization is formed, it will experience a certain degree of opposition regarding its intended purpose, and the United Nations (UN) formation was of no exception. Politics are mostly the questioners of the UN activities from the time it was formed and mandated with the task to look into societal and economic matters. Many challenges have come from the escalating poverty levels much more in the global southern nations because of different countries development levels especially the deficient states in need of international assistant. Many of these countries have been experiencing political instabilities that have led to civil wars and other related disasters. Irrespective of these challenges, the UN has managed to penetrate unstable political states with its universal backup to convince and dialogue with affected countries governments to bring equality and sustainability in minoritys claims.

Different bodies which work under the UN such as, among others UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have entirely been dedicated to the provision of basic needs to the affected nations through other international agencies such as World Food Programme (WFP) and thus minority claims can be addressed appropriately. When such services are offered to these poor countries, their peoples have the opportunity to live sustainable lives hence reduce mortality rates. The success of these endeavors is much dictated by the political class of the affected region/State and the organizational implementation structure of the UN system (Williams 87).

With the powers owned by the UN organization authority, it has played a major role in the manipulation of political issues in the world in particular when it comes to social and human morals, a field in which they have accomplished their aim. UN involvement with the government has managed to bring to the attention minority issues to the planning tables at different levels of the UN organization such as its influence on environmental matters. UN can offer guidelines concerning different issues since they are well joined in the international map and thus can obtain support on their intended agendas.

Their policies on different organizations platforms that work towards the benefits of the minorities have been well checked to ensure they accomplish their required goals. Follow-ups are made after the commencement of different projects to ensure that the set desired results are achieved. This has however brought prolonged arguments especially with the states that dont support UN interference in their country matters. But with their well-organized and experienced panels, the UN can provide guidelines on the creation and execution of set goals especially to areas hit by disasters and the most crucial goal of saving lives can be achieved. With their independent mandatory, high-level delegations can be sent to hold dialogues with affected governments which have managed then to reach in to and accomplish their purpose to implementing the international excellence.

The UN Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) can become significant in convincing host country governments to achieve their goals which are set on international map. They can push for reforms on unstable governments to lay down legal policies that will meet the needs of the minorities. This has brought about harmony in the world to ensure sustainable global development irrespective of different developing levels. With time, the UN policies implemented through NGOs influence the minority prospects on different issues, and with time opposing governments will be lobbed to support such initiatives. UN significance has been felt in different ways and at different levels which has to lead to the maturity of international laws based on formal states agreements and usual behaviors has much in harmonizing international duties by preparing multilateral formal agreements concerning customary laws (Finkelstein 47).

UN sole influence is not applicable in creating legal guidelines but with its significant influence, it has managed to lobby for support from opposing odds to ensure that sustainable policies are put in place to attain the ultimate goal of sustainable global development with minor yet important states being recognized.

Works cited

Finkelstein, Lawrence S. Politics in the United Nations System. Duke University Press, 1988. Print.

Williams, Lucy, and International Social Science Council. International Poverty Law: An Emerging Discourse CROP International Studies in Poverty Research.Zed Books. 2006. Print.

Introduction

The UNO was created in 1945 or maintaining peace on the Earth, as its predecessor  the League of Nations failed in accomplishing this task. Pacta sunt servanda is the principle, which is the basis of any statute, treaty or convention, thus, every UN member should observe the rule of avoiding using the force, or a threat of force, let alone the unilateral use of force. The conflicts should be solved by the means of diplomacy and negotiations.

Discussion

Since the Cold War terminated with the loss of socialistic, the researchers started rising the issue of UN relevance in their works. They claimed that there should be no conflicts, as the world is no longer bipolar. Nevertheless, the world became multi-polar, and the origins of the conflicts transformed. One of such assaults was the ethnic conflict in Kosovo. The US and NATO forces started bombing the territory of Republic of Yugoslavia without UN Security Council resolution. Originally, these actions are regarded as the direct violation of the world order and should be subjected to processing in International Military Tribunal.

As The Nation (2003) states, the main argument of the USA on the issues of UN relevance in Kosovan conflict was the gap between the USA and the rest of the world. It is emphasized that most countries, entailing the great powers, has initiated post national understanding of global governance on questions of world order. France, Germany, Russia, China and other world powers are now committed to international rules forbidding the unilateral use of force and to a form of consensual global governance. This is a remarkable achievement  the vision of the founders of the UN.

Still, the US avoids explaining the bombing of Serbian Kosovo, while Serbs were subjected to ethnic cleansing by Albanians, and KLA was reasonably suspected in contacts with Al Qaeda and drug trafficking. (Vaknin, 2005) Thus, the USA followed its own aims, which are not linked with the global welfare and peace on the Earth. Thus, the UNO also fails to accomplish its task and resist the real aggressor.

However, the violators had stayed unpunished and felt free to start another military assault in 2003. The intervention to Iraq was neither approved by the Security Council. As Arnold (2005) emphasizes, the Bush team members even did not wish to discuss the issue of the absence of UNSC resolution: Questioning the relevancy and the legitimacy of the UN is not only immature and impulsive, it is an underhanded and dangerous challenge to the only organization the world now has for dealing with a host of problems that neither the United States nor any other country can or should want to tackle alone. At the top of that list are AIDS, world hunger, human rights, failures and deficiencies in the nation state system, and the real war on terrorism.

The war in Iraq was just regarded as the best way to disarm Saddam. In spite of the fact that the mass destruction weapon was not found in Iraq, the USA and the Great Britain do not feel any guilt. Neither the UN can impose any sanctions upon them. Consequently, the UNO loses its position of the world arbitrary, as it is unable to control the actions by superpowers, thus, the relevance of this organization is seriously doubted.

References

The Nation. The UN Relevance 2003. Web.

Terrell E. Arnold. On The Relevance Of The United Nations. 2005. Web.

Sam Vaknin. Should UN Administer Iraq: Kosovos Iraqi Lessons. 2005. Web.

Introduction: The Digital Age and Its Challenges

The recent technological breakthrough that has been witnessed over the past few decades has clearly heralded a new epoch. A range of IT innovations, particularly, those that allow for global communication, has become ubiquitous, altering peoples lives on a variety of levels. However, IT tools also offer a plethora of opportunities for managing peoples needs on a global level, as the report published recently by the UN indicates. Despite the fact that the security issue has been addressed extensively and the chances for reinforcing the concept of the Global Citizenship have been explored in depth, the UNs current approach toward the use of IT-related opportunities could use a deeper insight into the issues associated with economics and global trade.

UN and the Digital Age: Reflection

Essential Accomplishments

The enhancement of economic growth through the extensive use of IT innovations can be deemed as UNs major accomplishment in the Digital Age. Seeing that the subject matter is the area of major concern for a range of third-world countries, the enhancement of the data management process for which modern IT tools allow has huge significance for the further economic development.

Possible Areas for an Improvement

As stressed above, the report does not provide much information about how IT tools could be used by the UN as the means of enhancing the financial growth worldwide. The issues associated with taxations, investments, and the role that digital tools play in the promotion of the financial development, as well as the prevention of financial fraud, could have used greater attention. For instance, when addressing the issue of financial mismanagement, Fletcher could have brought up the opportunity for establishing a tighter control over the key financial operations as one of the options that modern IT tools provide: Reports of abuse and exploitation, financial mismanagement and bureaucracy harm the UNs reputation (Fletcher 15).

How the Digital Era Has Been Marshaled

According to the evidence provided by Fletcher, the United Nations have been using the options that emerged with the increase in the role of IT in peoples lives quite successfully so far. Particularly, the promotion of global citizenship as a new model of building relationships in a multicultural environment should be listed among the key accomplishments. Furthermore, active exploration of the factors that affect the economic growth on local and global levels needs to be mentioned as an important step in the right direction.

However, certain areas still need improvements, as the report states quite clearly. For instance, the management of online security still leaves much to be desired, with cybercriminals posing a consistent threat to the economic and personal well-being of online users (Fletcher 19). Despite numerous attempts at fighting digital crimes, cybercriminals invent new ways of bypassing the security.

Conclusion: UNs Actions in the Wake of the Digital Age

Despite significant accomplishments in the area of technology, the current approach toward using IT innovations to encourage economic growth worldwide still needs improvements. The UN should focus on addressing the issues associated with finances and, particularly, the threat of financial fraud in the context of the online environment. Furthermore, the safety of users needs to be enhanced significantly. Thus, the premises for a consistent progress can be created. Focusing on the issues associated with the financial aspect of international business communication, however, is also necessary for the further management of cybercrimes.

Work Cited

Fletcher, Tom. United Networks. Emirates Diplomatic Academy, 26 Apr. 2017,

The United Nations has been doing many missions to bring peace to the world. They work hard to fulfill all missions they have. They have worked in almost every country, but they bring peace to many countries. For example, they have brought peace to Haiti.

The United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti or MINUJUSTH is one of those missions. There are many issues for the reason that the United Nations became involved. The UN sent many people to help with the struggle in Haiti. They were sent to help Haiti develop the Haitian National Police, or HNP, to strengthen Haiti’s rule of law institutions, especially justice and prisons. They were also sent to help promote and protect their human rights, to help improve the daily lives of the Haitian people. For the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti there were 400 people deployed to help with this mission. There were 5 UN volunteers. 325 civilians were deployed, which was the biggest part of all. There also were 70 policemen to help complete this mission. For this mission there was only one fatality. There were ten top contributing countries, these countries sent police personnel to Haiti. The countries that had contributed were Senegal, Canada, Benin, Jordan, Rwanda, Niger, Mali, Nepal, Tunisia, and Madagascar.

Many of the problems that Haiti had were problems that they couldn’t fix on their own. The United Nations and different partners have helped Haiti in many ways. They have always used the opportunities they had to promote and secure a better life for the people of Haiti. Haiti kept making strides from the help of the UN to keep moving forward to complete their goals. They took any action they needed to help lead Haiti towards its goal. Every person worked hard to improve the police force, human rights, and rule of law. No matter how hard it was each person took any opportunity they had to take a step forward in finishing their mission.

There were many results from the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti. The Haitian National Police gained more people to work in the force. The number of women working for the police increased. They were also taught how to fight any crimes. There was a decrease in detainees. Offices had been reinforced. Ministers were elected for different organizations. Over 200 new organizations had been created to help Haiti.

In conclusion, the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti was a success. Although there were struggles along the way everyone that was sent to Haiti took their ability to help and got Haiti back on track. It did take some time but they got Haiti to where it needed to be. All of the struggles that Haiti was going through were fixed, which were rule of law, police, and human rights. All the United Nations wants is peace throughout the world. If it means helping with anything in the world to prevent war, like the World Wars. They want all people from every country to live peacefully and become allies to prevent something that could disrupt the flow of the world.

Introduction

World hunger, a grave, and complex issue, affects millions of people globally, transcending borders and impacting communities in both developing and developed nations. It is characterized by the insufficient availability or accessibility of nutritious food necessary for a healthy life. Rooted in a web of interconnected factors, world hunger is not merely a consequence of food scarcity but is deeply influenced by economic disparities, political instability, environmental challenges, and social inequalities. The ramifications of hunger extend beyond immediate nutritional deficiencies, affecting educational outcomes, health status, and economic productivity, thereby perpetuating cycles of poverty and deprivation. Addressing world hunger demands a multifaceted approach that encompasses sustainable agricultural practices, equitable food distribution systems, and policies that address the root causes of poverty and inequality. As the world strives towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, eradicating hunger remains a paramount challenge and a moral imperative, calling for global solidarity and innovative solutions to ensure food security for all. The fight against world hunger is not only about feeding the hungry but about creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life.

100 Words Essay about World Hunger

World hunger represents one of the most severe and complex global challenges of our time, affecting millions of people across every continent. Rooted in a web of interrelated issues including poverty, inequality, and political instability, hunger is not merely a consequence of insufficient food production but also of the world’s failure to ensure equitable access to food. Climate change exacerbates the situation, impacting agricultural productivity and food security. Addressing world hunger requires a multifaceted approach that includes improving agricultural practices, enhancing food distribution systems, and implementing policies aimed at reducing poverty and promoting social equity. The fight against hunger is not only about feeding the hungry but about addressing the underlying causes that deprive individuals of their basic right to food.

250 Words Essay about World Hunger

World hunger, a pressing global issue, affects millions, transcending borders and impacting communities in both developing and developed countries. This pervasive problem is not simply a matter of scarcity but is deeply intertwined with socio-economic disparities, conflict, and environmental challenges. Despite the world’s capacity to produce enough food to feed its entire population, systemic inequalities and inefficient food distribution systems leave countless individuals and families without sufficient nourishment.

The roots of world hunger are complex, involving factors such as poverty, which limits people’s access to nutritious food, and agricultural practices that often prioritize commercial crops over those that are essential for local consumption. Additionally, climate change poses a significant threat to food security, with extreme weather events and shifting climate patterns disrupting crop yields and diminishing the reliability of food sources.

Efforts to combat world hunger must therefore be holistic, addressing not only the immediate need for food but also the underlying causes that contribute to food insecurity. Initiatives like sustainable farming practices, investments in smallholder farmers, and policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality are critical. Moreover, international cooperation and aid play a vital role in providing immediate relief to those in crisis situations while working towards long-term solutions.

Addressing world hunger is an ethical imperative that requires collective action and a commitment to creating a more equitable world where everyone has access to the food they need to lead healthy, productive lives.

400 Words Essay about World Hunger

World hunger remains one of the most critical challenges facing humanity, with millions of people worldwide suffering from chronic undernourishment and malnutrition. This global crisis is not merely a consequence of insufficient food production but is deeply rooted in a complex matrix of social, economic, and political factors that hinder access to adequate nutrition for many populations. Despite significant advancements in technology and agriculture, the distribution of food resources remains uneven, exacerbated by poverty, conflict, and inequality, making hunger a multifaceted issue that demands comprehensive solutions.

The causes of world hunger are varied and interlinked. Poverty stands as the primary obstacle, as it limits individuals’ ability to purchase sufficient food. Additionally, agricultural practices and policies often favor the production of cash crops for export over staple foods that could feed the local population, further complicating food accessibility. Climate change significantly impacts food security, with extreme weather conditions such as droughts and floods affecting crop yields and reducing the availability of food in vulnerable regions. Moreover, political instability and conflicts disrupt food distribution channels and agricultural production, leaving populations in affected areas at high risk of famine.

Addressing world hunger requires a concerted effort from governments, international organizations, and civil society to implement policies and programs that tackle the root causes of food insecurity. This includes investing in sustainable agricultural practices that increase food production and ensure environmental resilience, improving food distribution systems to reach the most vulnerable, and enacting social policies that alleviate poverty and reduce inequality. Education and awareness are also crucial in changing consumption patterns and reducing food waste, which can significantly impact food availability.

Furthermore, international cooperation is essential in providing aid and support to regions experiencing acute food crises due to natural disasters or conflicts. Humanitarian assistance, however, should be coupled with long-term development strategies that build local capacities and infrastructure, ensuring communities can achieve self-sufficiency and resilience against future challenges.

In conclusion, world hunger is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach, addressing both the symptoms and the underlying causes of food insecurity. It calls for global solidarity and action, recognizing that access to adequate nutrition is a fundamental human right. By working together to implement sustainable solutions, we can move closer to a world where no one has to suffer from hunger, and every individual has the opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life.

500 Words Essay about World Hunger

World hunger, a pervasive issue that afflicts millions globally, stands as a stark reminder of the profound inequalities that fracture our world. Despite living in an age where technological advancements and agricultural innovations abound, the specter of hunger continues to loom large over vast swathes of the global population, particularly in developing nations. This grim reality is not a simple consequence of food scarcity but a complex interplay of economic disparity, political instability, environmental challenges, and social injustice that collectively impede access to sufficient, nutritious food for all.

At the heart of world hunger is the issue of poverty. Economic constraints severely limit individuals’ ability to secure adequate food, rendering them vulnerable to malnutrition and starvation. This is further compounded by the agricultural sector’s challenges, where smallholder farmers, who are crucial to feeding the world’s population, often struggle with issues like lack of access to markets, unsustainable farming practices, and the impacts of climate change. These farmers face the dual threats of decreased crop yields and the loss of arable land, exacerbating the food insecurity problem.

Moreover, political instability and conflict serve as significant drivers of hunger. Wars and civil unrest disrupt food production and distribution channels, destroy infrastructure, and displace communities, making it nearly impossible for affected populations to access or produce food. Additionally, global economic policies and trade agreements often disadvantage developing countries, affecting their agricultural sectors and food sovereignty.

Climate change poses one of the most significant threats to global food security, with its capacity to alter weather patterns, increase the frequency of extreme weather events, and contribute to the degradation of land and water resources. These environmental impacts directly affect agricultural productivity and food availability, pushing more people into the vicious cycle of hunger and poverty.

Addressing world hunger demands a multifaceted and coordinated global response that tackles the root causes of food insecurity. This includes investing in sustainable agricultural practices that not only increase food production but also ensure environmental conservation. Empowering smallholder farmers through access to technology, credit, and markets is crucial for enhancing food production and resilience against economic and environmental shocks.

Equally important is the need for international cooperation to address the political and economic factors contributing to hunger. This involves supporting peacebuilding efforts in conflict-affected regions, reforming global trade policies to favor fair trade, and ensuring that aid and development programs are responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable populations.

Furthermore, combating climate change and its impacts on food security requires global commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting communities in adapting to changing environmental conditions. This includes developing climate-resilient agricultural practices and ensuring that countries most affected by climate change have the resources and support to mitigate its effects.

In conclusion, world hunger is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach to ensure that everyone, regardless of where they live, has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. It calls for a recommitment to the principles of equity, sustainability, and human rights, recognizing that ending hunger is not only a moral imperative but a foundational step toward building a more just and prosperous world for all.

In a modern globalized world, preference is given to regulating international relations by means of treaties and conventions, developed and signed by global organizations and the community of nations. One of such documents is UNSR 1540 – the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, which was adopted on April 28, 2004. The major aim of the resolution is to support anti-terrorist efforts in the modern society.

The purpose of the document is to require the signatory powers to promote the struggle against terrorism by adopting and enforcing relevant national legislation as well as appropriate measures restraining the proliferation of nuclear weapons that are used for terrorist purposes (United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, n.d.). Being a comprehensive document in the sphere of supporting and guaranteeing global peace, UNSCR 1540 is still characterized by prominent strengths and significant weaknesses.

The resolution was designed and adopted after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and realizing that terrorism has become a real source of threat in the modern world. The main reason that motivated the United Nations to work on such a document was the information that terrorist organizations are interested in using nuclear weapons for mass destruction purposes. Therefore, a collective effort to suppress them was a critical measure for supporting global peace.

Nevertheless, the process of implementing the document was lengthy and cumbersome. To begin with, nowadays, around 170 nations report on the status of adopting the resolution (Nuclear Threat Initiative, 2015). Even though it seems to be a success, in fact, the reports are ambiguous and not all of them reflect the readiness for implementing the document. Such ambivalence in perceiving the resolution is connected to one of its primary weaknesses – wording.

In this case, it is essential to note that although all statements are clear, the resolution lacks the main success factor – the clarity of measures to be taken in order to adopt effective legislation and promote anti-terrorist efforts. As a result, the signatory powers lack understanding of the main provisions of the document or perceive it ambiguously.

Except for the wording, there are other significant weaknesses of the resolution. For instance, it is declarative. It means that regardless of requiring all states to adopt appropriate legislation, no measures controlling this process are identified. More than that, it is designed in general and collective terms. This weakness is associated with ignoring local and regional specificities of the states (Scheinman & Bergenas, n.d.). It stands for developing general recommendations for all states without regard to their level of legal development, relations with neighboring states and the global community, resources for adopting necessary legislation, and the risks of terrorist activities in the region. Furthermore, it means that no additional assistance of the United Nations is provided in case of necessity because no regional focus is specified.

Still, regardless of some significant weaknesses, there are some prominent strengths of the resolution. First and foremost, it is a comprehensive document. It means that its provisions clearly state what the desirable outcome of signing it is. In particular, the resolution calls for refraining non-state actors from their effort to transport, acquire, transfer, use, possess, manufacture or develop mass destruction weapons – chemical, nuclear, and biological (United Nations Security Council, 2004). In this way, it is as well clear in terms of identifying the main focus of anti-terrorist effort – non-state organizations. From this perspective, state armament initiatives aimed at strengthening national security are not limited or suppressed by the global community.

Moreover, the resolution can be treated as a global forum for disarmament and anti-terrorist effort. Because the document calls for global and regional cooperation, the signatory powers are free to ask for assistance in developing necessary and relevant legislation as well as adopting appropriate anti-terrorist measures. It is of significant importance for the third-world countries because they are poorly represented in the UN processes and their reports on UNCSR 1540 implementation are rarely delivered.

More than that, it can be used as a forum for international negotiations and discussions, which means that collective measures can be easily designed and declared (Scheinman & Bergenas, n.d.). As a result, the main strength of the resolution is that it can become the ground for enhancing regional cooperation if interpreted effectively and unambiguously. From this perspective, it can helpful for uniting against the global terrorism threat.

Regardless of the strengths of the resolution, it is commonly disrespected. It can be explained by the fact that even though its character is binding, no measures controlling its implementation or connected sanctions are identified. The lack of reports on the adoption of the resolution, as well as the difference in their quality and depth, is one of the main examples of disrespecting this document.

In this case, the main challenge is that the trend towards ignoring the provisions of the regulation is characteristic of the developing world. Nowadays, the Middle East and Asian states mainly disrespect the resolution (Adams & Khalil, n.d.; Scheinman & Bergenas, n.d.). Such a development proves that regardless of being a comprehensive document, it cannot guarantee global peace because the states known for the most active development of terrorist organizations do not support the implementation of the resolution.

However, the trend towards disrespecting and ignoring the UNSCR 1540 can be explained not only by the lack of sanctions and controlling measures but also the difference in perceiving it. In this way, the choice to avoid implementing it is connected to the variety of opinions regarding its effectiveness. Nowadays, the resolution is a subject of a severe and active public debate. The main challenge is that regardless of the need for fostering anti-terrorism effort, some states do not believe that the resolution is helpful for coping with the risks.

For instance, China and Russia do not support the need for this global initiative, while the United Kingdom and the United States see it as the main instrument for achieving effective international cooperation and global peace (“Open debate and adoption of Resolution on the 1540 comprehensive review,” 2016). In this way, there is a significant inconsistency in opinions about the resolution.

Summing up, UNSCR 1540 is a subject of debates and criticism. Still, in case of reaching a shared vision of the document, it can become the main tool for eradicating the risks of terrorism in the modern world. It can be explained by the potential consequences of the universal implementation of the resolution, such as the suppression of the access of non-state organizations to the weapons of mass destruction and, as a result, the creation of effective national, regional, and global controls in this area (Gibson & Shirazyan, 2012). Nevertheless, to achieve them, additional effort is necessary.

References

Adams, J., & Khalil, A. (n.d). Achieving a balanced implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540, the Middle East as an example. Web.

Gibson, J. M., & Shirazyan, S. (2012). The UN Security Council Resolution 1540: An overview of extraterritorial controls over non-state WMD proliferation. Web.

Nuclear Threat Initiative. (2015). UNSCR 1540 resource collection. Web.

Open debate and adoption of Resolution on the 1540 comprehensive review. (2016). Web.

Scheinman, L., & Bergenas, J. (n.d.). United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540. Web.

United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. (n.d.). U.N. Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004). Web.

United Nations Security Council. (2004). Resolution 1540 (2004). Web.

The UN Internet Governance Forum in Rio de Janeiro held on 12-15 November 2007 covered a wide range of topics related to the logical and physical infrastructure of the Internet. It was noted that there is a need to build up community infrastructures including critical Internet resources to meet the needs of 5.5 billion people who do not have access to the Internet. During the Forum held in Athens on 30 October – 2 November 2006, the aim was to provide a knowledge facility regarding issues related to Internet government. Despite the slightly different themes of discussion, both Forums were aimed at dealing with questions related to access, security, diversity, and openness.

Forum in Athens (2006)

The general aspects included the nature of Internet governance and consultation processes. The participants focused on the general organizational setting of the current Internet governance mechanisms and tasks of Internet governance organizations¹. Discussion included an analysis of the ways in which Internet governance mechanisms could be understood in a broad set of international policy frameworks. Russia recommended including the discussion of issues related to the administrative management of IP addresses and the Domain Name System.

Another objective was a focus on development issues of the Internet as a public infrastructure with a public goods perspective. Important issues of discussion included privacy of correspondence, third party interference, freedom of expression and information, security and stability, protection from political and commercial manipulation.

Openness

Many speakers and contributors noted the importance of openness as one of the fundamental principles of the Internet. The Internet provides a robust exchange of information and empowers millions of people to trade ideas and information and increase the wealth of knowledge². The openness of the Internet is a key feature ensuring stability and security. The Internet offers an opportunity to communicate quickly at a low cost. Forum participants discussed an objective of an inclusive Information Society and continued economic and social development. However, consensus over the rules dealing with intellectual property rights in cyberspace was not achieved.

One of the objectives was to decide how these rules should be developed to protect Internet openness and unrestricted flow of information. Special emphasis was made on the importance of open online education resources.

Security

Security was the second issue of discussion. Contributors and speakers noted that security was a key element in establishing trust and confidence among users of the Internet. The achievement of the Internet’s full potential could be achieved only through the promotion of trust, confidence, stability, and security³. It was pointed out that every new device increased the capacity for use as well increased the exposure to potential harm from intentional, unintentional, and illegal actions.

The objective was to find a balance between openness and security. Forum participants discussed the measures to fight crime and privacy protection issues. Special emphasis has been made on available measures to tackle spam.

Diversity

It was noted that the vast majority of people who use the Internet do not write or read in English. One of the forum objectives was to enable people to use the Internet in their own language⁴. The most significant challenge was to create availability of information in local languages to promote multilingualism. The lack of information in indigenous languages is especially evident for developing countries. It was recognized that technical solutions have become more localized, complex, and harder to guarantee. It was concluded with the note that there was a need to ensure that development, maintenance, and resolution processes could preserve the integrity, stability, and security of the Internet.

Access

Access was the final objective of the Forum discussion. Participants from developing counties noted that more than 5 billion people remained without access to the Internet as an important tool for social growth and economic development⁵. Contributors discussed the factors that impacted the availability and affordability of the Internet. Forum participants focused on the positive effects of the networks due to open standards and discussed the role of open standards in promoting competition on the Internet markets. It was proposed that the issue of Internet international connectivity could be solved by the liberalization of telecommunication markets.

Forum in Rio de Janeiro (2007)

The second Internet Governance Forum was held in Rio de Janeiro and included the four themes from the previous meeting in Athens. The key themes included access, diversity, security, and openness. The fifth theme was added – critical Internet resources. The Council of Europe expressed the view that Internet governance should have included more discussion on human rights, freedom of expression, and tasks of Internet governance organizations. It was suggested that more attention should be paid to the development dimension⁶. It was noted that focus should be shifted on governance of specific policies and programs aimed by the private sector, intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder organizations involved in governance and security.

Critical Internet Resources

Forum participants stressed the importance of training in the management of critical Internet resources. There was a discussion on Internet addresses distribution to ensure equitable access by all counties to address resources. One of the key objectives was to discuss the contribution of governments and public policy implications. It was stressed that private organizations should become the agents of the state and subject to state regulation.

Access

The objective from the previous Forum in Athens to foster the spread of the Internet to developing countries was raised again. It was proposed that the achievement of public service value of the Internet required affordable and universal access to Internet infrastructure for all countries⁷. Special attention was paid to the need to bridge the digital divide in rural areas. Moreover, forum participants discussed the importance of building the fundamental skills necessary to use technology brought by the Internet. It was stated that the business community is responsible for the establishment of a proper regulatory and political environment beneficial for ensuring access to Internet resources.

Diversity

Diversity objective was aimed at ensuring multilingual Internet to build legitimate, democratic, and inclusive Information Society⁸. The importance of promoting locally developed content was stressed. It was proposed that stakeholders should share technology to help people with disabilities and the elderly to use the network more easily. In particular, the need to increase the possibility for all language groups to share information in their languages was discussed. A major concern was related to possible confusion that might occur across languages. Thus, the need to maintain a single domain name space was mentioned.

Openness

Many speakers highlighted the importance of openness to advance human development. In addition to previously discussed themes during the meeting in Athens, forum participants raised an objective to protect children and the general pubic from objectionable Internet content, prohibiting the usage of the Internet for criminal conduct, and ensuring reasonable restrictions on Internet content⁹. It was recommended to introduce voluntary labeling as an alternative to legislation. It was proposed to create governmental regulations against infringement of trademarks and to promote cooperation between self-regulation and governments. The need to find the balance between the freedom of expression and protection of copyright was discussed.

Security

The Council of Europe recommended applying international conventions on cybercrime, prevention of terrorism, protection of automatic processing of private data, actions against trafficking in human beings, and protection of children against sexual abuse¹⁰. Protection of children and security of the Internet was described as a primary objective of the Internet Governance Forum in Rio de Janeiro. A solution for protecting children on Internet from predators and controlling online illegal content was recommended. It was concluded that the state should hold the key responsibility for a security failure on the Internet. Thus, the role of the government was discussed as a responsibility to raise awareness of Internet security among users.

The Internet Governance Forums are focused on diversity, access, openness, and security of the Internet¹¹. The Forum which took place in Rio de Janeiro was expected to advance the discussion started in Athens. Speakers from Germany and the United States emphasized the importance of involving a private sector-driven process. All Internet governance-related business units had to present their activities and were encouraged to engage in a dialogue.

Unlike the previous Forum in Athens, more than 200 representatives from civil society, the Internet community, and the private sector attended the consultations and meetings. In addition, participants noted that more emphasis should be made on Internet resources and the internationalization of domain names. While Forum in Athens was a discussion, Forum in Rio resulted in negotiated documents and diplomatic processes.

Most of the topics which were discussed during the Forums might have an impact on international business. In particular, the discussion on the Internet security issue might affect the collection of personal information from clients. The discussion on Internet access might open new markets for international companies in developing countries. The issue of Internet diversity might shape the international marketing strategy to meet the needs of local populations. Finally, the issue of openness allows international business units to target segments that are underserved.

References

The Internet Governance Forum. Inaugural Meeting (Athens 2006), Background Report. Web.

The Internet Governance Forum. Second Meeting (Rio de Janeiro, 2007), Synthesis Paper. Web.

Un Official Say, Internet Governance Forum in November to address access, security issues. UN News Service. Web.

Footnotes

1. The Internet Governance Forum, Inaugural Meeting, Athens 2006, p. 5.
2. Ibid, p. 6.
3. Ibid, p. 8.
4. Ibid, p. 11.
5. Ibid, p. 12.
6. The Internet Governance Forum, Second Meeting, Rio de Janeiro 2007, p. 3.
7. Ibid, p. 6.
8. Ibid, p. 7.
9. Ibid, p. 9.
10. Ibid, p. 10.
11. UN Official Says…, p. 1.

Introduction

Charted in 1945 by 51 countries, the intent of the United Nations (UN) was to provide a forum for the nations of the world to congregate as a means to promote world peace. This number has grown to 191 today, in practically every country. No one can debate that the formation of the UN has provided relief and stabilization for millions of the world’s population over the past 60 years. However, many rightfully question the ability of this international organization to successfully manage present and future adverse scenarios. The power of the UN to stop imperialist actions was put in serious doubt when it could not stop the US from invading a sovereign country that did not initiate military conflict. The genocide in Darfur, Sudan was ignored until just recently and many thousands of children worldwide die from starvation every day. In addition, globalization has gone far beyond the scope of what could have been imagined in 1945.

Responsibility of UN

The ‘Responsibility to Protect,’ a basic tenant by which the UN operates, provides that a country cannot refuse assistance or support from other countries when it cannot or will not safeguard its citizens from genocide or other actions deemed as a crime against humanity. All nations’ sovereignty is respected as is their ability to conduct their affairs but this is a qualified condition, not one that is considered absolute.

“When peaceful means are exhausted and leaders of a UN member state is ‘manifestly failing to protect their populations,’ then other states have the responsibility to take collective action through the Security Council” (O’Neill, 2006). Critics of the responsibility to protect concept argue that it is simply another method by which the western world can justify its imperialistic predispositions. The concern is that the responsibility to protect will be invoked whenever a more powerful nation wishes to advance its agenda at the expense of the less powerful. Of course, this concern cannot be dismissed or denied in light of the Iraqi occupation which makes the argument for military intervention a tough sell to all, especially to the lesser developed countries. It is the nature of countries to consider their interests first and foremost and a responsibility to protect the document, no matter how well-intentioned, cannot change this fact or guarantee that the motives behind its invocation are morally sound in every situation.

Critique

The responsibility to protect is also criticized because it does not place enough emphasis on poverty and famine conditions and too much on violent situations. In addition, many that advocate humanitarian efforts question military involvement as the focus of this effort. “The challenge facing enlightened state leaders is to build an international consensus behind policies that address the underlying cause of human rights deprivations and that defend basic rights wherever and whenever they are threatened” (Linklater, 2000).

Another common criticism is that for the responsibility to protect to be properly implemented, it first requires a sufficient military force to be assembled beforehand (Macfarlane, 2004). It has been argued that military manpower would not be of concern if the U.S. was interested in protecting Darfur’s citizens. The deployment of troops to Darfur would not be without cost but if safeguarding civilians from genocide were high on the political priority list, the risks would be deemed justifiable. Presently the relatively small African Union military force is attempting to protect the citizens of Darfur from genocide. This is a goal that will not be realized without further military as well as political support (Reeves, 2005).

Another criticism regarding the situation in Darfur is that the responsibility to protect relies solely on the Security Council’s approval for the authorization of humanitarian interventions. If it is given that military capabilities were not an obstacle, intervention would still face unlikely passage by the Security Council. Any resolution can be vetoed by one member of the Security Council. China is a member and imports most of its oil from Sudan. A military conflict in this region is decidedly not in China’s best interest. The responsibility to protect report suggested modifying the veto system for an occasion of this type but the acceptance of this change depends on the outcome of the discussions regarding U.N. reforms (Reeves, 2005). The world discusses while Darfur suffers.

The debates regarding military intervention to protect people from genocide, torture, starvation, and displacement continue while governments continue to consider their interests with little regard to others. Human nature continues to be fallible and the nations of the world experience internal conflicts. The world continues the debate as countless people continue to suffer needlessly.

Conclusion

For the UN to achieve its desired goals and to successfully address the problems facing the world now and in the future, the member nations must commit to its success which includes adhering to its resolutions. If they do not, especially the US which is the most powerful military and economy of the world and permanent member of the Security Council, this world governing experiment will cease to be of any real consequence. If, however, if the UN’s authority is further empowered it can accomplish much in terms of world peace and humanitarian concerns. Some are fearful that strengthening the jurisdictional powers of the UN could lead to a world governing body in much the same way the EU has broadened its power over Europe. Those that do not share this concern point to the war in Iraq and the situation in Darfur as classic examples of why the UN must endure and its resolutions followed by all member countries or face severe penalties.

Progress has been made in the effort to combat world hunger and disease, internal and external conflicts, and environmental issues. The future of the UN depends on the commitment of the nations of the world to improve the world and its people.

References

Linklater, Andrew. “The Good International Citizen and the Crisis in Kosovo.” Kosovo and the Challenge of Humanitarian Intervention: Selective Imagination, Collective Action, and International Citizenship. Ramesh Thakur & Albrecht Schnabel (Eds.). Tokyo: UN University Press, (2000).

O’Neill, William G. “The Responsibility to Protect Darfur.” The Christian Science Monitor. (2006). Web.

Reeves, Eric. Darfur: Shame and Responsibility. Dissent, Fall (2005).

Sex trafficking is a major and often overlooked problem of modern societies around the world. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2009), sex exploitation is the primary cause of human slavery, accounting for approximately 79% of all cases. In my opinion, such a crime is fueled by people’s greed, lack of media coverage and governmental attention, and the presence of substantial demand. As for the latter, often not socially acceptable forms of sexual desires and the search for lower prices serve as the sufficient driving force behind the sex slavery market.

However, what is more, important is the lack of attention from the government officials and other institutions to this problem leads to large public unawareness. On the one hand, the real and potential victims do not know how to recognize sex traffickers and behave when they encounter them. On the other hand, the general public has prejudice that most prostitutes have freedom when deciding to sell their bodies due to inability to find another job, drug abuse, or other reasons. However, modern researches and investigations into this topic reveal that it is not true in many cases. Therefore, for a long period of time, women were blamed for selling their bodies rather than men who forced them.

For a similar reason, some of the men who use the prostitutes’ services are unaware that they support the crime. Yet, there are other people who understand that they engage in sexual relationships with underage girls or enslaved women and should be punished similarly to those who traffic women. Nevertheless, I think that the former group still can be blamed for their ignorance because many of the customers of such services consider view prostitutes as an object. This, in turn, leads to the inability to be compassionate towards these women.

In order to address this problem, as was mentioned before, the government, especially in places with high women trafficking, should ensure that women are aware of how to avoid being captured. Additionally, in my opinion, the governments should have full control over a few sexual resorts and often supervise their businesses. Finally, as for trafficking in third-world countries, the U.S. should actively participate in the attempts to halt this activity and urge other countries to join the efforts. In this regard, I think that only by combining the work of all the states can humanity stop sex trafficking.

Reference

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2009). Global report on trafficking in persons. Web.