The United Nations (UN) is evidence and basis of world collaboration where everyone may live in peace. In the era of upheavals, what strategic functions does the UN fulfill as the one and only largest intergovernmental body in world? Originally based on the virtues and goals of avoiding another World War, World War II finally flourished. Following the abortive effort of the “League of Nations,” the UN came into being in 1945.
The modern world witnessed breakthroughs from the Israel-Hamas war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China’s militarization of the South China Sea, including the friction between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF); Myanmar’s junta situation; the Tigrayan rebels against Ethiopian federal forces; Haitian gang violence; Venezuela’s dubious Maduro presidency; and the fall of Bangladesh Prime Minister among others given today’s geopolitical settings.
Either way, a problem is presented to the UN Security Council, which consists of permanent members the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, and China. The biggest obstacle is their veto ability. The Security Council is unique in that the abstention of a permanent member nation will prevent the resolution from being passed. This implies that the Security Council cannot move to intervene if one permanent member lacks confidence in a particular matter of global importance.
Clearly, in one form or another, these permanent members have national interests in many global disputes. Member countries should, it is clear, present themselves collectively rather than otherwise. Only then could the UN, in its council or subsidiary institutions, step in knowing that all sides are ready to follow the final decision right away. As a matter of policy, the perspective on the sovereignty of every member state further releases certain nations from responsibility for any disputes affecting the world.
Though it is a member state, the United Nations diplomacy is an international standard accessible exclusively to those who acknowledge it. Whereas the ICC is a criminal court punishing state actors or persons from the member states, the International Court of Justice (ICJ, often known as World Court) is a civil tribunal for member nations. The only international court rendering advisory opinions on international law matters and handling broad conflicts between countries is the ICJ.
The UN General Assembly voted to call a diplomatic conference at the 52nd session in order to complete and build the foundation of an international criminal court. The International Criminal Court (ICC) developed its Rome Statute. Member nations of UN signed the ICC rules of procedure and the cooperation mechanisms. This underlined even more how any member state should subject itself to future trials before the tribunal. Ironically, some nations have not joined as they do not want to be exposed by UN or ICC diplomacy to possible future wars. Included in the Rome Statute, issues endangering peace worldwide include murder, rape, incarceration, forced disappearances, enslavement, especially for women and children, sexual slavery, torture, apartheid, and deportation.
Conflicts and war crimes have flourished in many different ways throughout geographies, civilizations, and even peoples as the United Nations becomes 79 years old in October. The diplomacy of the United Nations has to be the strongest tool in avoiding wars all around. One element that might stop bilateral or multilateral diplomacy from interfering on matters between two or more countries is sovereignty; this also relates to internal problems. The United Nations’ main responsibility is to bring about peace, hence disagreements will most definitely be settled.
