Statments
Statement of AAPSO Secretariat on the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations
The concept of "United Nations Organisation" came into acceptance during the closing years of the "Second World War" when representatives of 26 nations fighting the Axis Powers assembled on 1st January 1942 pledged their adherence to a World Organisation to be set up after the end of war.
In Lake Success, San Francisco 50 countries met at the United Nations Conference on International Organisations to draw up the U.N. Charter. The Charter was signed by 50 countries to be original members of the United Nations.
The allied powers learnt the lessons from the short comings of the League of Nations which lost its credentiality when the Second World War broke out. Accordingly the United Nations Organisation was set up in 1945 with its Head Quarters in New York. In addition for the convenience of Europe and Asia, Geneva too became equally important centers of the United Nations.
Over the 70 years of its existence, the U.N. certainly will be credited for many actions taken to eliminate tension and establish peace in the world. With the defeat of the axis powers the five main countries who led the allied forces, formed as the Security Council to which the United States; Russia (the Soviet Union); Britain; France and China were elected as permanent members of the U.N. security council with veto power so that any decision had to be taken unanimously.
During the Cold War period, the Security Council remained divided between the United States and the Soviet Union when taking any decision, and many resolutions remained blocked. This had severely affected the countries under colonialism, and prolonging their struggle for independence.
Over the years there were valid criticism about the powers of the Security Council and also its formation. Seven decades have passed since the setting up of the United Nations. During this long period, geo-political situation had undergone tremendous change. With 50 countries as original members, of the U.N. has increased its membership to over 193 today. The critics consider that Africa and Latin America are not represented as permanent members in the Security Council. Also some points out that India which is the second most populated country is not a member of the Security Council. Arabs too have their grievances that with 21 countries they too have right to be represented.
Considering these discrepancies, many of the civil society movements feel that there is a great need for restructuring the U.N. system, but to "bell the cat" is not easy.
Despite these anomaly, the United Nations and its agencies, has done a Yeoman service to humanity. AAPSO considers that in todays context civil society movements can play a stronger role in restructuring the U.N. in keeping with todays requirement.
AAPSO appreciate the enormous human and relief activities that is render by the U.N. particularly in solving the acute problem of refugees and in its attempt to solve hot bed issues specially in the Middle East and in other parts of the world.
