The United Nations has served for over sixty years as the international community’s supreme forum, as well as a platform for action to combat world problems that face the global community in our age. Since 1945, the UN has been involved in many peacekeeping, development, and human rights efforts touching every almost continent on our planet. Its continuing, guiding philosophy, “to maintain international peace and security”, “to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights”, and “to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom” serve as principles that the organization still strive towards. As such, the United Nations serves as one of the largest philanthropic organizations and the globes only supreme forum on which nations may discuss situations on an international scale. Despite all of the successes of the UN, it can be said that the organization such as it is, needs to undergo a modernization program—to bring the United Nations into the 21st century.
The United Nations security Council is the most powerful body in the United Nations’ system. All decisions made by the SC are mandatory and compulsory to all member-states in the UN. Many of the arguments in favor of reform stem from the council’s perceived inequity in representation. Why should such economic middle class nations, France & the United Kingdom maintain permanent representation, when economic and political heavyweights like Japan and Germany not have permanent representation? In addition, there is the issue of unfair representation of Africa, seeing how it has no permanent representative on the council. Consensus is clear however, the council is a reflection of a 1945 world and needs to have a modernization program, most conclude that this includes an increase in council membership. However, the council should remain small enough that it maintains its decision-making ability.
The Economic and Social Council is the council that is charged with the responsibility of promoting “international social and economic cooperation”. With the state of the world such as it is, with genocides raging in several nations around that world and the continuing HIV/ AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, the United Nations can play a decisive role in combating these plagues on humanity. Promoting mutual understanding and tolerance is one of the main goals of this council, so steps ought to be taken to increases global cooperation in fighting the terrible events that cause exorbitant human suffering. With inadequate development in many nations, the population and world citizenry suffer.
The world has changed. There are now 192 recognized, sovereign nation-states on our planet today. The decline in colonialism and the increase in independence for all have created new problems for international affairs and understanding. The rise of international, organized terrorism has changed the way all nations must consider national security. The expansion and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has threatened all life on the earth. These are all issues that must be solved on the international level. No single government has the power or the will to accomplish these alone. The United Nations must be ready to tackle these issues. The UN needs reform. The United Nations has a key role to play in future generations, and every member of every nation can ensure that the UN, will broker the roadmap to global understanding.