Model+UN

Mastromauro UN UN Association of Greater Boston

BACKGROUND TO THE UNITED NATIONS

1. What is the mission of the United Nations? 2. To Accomplish its mission, what do member countries agree to do? 3. How did the founders of the United Nations attempt to avoid the failures of the League of Nations? 4. Identify and describe the 6 organs of the UN and their functions 5. Explain how each of these organs helps the UN achieve its mission 7. What kind of occupational skills would a person need to be a staff member or diplomat at the United Nations? 8. Explain how the use of military action is in keeping with the UN mission and goals 9. What efforts has the UN made in protecting human rights? 10. Describe UN efforts in improving health care and expanding education around the world.
 * Guide Questions**:

__OPENER ON UNITED NATIONS__

[|Cholera in Haiti]

Article Summary: In Haiti, the water supply is contaminated, for suspected reasons, leading to the untimely death of thousands of people in Haiti.The disease attacks its victims with a violent stomach pain and illness. The cholera epidemic was going to be brought up in world issues but was not due to the idea that the United Nations was evidently the cause of the epidemic, or contributed to it. They believed the UN was responsible because the peacekeeping troops brought it into Haiti through bad sanitation systems. The cholera victims now want compensation from the United Nations for helping the epidemic. The world has contributed, however, $230,000,000 dollars to the cause.

Student Examples:
 * India/Kashmir H.R.C.
 * Peacekeeping Syria
 * Cigarette Smuggling
 * Security Council/Syria
 * Secretary Gen



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Notes on Short Video:
 * The Yalta conference with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Josef Stalin, and Winston Churchill
 * They all wanted peace after the war, but each had a different idea on how that should be achieved
 * UN was created shortly after
 * 50 countries agree to create the system of UN
 * Goal was to keep peace and serenity throughout the country
 * October 24, 1945
 * Consisted of General Assembly, Secretariat, Security Council, Ecosoc, Trusteeship council, International Court of Justice
 * In December 2006, Ban Ki-Moon becomes UN Secretary General

[|United Nations Intro for Students]









**WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HUMAN?**



As you watch the video, take notes on what you learn about the **Universal Declaration of Human Rights**:
 * Everyone has the right to freedom of movemen__t__ and residence within the borders of each state
 * Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country
 * Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries
 * This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
 * Everyone has the right to a nationality
 * Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others
 * Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
 * Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
 * Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
 * Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country,
 * Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country

//**Read the comments of Eleanor Roosevelt, Chair of the UN commission that drafted the UDHR, on the importance of universal human rights standards:**//

//Where, after all, do universal rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.//

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Eleanor Roosevelt The Great Question, 1958

She meant that every person has to have the same rights despite their ethnic background, financial stability, race, religion, gender or anything else.
 * ===‍** What do you think Eleanor Roosevelt means by "universal rights"? **===

I think it is impossible as well, I think there are way too many different ideas and view of what is best for society and that is way too hard to satisfy everybody. To make it seem like a bigger thing and that this includes EVERYBODY in the universe, to emphasize the unity. In addition, it is timeless and will be and should be around forever. It talks about space as well, it is a much stronger word. I think she means that it takes the smaller more immediate action to be able to even consider bigger changes. People need to speak up if they want change to come about for the rest of the world.
 * ===‍** Some people feel that universal values or standards of behavior are impossible. What do you think? **===
 * ===‍** Why do you think the UN chose the word universal instead of the word international when naming the UDHR? **===
 * ===‍** Paraphrase the final sentence of the quotation. What does it say about individual responsibility for human rights? What do you think Eleanor Roosevelt means by "concerned citizen action to uphold" rights close to home? **===


 * DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS vs. US BILL OF RIGHTS:**
 * 1. Read through the UDHR and list what you believe to be the articles that most mirror our Bill of Rights?**
 * Legally protected/****You have the right to own things and nobody has the right to take these from you without a good reason.** --> Right to a fair jury trial/Right to possessions without a warrant for arrest or search/cruel and unusual punishment
 * Every child born has the right to be free and happy**-->life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
 * You have the right to profess your religion freely, to change it, and to practise it either on your own or with other people.** --> Freedom of religion
 * You have the right to think what you want, to say what you like** -->Freedom of Speech

You cannot be tortured Everyone is equal Freedom to own things without interference Freedom of Religion Freedom of Speech and Expression Right to be involved in your government's political affairs Right to work and make money Right to an Education Rights must be respected by Everyone Nobody can take it upon themself to destroy these rights.
 * 2. List what you believe are the top ten most important articles of the UDHR**







FAILED STATES:





Somalia Failed State

Video: The U.N. Secretary-General highlighted the dire situation that persists in a 2005 report on Somalia: “There has been no progress in ameliorating the contention between leaders of the transitional federal institutions on four broad issues: the relocation of the transitional federal institutions, a national security and stabilization plan, national reconciliation and the peace support mission envisaged by the African Union/Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) (Annan 2005: 3)

"The fact is that we Somalis are responsible for our own fate but we need big brothers to look out for us as well." -Abdulhaliim Rashid Abdirahman