Contemporary Issues at the United Nations

TL;DR

This video discusses the UN budget, veto power, Security Council reform, and efforts towards gender equity in the UN.

Transcript

Hey everyone. This is Noah Zerbe. In this video series, we look at the United Nations system. This video focuses in particular on the contemporary issues facing the United Nations. Specifically, we're going to look at the UN budget, the veto power, Security Council reform, and efforts at addressing gender equity in the United Nations system. In oth... Read More

Key Insights

• 🗯️ The UN focuses on peace and security, development, and human rights as its three pillars.
• ☄️ Funding for the UN comes from member states through assessments and voluntary contributions.
• ✊ The Security Council veto power has been used differently by each country, and there are debates on reforming the Council.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the three pillars that define the activities of the UN?

The three pillars are peace and security, development, and human rights. These areas shape the work of the organization and guide its activities.

Q: How is the UN funded?

The UN receives funding primarily from member states through assessments and voluntary contributions. Assessments are the dues paid by member states, and voluntary contributions are additional donations.

Q: How do the permanent members of the Security Council use their veto power?

The permanent members have the power to veto proposed measures before the Council. They have used their veto power differently over time, with some countries vetoing more frequently than others. The US primarily uses its veto to protect Israel.

Q: What efforts have been made towards gender equity in the UN?

Gender equity has been a focal point for the UN, and progress has been made towards achieving gender parity. The goal is to have equal representation in senior leadership positions by 2021 and across all boards by 2028.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The UN focuses on three pillars: peace and security, development, and human rights.

• Funding for the UN comes primarily from member states through assessments and voluntary contributions.

• The Security Council veto power has been used differently by each permanent member, and there are debates on reforming the Council. Efforts towards gender equity have also been made.