Citizenship Theme D - UK and the Rest of the World

UNITED NATIONS (UN)

• 193 member countries
• UK joined in Oct 1945
• Formed in 1945 to avoid war and solve global issues 
• UK is 1/5 of the permanent members of Security Council and gives a high degree of influence
• Key aims = maintain int. peace and security, protect HR, deliver humanitarian aid, promote sustainable development and uphold int. law.

UN General Assembly

• UN's main body
• discusses important issues
• has many sub bodies e.g. HR council, World Food Programme and UNICEF.

Benefits and Commitments 

• UK has good influence
• can count on assistance from other members if disaster
• access to financial help from UN World Bank
• UK citizens benefits as UN members take HR protection very seriously
• UK must contribute troops to peacekeeping missions globally
• UK has to pay membership fee, and is fifth largest funder of UN
• Being a permanent member of Sec. Council = big commitment and key role in global peace and in selecting UN secretary general.

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION (NATO)

• set up in 1949 to defend Western Europe against threat of Soviet agression
• 29 members as of 2018
• …