At a time when Hong Kong is seeking Independence from China, when Gun violence is at its peak in America, when Inflation is soaring in France when Britain’s future is uncertain due to Brexit when Ukraine is protesting against Russia, the 5 ‘superpowers’ chose to ignore their own problems & discussed the Kashmir crisis at the behest of Pakistan’s all-weather friend China.
United Nations Security Council discussed the Kashmir Issue behind closed doors, and as expected, Pakistan & China failed miserably as the 4 other countries backed India. But the question is what gives the international body the legitimacy to interfere in India’s internal matter & secondly, why do they selectively choose matters? Why didn’t they discuss issues plaguing their own country?
Historic Spillover
The year was 1945 and the world had just witnessed the Second World War. The destruction caused by the war was massive. 85 million lives were lost and close to $1.6 trillion was gutted in the war.
The world had never witnessed a tragedy of this scale. The existing ‘League of Nations’ had failed to check the ambitions of Hitler and Mussolini. 50 countries lead by the USA then decided to form a body that could maintain peace and harmony in the world.
On June 26, 1945, these 50 countries ratified a new inter-governmental body which came into existence months later in October 1945. United Nations was created heralding a new era in world history.
Today United Nations is considered as the most successful trans-national body but its critics think otherwise. Let’s take a look if the body has lived up to its motive of securing international security.
UN: A Success Story or a massive failure?
The biggest impact United Nations has had is in the sector of healthcare. WHO successfully eradicated Small Pox and the UN health care agency also successfully removed the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. In the last 70 years, health care indicators like Maternal Mortality Rate and Infant Mortality Rate has drastically reduced all thanks to the persistent efforts of WHO.
In the field of Culture, UNESCO World Heritage Sites have helped in the preservation and protection of unique culture and natural heritage of various countries.
Many however consider the United Nations a monumental failure. Apart from failing to tackle the Kashmir and the Palestine issue. The peacekeeping force of the United Nations failed to prevent the Srebrenica Massacre and the 1994 Rwanda Massacre. Despite allegedly having prior information, the UN was unable to stop the killings.
The Oil for Food program was meant to help the cash strapped Iraq, but soon UN officials were accused of bribery and till date, the United Nations has refused to make the internal audits public
The failure to check the growth of terrorism in countries like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan is also considered as the UN’s biggest failure.
United Nations Security Council has been accused of creating a new world power. China, US, UK, France and Russia being the permanent members have been accused of meddling in the functioning of other countries. They have blocked the entry of new permanent members, plus Arab and African countries have been poorly represented in the council.