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| Yes | 58% | 115 votes | Total: 197 votes | |
| No | 42% | 82 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesThe UN has served several functions in the international arena. One of the most vital functions of the UN has been keeping the peace among waring factions world wide. The UN has also brokered peace among these warring factions. The end of the Cold war saw Eastern Europe disintegrate into a wilderness of civil war and other armed conflict.It is the United Nations that kept the peace.
The UN has also been the medium for the promotion of higher standards of living world wide by embarking on development programs in various countries. The UN does this through various specialized agencies , like The UN Children's Fund, the World Food Program and the UN Environmental Program.
The UN has also performed the function of developing and codifying international law. This the UN does with the assistance of its International Law Commission, which does research on international law , and compiles international law. The UN has played an admirable role in the international community by bringing to justice those who are guilty of massive violations of Human Rights. The UN set up the Rwanda Tribunal in 1994 to try perpetrators of the genocide in Rwanda. There is also the Tribunal of the Former Yugoslavia for human rights violations in Kosovo. The UN also runs the International Court of Justice, a court that hears and makes decisions on disputes between countries. This court has heard many important cases that have contributed to the development of international law, and ended disputes between countries.
The UN has played a major role in the independence of several countries, thus adding to peace in the world through enabling various peoples to attain their self determination.
The UN is responsible for setting standards for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the world. The UN also acts as a policeman to be constantly monitoring and preventing potential and actual violations of human rights. The UN also assists countries to promote human rights in their territories.
One of the main functions of the UN has been the coordination of humanitarian efforts around the world when there is a major war or natural disaster. The UN was there for the victims of the Tsunami in Asia, and is currently participating in the crisis in Dafur.
America is the major contributor of funds that maintain the UN. The American people must and should be proud of being responsible for an organization like the UN , that is doing so much good worldwide. the US government would disgrace the American people if it stopped paying dues to the UN, an organization that can be credited with so many noble deeds.
Learn more about this author, Thokozile Gurganious.
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No
The question should the United States keep paying dues to the United Nations should be answered on how well the United Nations is adhering to its charter established in 1945 . Since this mission statement of the United Nations is the reason for its existence, I thought it would be interesting for the purposes of this debate to briefly review its Charter and thus examine its effectiveness against its own mission statement. Here is the U.N. charter as copied from the U.N website:
PREAMBLE
WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED
to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
AND FOR THESE ENDS
to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and
to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,
HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS
Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.
The Charter of the United Nations bears little resemblance to the workings of the U.N.
Many of its members do not have governments that believe in much of what is written in its charter. Members that have little regard for Human Rights and Dignity for example are in charge of this area in the U.N. and the list can go on and on.
The United Nations has clearly lost its way from its original charter and design. It bears little resemblance today to its own charter and sponsors governments that have little in common with its stated goals. It gives forums to member governments that don't believe in equal rights for men and women, that do not believe in fundamental human rights or the dignity or worth of the Person.
The United States should not sponsor through its dues an organization that is so far removed from its own Charter.
Learn more about this author, James Smith.
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