Category Civics

What does the UN-Habitat do?

In 1950, almost one-third of the world’s population lived in cities. Within 50 years, our towns and cities grew at a fast rate and became the hub of economic and social progress. These cities offered many opportunities and the number of city dwellers rose to include almost 50 per cent of the world’s population which created problems of space and habitat for all.

Slums began to develop in the cities. In addition to this, pollution and diseases began to spread. It also created problems of clean water, sanitation and shelter. This is where the work of the UN-Habitat comes in.

The goal of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is sustainable urbanisation. Established in 1978, it was the outcome of Habitat I, the first UN Conference on Human Settlements and Sustainable Urban Development.

The UN-Habitat promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It largely looks at the urban poor and works to provide adequate shelter for all.

 

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Does the UN have a university?

The Annual Report to the United Nations General Assembly in 1969 had a proposal that was not previously thought of. The proposal was put forward by U Thant who then served as the UN Secretary-General. He suggested the opening of a United Nations University that would stay true to the nature of the UN- peace and progress.

After round of study about the feasibility of such an institution, it was finally opened in 1975 in Tokyo. The United Nations University works as the academic and research wing of the United Nations.

The university conducts research in areas like world hunger, natural resources, and human and social development. It also conducts a lot of studies about environment, climate and energy.

The United Nations University is not just a research facility. It started offering masters and doctoral programmes since 2010. It is now a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organisation that works for the development and welfare of humanity.

 

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How did the UN High Commissioner for Refugees come into being?

Millions of Europeans either lost their homes or fled from their homeland after the Second World War. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950 to help these homeless refugees. The UNHCR is still at work today protecting refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.

The UNHCR worked relentlessly for the refugees in Hungary, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and South Asia. Currently, this organisation works in a total of 134 countries to safeguard the rights and well-being of people who have been forced out of their homelands. Apart from finding permanent solutions, its work also ensures that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country.

 

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What is the mission of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization?

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) was set up in 1966 to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID). Currently, the UNIDO has 170 member states and the industrial development policies in these countries adhere to the norms of the organisation.

The UNIDO strives to make sure that industrial development in its member states follows the model of sustainable development without causing much burden to the environment. The UNIDO comes under the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

The focus of the works of the UNIDO is as follows:

  • Creating shared prosperity
  • Advancing economic competitiveness
  • Safeguarding the environment
  • Strengthening knowledge and institutions

 

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Why was the Universal Postal Union established?

Earlier, if two countries had to exchange mail, they had to come to an agreement with each other known as the postal treaty. This created huge problems as a country had to get into a lot of agreements to make mail services possible.

If there was no treaty between two countries for the direct delivery of mails, senders sometimes resorted to mail forwarders who would transfer the mail through an intermediate country.

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) was established to coordinate postal policies among member nations. The Universal Postal Union was set up by the Treaty of Bern of 1874. Earlier, it was known as the General Postal Union. By joining the Universal Postal Union, each member agrees to the same terms for conducting international postal duties.

 

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Why do we have the World Tourism Organisation?

People around the world like to travel and explore new lands. Travelling provides lessons in life that no textbooks can offer. While tourism can contribute significantly to the growth of a nation’s economy, it can also damage the environment. Here’s where the work of the World Tourism Organisation comes in.

It focuses on the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) sees tourism as a major factor of economic growth. Therefore, it offers leadership and support to the tourism sector in advancing knowledge. It also makes tourism policies worldwide that would improve the contribution of tourism to the socio-economic development.

 

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