International+Organizations

Created by Justin Williams On October 5, 2006 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FACT SHEET United Nations (UN): Organization founded after WWII which attempts to facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, and social 'equity. It is funded by voluntary contributions from each of its 1 92 member states. Issues include arms control and disarmament, peacekeeping, human rights, humanitarian aid, and treaties. The Millenium Development Goals, signed in September 2000, stabs at sweeping human rights standards by the year 2015. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): Alliance formed after WWII intended to enforce the North Atlantic Treaty, which stated // "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all. " // Member countries include the US and Canada as well as most of Europe. Originally intended to provide a defense against the USSR, the role of the organization has come into question in recent years. NATO took its first military action in Bosnia in 1994 and played an integral part in the Kosovo conflict in 1999. NATO played a strong part in post 9/1 1 engagements in Afghanistan, and now controls military operations in the southern part of that country. European Union (EU): Alliance of European nations established in 1992 which has a single market consisting of a customs union, single currency issued by the European Central Bank (12 of the 25 countries adopt this), and common agricultural, fisheries, and trade policies. Hot issues in the EU include the membership candidacy of Turkey, its current agricultural subsidies, and the role of genetically modified organisms. World Trade Organization (WTO): Organization formed in 1995 which establishes and enforces international trade regulations. WTO wants to increase international trade by lowering trade barriers, particularly with these rules in mind: 1. A trading system should be free of discrimination in the sense that one country cannot privilege a particular trading partner above others within the system, nor can it discriminate against foreign products and services; 2. A trading system should .tend toward more freedom, that is, toward fewer trade barriers (tariffs and non-tariff barriers); 3. A trading system should be predictable, with foreign companies and governments reassured that trade barriers will not be raised arbitrarily and that markets will remain open; 4. A trading system should tend toward greater competition; 5. A trading system should be more accommodating for less developed countries, giving them more time to adjust, greater flexibility, and more privileges. If disputes exist among member states, they may bring them in front of the Dispute Settlement Body for resolution. Critics argue that the WTO only makes the Jives of the rich better, and despite its aims toward the assistance of developing nations, influential member states overwhelmingly benefit their own commercial interests. World Bank: International bank group providing fmanace and advice to countries for the purposes of economic development and poverty reduction, and for encouraging and safeguarding international investment. The World Bank provides loans and grants to developing countries. The Bank often falls under criticism for what opponents deem bullying tactics like structural adjustment, wherein a borrowing country vastly adjusts its laws, regulations, and economic policies under the advice of the World Bank. This has often led to the accumulation of more debt for the borrowing country. African Union (AU): Federation of African countries officially formed in 2002 which aims to secure Africa 's democracy, human rights, and a sustainable economy. Specifically, the AU attempts to intervene in intra-African conflicts. The only African country which is not an AU member is Morocco. Recently, the AU has been involved in deploying peacekeeping troops in Sudan, as well as dealing with the AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): Dec. 1993, US, Canada, Mexico. Contains NAAEC-North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation NAALC-North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation