The un Main Instrument

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The United Nations Charter with the Statute of the International Court of Justice as its integral part, is the constituting instrument of the Organization, setting out the rights and obligations of Member States, and establishing the principal organs and procedures of the United Nations. The UN Charter is an international treaty which codifies the major principles of international relations — from the equal rights of large and small States to the prohibition of the threat or use of force in international relations to the fundamental human rights of men and women. The Charter prevails over any other international agreements (Article 103).

It is not only the basic constitutional document of the UN, it is also a universal document. Although there are some very few states outside the UN, the Charter makes clear that the Organization will ensure that non-members of the UN act in accordance with the main principles of the Charter for the sake of international peace and security. For instance, Switzerland, which was not a UN member in the 1990s yet, participated in the economic sanctions against Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait in response to the Security Council appeal to impose those sanctions. The universal character of the Charter means that the UN, being the most representative international body, can speak for all the states of the world.

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The Charter consists of 19 Chapters containing 111 Articles. It opens with a Preamble, and includes sections on: 1. United Nations Purposes and Principles; 2. Membership; 3. Organs; 4. Pacific Settlement of Disputes; 5. Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression; 6. International Economic and Social Cooperation; 7. Non-Self-Governing Territories.

The Charter has undergone little change since 1945 as it was drafted in sufficiently broad terms to allow its principal organs to deal effectively with new situations. A few amendments adopted by the General Assembly were made to the Charter at the sessions in 1963, 1968 and 1971. But with a reform being under way in the Organization, the Charter may face some revising so that it can be adapted to far-reaching changes that have occurred in the world arena in the past three decades.

Vocabulary List

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a charter – устав; хартия

an integral part – составная/неотъемлемая часть

to set out the rights and obligations of – устанавливать/закреплять чьи-л. права и обязанности

the prohibition of the threat or use of force – запрещение угрозы применения силы или использования силы

to act in accordance with (the main principles of the Charter) – действовать в соответствии с (основными принципами Устава)

for the sake of – ради (кого-л./чего-л.)

in response to – в ответ на

to impose sanctions on/against smb – ввести санкции против кого-л.

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a preamble – преамбула; вступление, предисловие

settlement of disputes – разрешение споров

with respect to – относительно/в отношении (кого-л./чего-л.)

a threat to peace – угроза миру

a breach (of peace, a law, a contract) – нарушение (мира, закона, контракта)

to undergo changes – претерпеть изменения

to draft a document – составить/выработать документ

Synonyms: to work out, to draw up, to elaborate

to adopt an amendment – принять поправку

to be under way (about reforms, debates, projects) – происходить, продвигаться, развиваться, иметь место

to revise a document – проверить/внести изменения в документ; переработать/пересмотреть/изменить документ

to adapt smth to (new circumstances, changes) – приводить что-л. в соответствие с, приспособить/адаптировать что-л. к (новым обстоятельствам, изменениям/переменам)

in the world arena – на международной арене

Synonyms: on the world/global scene/stage