International Organisations (Review)
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 1:21 PM
Chapter 2: Definition of IGO and types
Definition: "An international There are non-governmental organisations (INGO) and inter-governmental
organisation is an association or a organisations (IGO). IGO are not grouping of states or coalitions like G7. They
union of nations established and are established by a treaty which is ratified by the national parliaments of the
recognised by them for the purpose of member states. There are also bilateral or multilateral org and organizations
realizing a common end" based on costumary or conventional law.
Based of IGO scopes and goals which are outlined in the treaty or charter, we have different types of IGOs.
1. Global Organizations- these are open organisations to all countries as long as they fulfill some criteria
(United Nations and its specified agencies like WHO, ILO, World Bank, IMF) There are also Hague
Conference on Private International Law, the International Criminal Court.
2. Cultural, lunguistic, ethnic, religious and historical organisations like: Commonwealth of Nations
( Britain), Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation etc.
3. Economic organizations that are based on macro-economic policy goals like: World Trade Organisation and
IMF. Also we have org that base their activity in their development aim like OPEC (for the oil).
4. Educational organizations- United Nations University
5. Regional Organizations open to states of particular region or continent: EU and Council of Europe, OSCE
for Europe, ASEAN ( Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in Asia, Islamic Development Bank (for
middle east), Union of South American Nations (USAN), etc. And also NATO for America and Europe.
Chapter 3: Legal Aspects of international organizations under international
law
LEGAL PERSONALITY INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
International organizations are subjects of international Having a legal personality is important for the
law because they have international legal personality. The organisations international responsibilty. If IGO didn’t
legal personality of an IGO is conferred mostly by have legal personality the responsibility would be a
legislative process, and act of parliament or a treaty. collective shared one among member states.
Usually IGO legal personality is defined by the International responsibility is the obligation of the IGO
organisation's purpose and aim, so the organisation has to respond towards its own wrongful acts in
enough rights and duties that are necessary to fulfil its international law. Just like states, also IGO have
aims. An international organisation has legal personality obligation to follow international rules.
when it exercises its rights on its name and not the
member states seperately. So the legal personality is
important for the IGO to operate in the interantional
plane.
CONSTITUITIVE INSTRUMENTS PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
Constituent instruments of an international organisation is An international organisation is granted immunities and
the documents that creates the organisation. These set of priviledges to ensure their effective functioning. There are
rules established by the parties should be in accordance specific tretaies that ensure these privileges like
with the international law. A constituent treaty may be a "Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the
charter, a treaty or an agreement and it has binding power United Nations". The IGO are immune to the juridiction
over the parties that ratified it. But in UN Charter, in of national courts, so if the issue of the organisations
article 2/6, it says that the UN takes care that the UN responsibility raises, this is solved by internal organs like
Charter principles are followed even from non-member The International Court of Justice for UN of European
states. Court for EU.
ORGANS- STRUCTURE
A defined structure distingueshes inter-governmental organisations from state coalations or early conferences. Usually
an IGO is made out of an executive organ and a legislative one. Also they have a secretariat that does everyday
administartives duties and a court. Some big organisations may have subsidiary agencies. Usually the executive organ
has more power than legislative one and it also executes courts judgements.
Chapter 4: United Nations
Luarasi 22-23 Page 1
, United Nations was created after the WW2 in San Francesco in june 1945 by China, France, USA, The Soviet Union
and UK. Today it has 193 members and two observers (Vatikan and Palestine)
Main BODIES
○ General Assembly (Legislative Body) where each state is represented equaly. This is the organ that gives
recommandations about policy making and other procedural issues. Its main functions are: appointing the
Secretary-General on the recommandations of the Security Council; electing nonpermanent members of SC
and approving the UN budget. Its meetings are once a year.
○ Security Council (Executive Body) its main aim is to maintain peace and security in the world. Is has 15
members, where 5 of them are permanent and 10 change every two years, but only the permanent members
have the veto. The SC mostly operates with recomandation (Chapter 6) and with orders (Chapter 7) and can
authorise the use of force agains a serious peace threat.
○ The Economic and Social Council has 54 member states that change on their third every 3 years. ECOSOC
aim is to analyse or initiate reports about international issues relating the economic, social, cultural,
educational and health field. It can gve recommandation to General Assembly or special agencies.
○ Secretariat is the administrative structure of the UN. The Secretary-General is the head of the institution
which coordinated the work of many staff members around the world.
○ The International Court of Justice is the judical organ that solves issues among states or organs of the UN. It
can give decisions (which are obligatory) and advisory opinions (which are recommandations). It is located
in Hague. It has 15 judges that are chosen for 9 years by the UNGA and SC.
○ Trusteeship Council ( doesn’t exist anymore)
Commities
○ Disarmament and International Security
○ Economic and Financial
○ Social, Humanitarian and Cultural
○ Special Political and Decolonization
○ Administrative and Budgetary
○ Legal
How does a state become a member?
The criterias for a country to become member state are: being peaceful, to be able and willing to fulfil UN obligations
towards other member states. For a candidate state to be a member state, it need Security Council recommandation and
the decision of General Assembly.
Chapter 5: Organizations of the United Nations system – United Nations Specialized Agencies and Other
Related Organizations
The UN has 17 specialised agencies and they are international organisations that work with UN, in accordance with
relationship agreements with UN and each organisation. The UN can make recommandation to these organisations. The
connections are kept by ECOSOC and Chief Executive Board.
IMF= International Monetary Fund UNESCO= United Nations Educational, Scientific
Its purpose is to promote sustainable growth and and Cultural Organization
prosperity for its 190 member states. It creates It contributes peace and security by promoting
policies that support financial stability and international cooperation in education, sciences,
monetary cooperation around the world. It culture and communication. It promotes knowledge by
encourages the expansion of trade and economical sharing free flow of info. Its projects are: about
growth. IMF is a monitoring and advising agent to cultural and natural heritage, langauge etc.
developing countries and more. It identifies
potencial risks and recommends appropriate policy ICC= International Criminal Court
adjustments. It also gives funds and loans to The International Criminal Court investigates and,
countries in financial crisis. where warranted, tries individuals charged with the
gravest crimes of concern to the international
WORLD BANK community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against
World Bank was founded in 1947 and its purpose is humanity and the crime of aggression. Its
to support developing countries by giving loans, documents is Statute of Rome and it started
interest free credits and grants. Its project include a working in 2002.
wide scope such as environmental issues, finance,
human development, private and public sector
development , social development etc
Chapter 6: European regional international organizations (Council of Europe, OSCE,
Luarasi 22-23 Page 2
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 1:21 PM
Chapter 2: Definition of IGO and types
Definition: "An international There are non-governmental organisations (INGO) and inter-governmental
organisation is an association or a organisations (IGO). IGO are not grouping of states or coalitions like G7. They
union of nations established and are established by a treaty which is ratified by the national parliaments of the
recognised by them for the purpose of member states. There are also bilateral or multilateral org and organizations
realizing a common end" based on costumary or conventional law.
Based of IGO scopes and goals which are outlined in the treaty or charter, we have different types of IGOs.
1. Global Organizations- these are open organisations to all countries as long as they fulfill some criteria
(United Nations and its specified agencies like WHO, ILO, World Bank, IMF) There are also Hague
Conference on Private International Law, the International Criminal Court.
2. Cultural, lunguistic, ethnic, religious and historical organisations like: Commonwealth of Nations
( Britain), Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation etc.
3. Economic organizations that are based on macro-economic policy goals like: World Trade Organisation and
IMF. Also we have org that base their activity in their development aim like OPEC (for the oil).
4. Educational organizations- United Nations University
5. Regional Organizations open to states of particular region or continent: EU and Council of Europe, OSCE
for Europe, ASEAN ( Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in Asia, Islamic Development Bank (for
middle east), Union of South American Nations (USAN), etc. And also NATO for America and Europe.
Chapter 3: Legal Aspects of international organizations under international
law
LEGAL PERSONALITY INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
International organizations are subjects of international Having a legal personality is important for the
law because they have international legal personality. The organisations international responsibilty. If IGO didn’t
legal personality of an IGO is conferred mostly by have legal personality the responsibility would be a
legislative process, and act of parliament or a treaty. collective shared one among member states.
Usually IGO legal personality is defined by the International responsibility is the obligation of the IGO
organisation's purpose and aim, so the organisation has to respond towards its own wrongful acts in
enough rights and duties that are necessary to fulfil its international law. Just like states, also IGO have
aims. An international organisation has legal personality obligation to follow international rules.
when it exercises its rights on its name and not the
member states seperately. So the legal personality is
important for the IGO to operate in the interantional
plane.
CONSTITUITIVE INSTRUMENTS PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
Constituent instruments of an international organisation is An international organisation is granted immunities and
the documents that creates the organisation. These set of priviledges to ensure their effective functioning. There are
rules established by the parties should be in accordance specific tretaies that ensure these privileges like
with the international law. A constituent treaty may be a "Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the
charter, a treaty or an agreement and it has binding power United Nations". The IGO are immune to the juridiction
over the parties that ratified it. But in UN Charter, in of national courts, so if the issue of the organisations
article 2/6, it says that the UN takes care that the UN responsibility raises, this is solved by internal organs like
Charter principles are followed even from non-member The International Court of Justice for UN of European
states. Court for EU.
ORGANS- STRUCTURE
A defined structure distingueshes inter-governmental organisations from state coalations or early conferences. Usually
an IGO is made out of an executive organ and a legislative one. Also they have a secretariat that does everyday
administartives duties and a court. Some big organisations may have subsidiary agencies. Usually the executive organ
has more power than legislative one and it also executes courts judgements.
Chapter 4: United Nations
Luarasi 22-23 Page 1
, United Nations was created after the WW2 in San Francesco in june 1945 by China, France, USA, The Soviet Union
and UK. Today it has 193 members and two observers (Vatikan and Palestine)
Main BODIES
○ General Assembly (Legislative Body) where each state is represented equaly. This is the organ that gives
recommandations about policy making and other procedural issues. Its main functions are: appointing the
Secretary-General on the recommandations of the Security Council; electing nonpermanent members of SC
and approving the UN budget. Its meetings are once a year.
○ Security Council (Executive Body) its main aim is to maintain peace and security in the world. Is has 15
members, where 5 of them are permanent and 10 change every two years, but only the permanent members
have the veto. The SC mostly operates with recomandation (Chapter 6) and with orders (Chapter 7) and can
authorise the use of force agains a serious peace threat.
○ The Economic and Social Council has 54 member states that change on their third every 3 years. ECOSOC
aim is to analyse or initiate reports about international issues relating the economic, social, cultural,
educational and health field. It can gve recommandation to General Assembly or special agencies.
○ Secretariat is the administrative structure of the UN. The Secretary-General is the head of the institution
which coordinated the work of many staff members around the world.
○ The International Court of Justice is the judical organ that solves issues among states or organs of the UN. It
can give decisions (which are obligatory) and advisory opinions (which are recommandations). It is located
in Hague. It has 15 judges that are chosen for 9 years by the UNGA and SC.
○ Trusteeship Council ( doesn’t exist anymore)
Commities
○ Disarmament and International Security
○ Economic and Financial
○ Social, Humanitarian and Cultural
○ Special Political and Decolonization
○ Administrative and Budgetary
○ Legal
How does a state become a member?
The criterias for a country to become member state are: being peaceful, to be able and willing to fulfil UN obligations
towards other member states. For a candidate state to be a member state, it need Security Council recommandation and
the decision of General Assembly.
Chapter 5: Organizations of the United Nations system – United Nations Specialized Agencies and Other
Related Organizations
The UN has 17 specialised agencies and they are international organisations that work with UN, in accordance with
relationship agreements with UN and each organisation. The UN can make recommandation to these organisations. The
connections are kept by ECOSOC and Chief Executive Board.
IMF= International Monetary Fund UNESCO= United Nations Educational, Scientific
Its purpose is to promote sustainable growth and and Cultural Organization
prosperity for its 190 member states. It creates It contributes peace and security by promoting
policies that support financial stability and international cooperation in education, sciences,
monetary cooperation around the world. It culture and communication. It promotes knowledge by
encourages the expansion of trade and economical sharing free flow of info. Its projects are: about
growth. IMF is a monitoring and advising agent to cultural and natural heritage, langauge etc.
developing countries and more. It identifies
potencial risks and recommends appropriate policy ICC= International Criminal Court
adjustments. It also gives funds and loans to The International Criminal Court investigates and,
countries in financial crisis. where warranted, tries individuals charged with the
gravest crimes of concern to the international
WORLD BANK community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against
World Bank was founded in 1947 and its purpose is humanity and the crime of aggression. Its
to support developing countries by giving loans, documents is Statute of Rome and it started
interest free credits and grants. Its project include a working in 2002.
wide scope such as environmental issues, finance,
human development, private and public sector
development , social development etc
Chapter 6: European regional international organizations (Council of Europe, OSCE,
Luarasi 22-23 Page 2
