Nepal's Roles in the UNO

Role of Nepal in UNO (United Nations Organizations)

The UNO (United Nations Organization) is worldwide organization. There are a total of 193 member countries in the UNO. After the World war II, Nepal too began to expand its political and diplomatic relation with other countries in the world. In this connection, Nepal initiated its move to become the member of the UNO in 1947 AD through its own embassy in Britain. Nepal formally applied for becoming the member of the United Nations Organizations in 1948 AD and finally, Nepal was granted the membership of United Nations Organization (UNO) on December 14, 1955. After getting the membership of United Nations Organizations Nepal has continued to play very important roles in fulfilling the objectives of the UNO and has been actively participating in the UN efforts of maintaining international peace and security. Nepal has been sending the peace keeping forces to the UN peacekeeping operations since 1958. A small troop of live army personnel was sent as observers in the United Nations Military Observation Group in Lebanon (UNMOGIL) in 1958. Besides the Nepalese Army, the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force (APF) too have been contributing to UN peace-keeping efforts at the global level.  

Nepal has been the non-permanent member of the Security Council for two years twice namely 1969-70 and 1988-89. Besides, the representative from Nepal has also served as the Assistant to the Secretary General of the UNO. 

Nepal had a privilege to serve as the 'Vice-Chairman' of the UN sessions held in 1958, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1983, 1988, and 2001. At different times and occasions, Nepal has served as the responsible member in social and economic committee formed by the UNO and has contributed to UNESCO as its member. Nepal raised the voice of opposition and criticism against the Russian raids by Soviet army on Hungary. Nepal had disapproved the policy of racial discrimination (infamously known as apartheid) perpetuated by the British in South Africa by forcefully converting it as a colony until 1994 when the first democratic elections catapulted the Black leader Nelson Mandela into the political power as its President. Nepal did not hesitate to condemn Israel's invasion on Egypt in 1956 and on Arabian countries in 1967. The south Lebanon conflict broke out in 1978 when the worst terrorist attack in Israel's history was conducted by anti-Israel group separating in Lebanon. In response to that attack which had killed 38 Israeli civilians, including 13 children and left 71 people wounded, Israel invaded Lebanon leading to an international crisis. The UN peace keeping forces were sent to Lebanon to tackle the situation and the Nepalese soldiers also joined the peace keepers. Similarly, the Nepalese soldiers served in the UNO peace keeping operations launched in Cambodia and Yugoslavia in 1992-1993. Nepal army contributed its services as UN peacekeepers in Haiti in 1994. Nepal has earned respect from international community for peacekeeping contributions. On the Golden Jubilee Year of Nepal's contribution to the UN in 2008, the then UN Secretary General Ban KI-moon hailed Nepal's contribution as a 'shining example' in peacekeeping. Thus, Nepal has earned goodwill and respect from the international community for its consistent contribution to peacekeeping operations which proves that Nepal fully agrees with the purposes and principles of United Nations Organizations. 

Nepal has been very active in voicing its concerns for a peaceful world without nuclear weapons. Nepal supports all or any efforts taken by the big and powerful countries in directions of disarmament. Being a landlocked country, Nepal has also been raising the problems and challenges being faced by the landlocked countries around the world. It has been constantly demanding concessions and cooperating from the countries bordering the landlocked countries around the world. Nepal being the follower of oriental religious and cultural tradition extended its support when United Nations Organization decided to declare Yoga Day and Buddha Jayanti (Buddha's Birth Day) as the occasions of worldwide celebrations. Nepal at present has been supporting the democratic values and principles not just at the political level but at economic and social levels too. This is why Nepal has stood against any kind of monopolistic imposition in the global market and obstruction of free flow of goods and services across the borders.