International Organizations (Part – IV)

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) represents the people of the region's resolve to work together to find mutually conducive answers to their problems.

• The Association's primary objective is to hasten the process of social and economic development in member nations by working together in the predetermined areas of cooperation.
• The Principles of SAARC are as follows:
  ∗ Support for the ideals of sovereign equality, geographical integrity, political independence, non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, and mutual benefit underpin cooperation within the framework of the Association.
  ∗ Such collaboration should enhance rather than replace bilateral or multilateral cooperation. It does not engage in discussion of matters that are bilateral or controversial.
  ∗ This coordination has to be in harmony with the responsibilities of the member countries on a bilateral and international level. In the SAARC, there is unanimity at every level.

1. SAARC was founded by seven states in 1985.
2. In 2005, Afghanistan requested its accession to SAARC and formally applied for membership in the same year.
3. This organization was formed in Dhaka on December 8, 1985, and its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
4. SAARC Potential future members - Turkey and Russia have also applied for SAARC membership.
5. SAARC comprises of 8 member states and 9 observer states -

• The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established in 1946, in the aftermath of World War II.
• Mandate: To help children and young people whose lives and futures were at risk - no matter what role their country had played in the war.
• It works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child.
• Funding: UNICEF's work is funded entirely through the voluntary support of millions of people around the world and our partners in government, civil society and the private sector.
• Awards: It has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965, the Indira Gandhi Prize in 1989, and the Princess of Asturias Award in 2006.
• It publishes important Reports: The State of the World's Children, The State of the World's Children reports.

Global Initiatives:

• In 2012, UNICEF worked with Save the Children and The United Nations Global Compact to develop the Children's Rights and Business Principles, and now these guidelines form the basis of UNICEF's advice to companies.
• UNICEF's Data Must Speak Initiative (DMS) helps countries unlock existing data to expand access to education and improve learning for all.
• Headquarters: It is headquartered in New York City.

The leaders of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries met for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia, on the margins of G8 Outreach Summit in July 2006. Shortly afterwards, in September 2006, the group was formalised as BRIC during the 1 BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting, which met on the sidelines of the General Debate of the UN Assembly in New York City. After a series of high level meetings, the 1 BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia on 16th June, 2009. Since 2009, the governments of the BRICS States have met annually at formal summits.

BRIC group was renamed as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) after South Africa was accepted as a full member at the BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York in September 2010. The first five-member BRICS summit was held in Sanya (China) in 2011. China hosted the 14th BRICS summit on 23rd June, 2022 virtually. 15th BRICS Summit was held in August, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa,

while 16th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in October, 2024 in Russia.

Note: On 1 January, 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and United Arab Emirates became the new members of BRICS taking the total number of BRICS group of countries to 9. Apart from above four countries, Argentina and Saudi Arabia were also invited to join the block in August, 2023 BRICS Summit. However, in December, 2023, Argentina officially declined the invitation to join the BRICS, while Saudi Arabia has not yet (till February, 2024) confirmed its acceptance.

The leaders of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries met for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia, on the margins of G8 Outreach Summit in July 2006. Shortly afterwards, in September 2006, the group was formalised as BRIC during the 1 BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting, which met on the sidelines of the General Debate of the UN Assembly in New York City. After a series of high level meetings, the 1 BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia on 16th June, 2009. Since 2009, the governments of the BRICS States have met annually at formal summits.

BRIC group was renamed as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) after South Africa was accepted as a full member at the BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York in September 2010. The first five-member BRICS summit was held in Sanya (China) in 2011. China hosted the 14th BRICS summit on 23rd June, 2022 virtually. 15th BRICS Summit was held in August, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa,

while 16th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in October, 2024 in Russia.

Note: On 1 January, 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and United Arab Emirates became the new members of BRICS taking the total number of BRICS group of countries to 9. Apart from above four countries, Argentina and Saudi Arabia were also invited to join the block in August, 2023 BRICS Summit. However, in December, 2023, Argentina officially declined the invitation to join the BRICS, while Saudi Arabia has not yet (till February, 2024) confirmed its acceptance.

The leaders of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries met for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia, on the margins of G8 Outreach Summit in July 2006. Shortly afterwards, in September 2006, the group was formalised as BRIC during the 1 BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting, which met on the sidelines of the General Debate of the UN Assembly in New York City. After a series of high level meetings, the 1 BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia on 16th June, 2009. Since 2009, the governments of the BRICS States have met annually at formal summits.

BRIC group was renamed as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) after South Africa was accepted as a full member at the BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York in September 2010. The first five-member BRICS summit was held in Sanya (China) in 2011. China hosted the 14th BRICS summit on 23rd June, 2022 virtually. 15th BRICS Summit was held in August, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa,

while 16th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in October, 2024 in Russia.

Note: On 1 January, 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and United Arab Emirates became the new members of BRICS taking the total number of BRICS group of countries to 9. Apart from above four countries, Argentina and Saudi Arabia were also invited to join the block in August, 2023 BRICS Summit. However, in December, 2023, Argentina officially declined the invitation to join the BRICS, while Saudi Arabia has not yet (till February, 2024) confirmed its acceptance.

The leaders of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries met for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia, on the margins of G8 Outreach Summit in July 2006. Shortly afterwards, in September 2006, the group was formalised as BRIC during the 1 BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting, which met on the sidelines of the General Debate of the UN Assembly in New York City. After a series of high level meetings, the 1 BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia on 16th June, 2009. Since 2009, the governments of the BRICS States have met annually at formal summits.

BRIC group was renamed as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) after South Africa was accepted as a full member at the BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York in September 2010. The first five-member BRICS summit was held in Sanya (China) in 2011. China hosted the 14th BRICS summit on 23rd June, 2022 virtually. 15th BRICS Summit was held in August, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa,

while 16th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in October, 2024 in Russia.

Note: On 1 January, 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and United Arab Emirates became the new members of BRICS taking the total number of BRICS group of countries to 9. Apart from above four countries, Argentina and Saudi Arabia were also invited to join the block in August, 2023 BRICS Summit. However, in December, 2023, Argentina officially declined the invitation to join the BRICS, while Saudi Arabia has not yet (till February, 2024) confirmed its acceptance.