The UK and International Organisations
Overview of the UK's role in major international organisations, including the Commonwealth, Council of Europe, United Nations, and NATO.
The UK works with other countries through several international organisations. These groups promote peace, democracy, human rights, and development.
The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth is a group of countries that help and support one another.
They share common goals such as democracy, good government, and development.
Most members were once part of the British Empire, but some joined later even though they were not.
The King is the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth, which has 54 member states.
Membership is voluntary, and the Commonwealth has no power over its members.
However, it can suspend a country’s membership if needed.
| Commonwealth Member Countries | ||
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇧🇸 The Bahamas |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 🇧🇧 Barbados | 🇧🇿 Belize |
| 🇧🇼 Botswana | 🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam | 🇨🇲 Cameroon |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 🇩🇲 Dominica |
| 🇫🇯 Fiji | 🇬🇲 The Gambia | 🇬🇭 Ghana |
| 🇬🇩 Grenada | 🇬🇾 Guyana | 🇮🇳 India |
| 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 🇰🇮 Kiribati |
| 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 🇲🇾 Malaysia |
| 🇲🇻 Maldives | 🇲🇹 Malta | 🇲🇺 Mauritius |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 🇳🇷 Nauru |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 🇵🇰 Pakistan |
| 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 🇼🇸 Samoa |
| 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇸🇬 Singapore |
| 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka |
| 🇰🇳 St Kitts and Nevis | 🇱🇨 St Lucia | 🇻🇨 St Vincent and the Grenadines |
| 🇸🇿 Swaziland | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 🇹🇴 Tonga |
| 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | 🇺🇬 Uganda |
| 🇬🇧 UK | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | 🇿🇲 Zambia |
The Council of Europe
The Council of Europe has 46 member countries, including the UK.
It works to protect and promote human rights across its members.
The Council cannot make laws, but it creates conventions and charters.
The most famous one is the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, often called the European Convention on Human Rights.
The United Nations (UN)
The United Nations is an international organisation with more than 190 countries.
It was founded after the Second World War to prevent wars and promote peace and security.
The UN Security Council has 15 members, who respond to international crises and threats to peace.
The UK is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
The UK is also part of NATO.
This organisation includes European and North American countries that agree to defend each other if any member is attacked.
NATO also works to maintain peace between its members.
Key Points
- The UK participates in several international organisations.
- The Commonwealth has 54 countries; the King is its ceremonial head.
- Membership in the Commonwealth is voluntary, based on democracy and good governance.
- The Council of Europe has 46 members and protects human rights.
- Its best-known document is the European Convention on Human Rights.
- The United Nations has over 190 members and promotes peace and security.
- The UK is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
- NATO unites European and North American countries in mutual defence.
- NATO aims to protect members and keep peace among them.