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Many aspects of the United Nations (UN) Charter can be considered out of date, while a number can also be considered obsolete. A principal organ of the UN, the Trusteeship Council, easily falls into the obsolete category. UN founders envisioned this council as an important and significant aspect of the new UN system. However, the Trusteeship Council, which was viewed as necessary in 1945, may no longer be vital to the modern international system.
The Trusteeship Council, one of the six main organs of the United Nations, was established by Article 75 by the UN Charter. The basic objectives of the Trusteeship Council, at the time, were to further international peace and security and promote the political, economic, social and educational advancements of the inhabitants of trust territories. According to Article 86, the Trusteeship Council would consist of members of the UN who administer trust territories, members of the Security Council who do not administer such territories, and as many other members elected for 3 year terms by the General Assembly to ensure equilibrium. This “equilibrium” referred to the balance between those members of the UN who administer trust territories and those who do not. Though the Trusteeship Council was considered a principle organ in the UN, its powers centered on recommendations and were fairly limited. The Council, under the authority of the General Assembly, can consider reports submitted by the administering authority, accept petitions from inhabitants of trust states and conduct periodic visits to trust territories. While the Trusteeship Council never became a prominent organ, it played an active role in the trusteeship states that were under its control during the 1960’s, a period of rapid decolonization. The ability to accept reports from inhabitants and visit trust states allowed the Council to provide valuable information to the General Assembly and to act as a voice for people who were searching for independence and a place in the international system. However, by 1975 10 of the 11 trust territories had achieved independence or were united with an adjoining independent country. The last trustee territory, Palau, finally became independent in 1994. Therefore, since the late 1970s the trusteeship council has been largely inactive and with independence for Palau in 1994, it effectively became obsolete.
If the basic premise for the formation of the Trusteeship council is no longer valid, the question must be asked: should the Council itself continue to exist? There are many issues in the international community that must be dealt with to ensure future “peace and security.” Joseph Cassar, the representative of Malta, suggested that the Trusteeship Council be transformed into a guardian of humanities common heritage and common concerns. This is a viable option as there are many issues, which can be considered “common” to all members of the world. However, areas placed under the Trusteeship Council should be unique to the Council and not covered by a variety of organs within the UN. By placing issues across various institutions, the UN effectively weakens those institutions. Unless there is an area, which is determined to belong solely under the guidance of the Trusteeship council, such as sustainable development and nation-building activities for former colonies, it may be better to simply abolish the Council.
The Trusteeship Council was an important institution within the UN. Yet, at this present moment it serves no purpose and is not actively ensuring that the “peace and security” of the international system. Unless there is a way to transform its authority and powers to something which is unique to the Council, it may be better for the Trusteeship Council to be remembered as an important organ in its own time, rather than obsolete in this time.