The UK's Role in the World and Global Rights
No country stands alone. Explore the international organisations the UK belongs to, from the UN to the WTO, and how the world balances rights and responsibilities in conflict through international law and aid.
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The UK in the wider world 🌍
No country stands alone. The UK works with other nations to keep the peace, trade fairly and respond to crises, and it belongs to several important international organisations. This module covers the **UK's role in the world** through those organisations, and the **rights and responsibilities** that arise in difficult global situations such as conflict.
Four global organisations 🏛️
The UK belongs to four key international organisations:
What does the UN do? 🕊️
Which statement best describes the main work of the United Nations?
- It works to keep international peace and protect human rights
- It sets the rules for international trade between countries
- It is a military alliance for the defence of its members
- It runs a sporting competition every four years
Match each organisation 🔗
- United Nations
- NATO
- The Commonwealth
- World Trade Organisation
- Works to keep international peace and protect human rights
- A military alliance whose members defend one another if attacked
- A voluntary association of 56 countries with historic links to Britain
- Sets the rules for international trade and settles trade disputes
The UK's memberships ✅
Select the TWO statements that are true about the UK and international organisations.
- The UK is a permanent member of the UN Security Council
- The UK is a member of NATO, a military defence alliance
- The UK has left the United Nations
- The UK runs the World Trade Organisation on its own
Rights and responsibilities 📜
In difficult global situations, especially conflict, rights have to be balanced against responsibilities.
The rules of war ⚖️
Even war has rules. **International humanitarian law**, such as the **Geneva Conventions**, sets limits on how wars may be fought. It protects people who are not fighting: **civilians**, the **wounded**, and **prisoners of war**. Deliberately harming them is a **war crime**.
International humanitarian law 🎯
What is international humanitarian law?
- A set of rules that limit how wars are fought and protect civilians
- The rules that govern trade between different countries
- The laws each country makes for its own citizens
- A complete ban on every kind of warfare
Ways to respond 🤝
When disputes or disasters happen, the international community can respond in different ways:
Complete the picture 🧱
The _____ works to keep international peace, while _____ is a military alliance whose members defend one another. The rules that limit war and protect civilians are called international _____ law. When countries disagree, the UK can respond through peaceful talks, called _____, or through economic penalties, called _____.
How a response escalates 📶
An interactive activity.
Spot the lawful actions 🖍️
An interactive activity.
Which response fits? 🔀
An interactive activity.
Explain the UK's role ✍️
An interactive activity.