What is UN's role on international, nowadays?

U.N. weak in Myanmar
(from www.tribune-chronicle.com)

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned Myanmar’s military leaders last week that the international community’s ‘‘patience is running out.’’ He referred to vicious crackdowns against those involved in pro-democracy movements in Myanmar.

Indeed, leaders in many countries have expressed their disgust with what is happening in Myanmar. But don’t look for military leaders there to bow to Ban’s demands. They have no reason to do so, simply because they have watched during recent years as the United Nations time after time failed to back up similar ultimatums.

The United Nations has become a toothless tiger, in many respects. Regimes such as that in Myanmar will heed its warnings only if the U.N. growls are backed up by at least some bite.

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United Nations: Assembly Calls for Freeze on Death Penalty
(from www.nytimes.com)

In a vote that made for unusual alliances, the General Assembly passed, 104 to 54 with 29 abstentions, a nonbinding resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. Among the countries joining the United States in opposition to the European-led measure were Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Sudan and Zimbabwe. Opponents argued that the resolution undermined their national sovereignty. Two similar moves in the 1990s failed, and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the new vote was “evidence of a trend toward ultimately abolishing the death penalty.”