CHARTER 

OF THE 
UNITED NATIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introductory Note
Preamble 
Chapter I: Purposes and Principles (Articles 1-2)
Chapter II: Membership (Articles 3-6)
Chapter III: Organs (Articles 7-8)
Chapter IV: The General Assembly (Articles 9-22)
Chapter V: The Security Council (Articles 23-32)
Chapter VI: Pacific Settlement of Disputes (Articles 33-38)
Chapter VII: Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace,
Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression (Articles 39-
51)
Chapter VIII: Regional Arrangements (Articles 52-54)
Chapter IX: International Economic and Social Cooperation
(Articles 55-60)
Chapter X: The Economic and Social Council (Articles 61-
72)
Chapter XI: Declaration Regarding Non-Self-Governing
Territories (Articles 73-74)
Chapter XII: International Trusteeship System (Articles 75-
85)
Chapter XIII: The Trusteeship Council (Articles 86-91)
Chapter XIV: The International Court of Justice (Articles 92-
96)
Chapter XV: The Secretariat (Articles 97-101)
Chapter XVI: Miscellaneous Provisions (Articles 102-105)
Chapter XVII: Transitional Security Arrangements (Articles
106-107)
Chapter XVIII: Amendments (Articles 108-109)
Chapter XIX: Ratification and Signature (Articles 110-111)

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

The Charter of the United Nations was signed on 26 June

1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United
Nations Conference on International Organisation, and came
into force on 24 October 1945. The Statute of the
International Court of Justice is an integral part of the
Charter.

Amendments to Articles 23, 27 and 61 of the Charter were

adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 1963 and
came into force on 31 August 1965. A further amendment to
Article 61 was adopted by the General Assembly on 20
December 1971, and came into force on 24 September 1973.
An amendment to Article 109, adopted by the General
Assembly on 20 December 1965, came into force on 12 June
1968.
The amended Article 27 provides that decisions of the
Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an
affirmative vote of nine members (formerly seven) and on all
other matters by an affirmative vote of nine members
(formerly seven), including the concurring votes of the five
permanent members of the Security Council.

The amendment to Article 61, which entered into force on 31

August 1965, enlarged the membership of the Economic and
Social Council from eighteen to twenty-seven. The
subsequent amendment to that Article, which entered into
force on 24 September 1973, further increased the
membership of the Council from twenty-seven to fifty-four.

The amendment to Article 109, which relates to the first

paragraph of that Article, provides that a General Conference
of Member States for the purpose of reviewing the Charter
may be held at a date and place to be fixed by a two-thirds
vote of the members of the General Assembly and by a vote
of any nine members (formerly seven) of the Security
Council. Paragraph 3 of Article 109, which deals with the
consideration of a possible review conference during the
tenth regular session of the General Assembly, has been
retained in its original form in its reference to a “vote, of any
seven members of the Security Council”, the paragraph
having been acted upon in 1955 by the General Assembly, at
its tenth regular session, and by the Security Council.

PREAMBLE TO THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS

 WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS,

DETERMINED

to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,

which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to
mankind, and

to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity

and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men
and women and of nations large and small, and

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the

obligations arising from treaties and other sources of
international law can be maintained, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in

larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS

to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one

another as good neighbours, and
to unite our strength to maintain international peace and
security, and

to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution

of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the
common interest, and

to employ international machinery for the promotion of the

economic and social advancement of all peoples,

HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS

TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS

Accordingly, our respective Governments, through

representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who
have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due
form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United
Nations and do hereby establish an international organization
to be known as the United Nations.
 CHAPTER I
PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES
Article 1

The Purposes of the United Nations are: 1. To maintain

international peace and security, and to that end: to take
effective collective measures for the prevention and removal
of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of
aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about
by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of
justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of
international disputes or situations which might lead to a
breach of the peace;

2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on

respect for the principle of equal rights and self-
determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate
measures to strengthen universal peace;

3. To achieve international co-operation in solving

international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or
humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging
respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for
all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion;
and

4. To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the

attainment of these common ends.
 Article 2

The Organization and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes

stated in Article 1, shall act in accordance with the following
Principles.

1. The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign

equality of all its Members.

2. All Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights

and benefits resulting from membership, shall fulfil in good
faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the
present Charter.

3. All Members shall settle their international disputes by

peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and
security, and justice, are not endangered.

4. All Members shall refrain in their international relations

from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity
or political independence of any state, or in any other manner
inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.

5. All Members shall give the United Nations every

assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the
present Charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to
any state against which the United Nations is taking
preventive or enforcement action.

6. The Organization shall ensure that states which are not

Members of the United Nations act in accordance with these
Principles so far as may be necessary for the maintenance of
international peace and security.

7. Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize

the United Nations to intervene in matters which are
essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or
shall require the Members to submit such matters to
settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall
not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under
Chapter VII.

CHAPTER II
MEMBERSHIP
Article 3

The original Members of the United Nations shall be the

states which, having participated in the United Nations
Conference on International Organization at San Francisco,
or having previously signed the Declaration by United
Nations of 1 January 1942, sign the present Charter and ratify
it in accordance with Article 110.

Article 4
1. Membership in the United Nations is open to a other
peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in
the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization,
are able and willing to carry out these obligations.

2. The admission of any such state to membership in the

Nations will be effected by a decision of the General
Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

Article 5

A Member of the United Nations against which preventive or

enforcement action has been taken by the Security Council
may be suspended from the exercise of the rights and
privileges of membership by the General Assembly upon the
recommendation of the Security Council. The exercise of
these rights and privileges may be restored by the Security
Council.

Article 6

A Member of the United Nations which has persistently

violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may
be expelled from the Organization by the General Assembly
upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

CHAPTER III
ORGANS
 Article 7

1. There are established as the principal organs of the United

Nations: a General Assembly, a Security Council, an
Economic and Social Council, a Trusteeship Council, an
International Court of Justice, and a Secretariat.

2. Such subsidiary organs as may be found necessary may be

established in accordance with the present Charter.

Article 8

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the

eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity
and under conditions of equality in its principal and
subsidiary organs.

CHAPTER IV
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Composition
Article 9

1. The General Assembly shall consist of all the Members of

the United Nations. 2. Each Member shall have not more
than five representatives in the General Assembly.

Functions and Powers

Article 10
The General Assembly may discuss any questions or any
matters within the scope of the present Charter or relating to
the powers and functions of any organs provided for in the
present Charter, and, except as provided in Article 12, may
make recommendations to the Members of the United
Nations or to the Security Council or to both on any such
questions or matters.

Article 11

1. The General Assembly may consider the general principles

of co-operation in the maintenance of international peace and
security, including the principles governing disarmament and
the regulation of armaments, and may make
recommendations with regard to such principles to the
Members or to the Security Council or to both.

2. The General Assembly may discuss any questions relating

to the maintenance of international peace and security
brought before it by any Member of the United Nations, or
by the Security Council, or by a state which is not a Member
of the United Nations in accordance with Article 35,
paragraph 2, and, except as provided in Article 12, may make
recommendations with regard to any such questions to the
state or states concerned or to the Security Council or to
both. Any such question on which action is necessary shall
be referred to the Security Council by the General Assembly
either before or after discussion.
3. The General Assembly may call the attention of the
Security Council to situations which are likely to endanger
international peace and security.

4. The powers of the General Assembly set forth in this

Article shall not limit the general scope of Article 10.

Article 12

1. While the Security Council is exercising in respect of any

dispute or situation the functions assigned to it in the present
Charter, the General Assembly shall not make any
recommendation with regard to that dispute or situation
unless the Security Council so requests.

2. The Secretary-General, with the consent of the Security

Council, shall notify the General Assembly at each session of
any matters relative to the maintenance of international peace
and security which are being dealt with by the Security
Council and similarly notify the General Assembly, or the
Members of the United Nations if the General Assembly is
not in session, immediately the Security Council ceases to
deal with such matters.

Article 13

1. The General Assembly shall initiate studies and make

recommendations for the purpose of:
a. promoting international co-operation in the political field
and encouraging the progressive development of
international law and its codification;

b. promoting international co-operation in the economic,

social, cultural, educational, and health fields, an assisting in
the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for
all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.

2. The further responsibilities, functions and powers of the

General with respect to matters mentioned in paragraph )
above are set forth in Chapters IX and X.

Article 14

Subject to the provisions of Article 12, the General Assembly

may recommend measures for the peaceful adjustment of any
situation, regardless of origin, which it deems likely to impair
the general welfare or friendly relations among nations,
including situations resulting from a violation of the
provisions of the present Charter setting forth the Purposes
and Principles of the United Nations.

Article 15

1. The General Assembly shall receive and consider annual

and special reports from the Security Council; these reports
shall include an account of the measures that the Security
Council has decided upon or taken to maintain international
peace and security.

2. The General Assembly shall receive and consider reports

from the other organs of the United Nations.

Article 16

The General Assembly shall perform such functions with

respect to the international trusteeship system as are assigned
to it under Chapters XII and XIII, including the approval of
the trusteeship agreements for areas not designated as
strategic.

Article 17

1. The General Assembly shall consider and approve the

budget of the Organization.

2. The expenses of the Organization shall be borne by the

Members as apportioned by the General Assembly.

3. The Assembly shall consider and approve any financial

and budgetary arrangements with specialize agencies referred
to in Article 57 and shall examine the administrative budgets
of such specialized agencies with a view to making
recommendations to the agencies concerned.
 Voting
Article 18

1. Each member of the General Assembly shall have one

vote.

2. Decisions of the General Assembly on important questions

shall be made by a two- thirds majority of the members
present and voting. These questions shall include:
recommendations with respect to the maintenance of
international peace and security, the election of the non-
permanent members of the Security Council, the election of
the members of the Economic and Social Council, the
election of members of the Trusteeship Council in
accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 86, the admission of
new Members to the United Nations, the suspension of the
rights and privileges of membership, the expulsion of
Members, questions relating to the operation of the
trusteeship system, and budgetary questions.

3. Decisions on other questions, including the determination

of additional categories of questions to be decided by a two-
thirds majority, shall be made by a majority of the members
present and voting.

Article 19
A Member of the United Nations which is in arrears in the
payment of its financial contributions to the Organization
shall have no vote in the General Assembly if the amount of
its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions
due from it for the preceding two full years. The General
Assembly may, nevertheless, permit such a Member to vote
if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions
beyond the control of the Member.

Procedure/h5>
Article 20

The General Assembly shall meet in regular annual sessions

and in such special sessions as occasion may require. Special
sessions shall be convoked by the Secretary-General at the
request of the Security Council or of a majority of the
Members of the United Nations.

Article 21

The General Assembly shall adopt its own rules of

procedure. It shall elect its President for each session.

Article 22

The General Assembly may establish such subsidiary organs

as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.

CHAPTER V
 THE SECURITY COUNCIL
Composition
Article 23

1. The Security Council shall consist of fifteen Members of

the United Nations. The Republic of China, France, the
Union of Soviet Socialist , the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of
America shall be permanent members of the Security
Council. The General Assembly shall elect ten other
Members of the United Nations to be non-permanent
members of the Security Council, due regard being specially
paid, in the first in- stance to the contribution of Members of
the United Nations to the maintenance of international peace
and security and to the other purposes of the Organization,
and also to equitable geographical distribution.

2. The non-permanent members of the Security Council shall

be elected for a term of two years. In the first election of the
non- permanent members after the increase of the
membership of the Security Council from eleven to fifteen,
two of the four additional members shall be chosen for a term
of one year. A retiring member shall not be eligible for
immediate re-election.

3. Each member of the Security Council shall have one

representative.
Functions and Powers
Article 24

1. In order to ensure prompt and effective action by the

United Nations, its Members confer on the Security Council
primary responsibility for the maintenance of international
peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties
under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their
behalf.

2. In discharging these duties the Security Council shall act

in accordance with the Purposes and Principles of the United
Nations. The specific powers granted to the Security Council
for the discharge of these duties are laid down in Chapters
VI, VII, VIII, and XII.

3. The Security Council shall submit annual and, when

necessary, special reports to the General Assembly for its
consideration.

Article 25

The Members of the United Nations agree to accept and

carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance
with the present Charter.

Article 26
In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of
international peace and security with the least diversion for
armaments of the world's human and economic resources, the
Security Council shall be responsible for formulating, with
the assistance of the Military Staff Committee referred to in
Article 47, plans to be submitted to the Members of the
United-Nations for the establishment of a system for the
regulation of armaments.

Voting
Article 27

1. Each member of the Security Council shall have one vote.

2. Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters

shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members.

3. Decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall

be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including
the concurring votes of the permanent members; provided
that, in decisions under Chapter VI, and under paragraph 3 of
Article 52, a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting.

Procedure
Article 28

1. The Security Council shall be so organized as to be able to

function continuously. Each member of the Security Council
shall for this purpose be represented at times at the seat of the
Organization.

2. The Security Council shall hold meetings at which each of

its members may, if it so desires, be represented by a member
of the government or by some other specially designated
representative.

3. The Security Council may hold meetings at such places

other than the seat of the Organization as in its judgment will
best facilitate its work.

Article 29

The Security Council may establish such subsidiary organs

as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.

Article 30

The Security Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure,

including the method of selecting its President.

Article 31

Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of

the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the
discussion of any question brought before the Security
Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of
that Member are specially affected.

Article 32

Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of

the Security Council or any state which is not a Member of
the United Nations, if it is a party to a dispute under
consideration by the Security Council, shall be invited to
participate, without vote, in the discussion relating to the
dispute. The Security Council shall any down such
conditions as it deems just for the participation of a state
which is not a Member of the United Nations.

CHAPTER VI
PACIFIC SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
Article 33

1. The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is

likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and
security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation,
enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial
settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or
other peaceful means of their own choice.

2. The Security Council shall, when it deems necessary, call

upon the parties to settle their dispute by such means.
 Article 34

The Security Council may investigate any dispute, or any

situation which might lead to international friction or give
rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether the
continuance of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger
the maintenance of international peace and security.

Article 35

1. Any Member of the United Nations may bring any dispute,

or any situation of the nature referred to in Article 34, to the
attention of the Security Council or of the General Assembly.

2. A state which is not a Member of the United Nations may

bring to the attention of the Security Council or of the
General Assembly any dispute to which it is a party if it
accepts in advance, for the purposes of the dispute, the
obligations of pacific settlement provided in the present
Charter.

3. The proceedings of the General Assembly in respect of

matters brought to its attention under this Article will be
subject to the provisions of Articles 11 and 12.

Article 36
1. The Security Council may, at any stage of a dispute of the
nature referred to in Article 33 or of a situation of like nature,
recommend appropriate procedures or methods of
adjustment.

2. The Security Council should take into consideration any

procedures for the settlement of the dispute which have
already been adopted by the parties.

3. In making recommendations under this Article the

Security Council should also take into consideration that
legal disputes should as a general rule be referred by the
parties to the International Court of Justice in accordance
with the provisions of the Statute of the Court.

Article 37

1. Should the parties to a dispute of the nature referred to in

Article 33 fail to settle it by the means indicated in that
Article, they shall refer it to the Security Council.

2. If the Security Council deems that the continuance of the

dispute is in fact likely to endanger the maintenance of
international peace and security, it shall decide whether to
take action under Article 36 or to recommend such terms of
settlement as it may consider appropriate.

Article 38
Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 33 to 37, the
Security Council may, if all the parties to any dispute so
request, make recommendations to the parties with a view to
a pacific settlement of the dispute.

CHAPTER VII
ACTION WITH RESPECT TO THREATS TO THE PEACE, BREACHES
OF THE PEACE, AND ACTS OF AGGRESSION
Article 39

The Security Council shall determine the existence of any

threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression
and shall make recommendations, or decide what measures
shall be taken in accordance with Articles 41 and 42, to
maintain or restore international peace and security.

Article 40

In order to prevent an aggravation of the situation, the

Security Council may, before making the recommendations
or deciding upon the measures provided for in Article 39, call
upon the parties concerned to comply with such provisional
measures as it deems necessary or desirable. Such
provisional measures shall be without prejudice to the rights,
claims, or position of the parties concerned. The Security
Council shall duly take account of failure to comply with
such provisional measures.

Article 41
The Security Council may decide what measures not
involving the use of armed force are to be employed to give
effect to its decisions, and it may call upon the Members of
the United Nations to apply such measures. These may
include complete or partial interruption of economic relations
and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other
means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic
relations.

Article 42

Should the Security Council consider that measures provided

for in Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be
inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea, or land forces
as may be necessary to maintain or restore international
peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations,
blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of
Members of the United Nations.

Article 43

1. All Members of the United Nations, in order to contribute

to the maintenance of international peace and security,
undertake to make available to the Security Council, on its
and in accordance with a special agreement or agreements,
armed forces, assistance, and facilities, including rights of
passage, necessary for the purpose of maintaining
international peace and security.
2. Such agreement or agreements shall govern the numbers
and types of forces, their degree of readiness and general
location, and the nature of the facilities and assistance to be
provided.

3. The agreement or agreements shall be negotiated as soon

as possible on the initiative of the Security Council. They
shall be concluded between the Security Council and
Members or between the Security Council and groups of
Members and shall be subject to ratification by the signatory
states in accordance with their respective constitutional
processes.

Article 44

When Security Council has decided to use force it shall,

before calling upon a Member not represented on it to
provide armed forces in fulfilment of the obligations
assumed under Article 43, invite that Member, if the Member
so desires, to participate in the decisions of the Security
Council concerning the employment of contingents of that
Member's armed forces.

Article 45

In order to enable the Nations to take urgent military

measures, Members shall hold immediately available
national air-force contingents for combined international
enforcement action. The strength and degree of readiness of
these contingents and plans for their combined action shall be
determined, within the limits laid down in the special
agreement or agreements referred to in Article 43, by the
Security Council with the assistance of the Military
Committee.

Article 46

Plans for the application of armed force shall be made by the

Security Council with the assistance of the Military Staff
Committee.

Article 47

1. There shall be established a Military Staff Committee to

advise and assist the Security Council on questions relating
to the Security Council's military requirements for the
maintenance of international peace and security, the
employment and command of forces placed at its disposal,
the regulation of armaments, and possible disarmament.

2. The Military Staff Committee consist of the Chiefs of Staff

of the permanent members of the Security Council or their
representatives. Any Member of the United Nations not
permanently represented on the Committee shall be invited
by the Committee to be associated with it when the efficient
discharge of the Committee's responsibilities re- quires the
participation of that Member its work.
3. The Military Staff Committee be responsible under the
Security Council for the strategic direction of any armed
forces paced at the disposal of the Security Council.
Questions relating to the command of such forces shall be
worked out subsequently.

4. The Military Staff Committee, with the authorization of

the security Council and after consultation with appropriate
regional agencies, may establish sub-commit- tees.

Article 48

1. The action required to carry out the decisions of the

Security Council for the maintenance of international peace
and security shall be taken by all the Members of the United
Nations or by some of them, as the Security Council may
determine.

2. Such decisions shall be carried out by the Members of the

United Nations directly and through their action in the
appropriate international agencies of which they are
members.

Article 49

The Members of the United Nations shall join in affording

mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon
by the Security Council.
 Article 50

If preventive or enforcement measures against any state are

taken by the Security Council, any other state, whether a
Member of the United Nations or not, which finds itself
confronted with special economic problems arising from the
carrying out of those measures shall have the right to consult
the Security Council with regard to a solution of those
problems.

Article 51

Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right

of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack
occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the
Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain
international peace and security. Measures taken by
Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be
immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in
any way affect the authority and responsibility of the
Security Council under the present Charter to take at any
time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or
restore international peace and security.

CHAPTER VIII
REGIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
Article 52
1. Nothing in the present Charter the existence of regional
arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters
relating to the maintenance of international peace and
security as are appropriate for regional action, provided that
such arrangements or agencies and their activities are
consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the United
Nations.

2. The Members of the United Nations entering into such

arrangements or constituting such agencies shall make every
effort to achieve pacific settlement of local disputes through
such regional arrangements or by such regional agencies
before referring them to the Security Council.

3. The Security Council shall encourage the development of

pacific settlement of local disputes through such regional
arrangements or by such regional agencies either on the
initiative of the states concerned or by reference from the
Security Council.

4. This Article in no way the application of Articles 34 and

35.

Article 53

1. The Security Council shall, where appropriate, utilize such

regional arrangements or agencies for enforcement action
under its authority. But no enforcement action shall be taken
under regional arrangements or by regional agencies without
the authorization of the Security Council, with the exception
of measures against any enemy state, as defined in paragraph
2 of this Article, provided for pursuant to Article 107 or in
regional arrangements directed against renewal of aggressive
policy on the part of any such state, until such time as the
Organization may, on request of the Governments concerned,
be charged with the responsibility for preventing further
aggression by such a state.

2. The term enemy state as used in para- graph 1 of this

Article applies to any state which during the Second World
War has been an enemy of any signatory of the present
Charter.

Article 54

The Security Council shall at all times be kept fully informed

of activities undertaken or in contemplation under regional
arrangements or by regional agencies for the maintenance of
international peace and security.

CHAPTER IX
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CO-OPERATION
Article 55

With a view to the creation of conditions of stability and

well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly
relations among nations based on respect for the principle of
equal rights and self-determination of peoples, the United
Nations shall promote:

a. higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions

of economic and social progress and development;

b. solutions of international economic, social, health, and

related problems; and international cultural and educational
co- operation; and

c. universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and

fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race,
sex, language, or religion.

Article 56

All Members pledge themselves to take joint and separate

action in co-operation with the Organization for the
achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55.

Article 57

1. The various specialized agencies, established by

intergovernmental agreement and having wide international
responsibilities, as defined in their basic instruments, in
economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related
fields, shall be brought into relationship with the United
Nations in accordance with the provisions of Article 63.

2. Such agencies thus brought into relationship with the

United Nations are hereinafter referred to as specialized
agencies.

Article 58

The Organization shall make recommendations for the co-

ordination of the policies and activities of the specialized
agencies.

Article 59

The Organization shall, where appropriate, initiate

negotiations among the states concerned for the creation of
any new specialized agencies required for the
accomplishment of the purposes set forth in Article 55.

Article 60

Responsibility for the discharge of the functions of the

Organization set forth in this Chapter shall be vested in the
General Assembly and, under the authority of the General
Assembly, in the Economic and Social Council, which shall
have for this purpose the powers set forth in Chapter X.
 CHAPTER X
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
Composition
Article 61

1. The Economic and Social Council shall consist of fifty-

four Members of the United Nations elected by the General
Assembly.

2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, eighteen

members of the Economic and Social Council shall be
elected each year for a term of three years. A retiring
member shall be eligible for immediate re-election.

3. At the first election after the increase in the membership of

the Economic and Social Council from twenty-seven to fifty-
four members, in addition to the members elected in place of
the nine members whose term of office expires at the end of
that year, twenty-seven additional members shall be elected.
Of these twenty-seven additional members, the term of office
of nine members so elected shall expire at the end of one
year, and of nine other members at the end of two years, in
accordance with arrangements made by the General
Assembly.

4. Each member of the Economic and Social Council shall

have one representative.
 Functions and Powers
Article 62

1. The Economic and Social Council may make or initiate

studies and reports with respect to international economic,
social, cultural, educational, health, and related matters and
may make recommendations with respect to any such matters
to the General Assembly, to the Members of the United
Nations, and to the specialized agencies concerned.

2. It may make recommendations for the purpose of

promoting respect for, and observance of, human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all.

3. It may prepare draft conventions for submission to the

General Assembly, with respect to matters falling within its
competence.

4. It may call, in accordance with the rules prescribed by the

United Nations, international conferences on matters falling
within its competence.

Article 63

1. The Economic and Social Council may enter into

agreements with any of the agencies referred to in Article 57,
defining the terms on which the agency concerned shall be
brought into relationship with the United Nations. Such
agreements shall be subject to approval by the General
Assembly.

2. It may co-ordinate the activities of the specialized agencies

through consultation with and recommendations to such
agencies and through recommendations to the General
Assembly and to the Members of the United Nations.

Article 64

1. The Economic and Social Council may take appropriate

steps to obtain regular reports from the specialized agencies.
may make arrangements with the Members of the United
Nations and with the specialized agencies to obtain reports
on the steps taken to give effect to its own recommendations
and to recommendations on matters falling within its
competence made by the General Assembly.

2. It may communicate its observations on these reports to

the General Assembly.

Article 65

The Economic and Social Council may furnish information

to the Security Council and shall assist the Security Council
upon its request.

Article 66
1. The Economic and Social Council shall perform such
functions as fall within its competence in connexion with the
carrying out of the recommendations of the General
Assembly.

2. It may, with the approval of the General Assembly,

perform services at the request of Members of the United
Nations and at the request of specialized agencies.

3. It shall perform such other functions as are specified

elsewhere in the present Charter or as may be assigned to it
by the General Assembly.

Voting
Article 67

1. Each member of the Economic and Social Council shall

have one vote.

2. Decisions of the Economic and Social Council shall be

made by a majority of the members present and voting.

Procedure
Article 68

The Economic and Social Council shall set up commissions

in economic and social fields and for the promotion of
human rights, and such other commissions as may for the
performance of its functions.

Article 69

The Economic and Social Council shall invite any Member

of the United Nations to participate, without vote, in its
deliberations on any matter of particular concern to that
Member.

Article 70

The Economic and Social Council may make arrangements

for representatives of the specialized agencies to participate,
without vote, in its deliberations and in those of the
commissions established by it, and for its representatives to
participate in the deliberations of the specialized agencies.

Article 71

The Economic and Social Council may make suitable

arrangements for consultation with non-governmental
organizations which are concerned with matters within its
competence. Such arrangements may be made with
international organizations and, where appropriate, with
national organizations after consultation with the Member of
the United Nations concerned.

Article 72
1. The Economic and Social Council shall adopt its own rules
of procedure, including the method of selecting its President.

2. The Economic and Social Council shall meet as required

in accordance with its rules, which shall include provision for
the convening of meetings on the request of a majority of its
members.

CHAPTER XI
DECLARATION REGARDING NON-SELF-GOVERNING
TERRITORIES
Article 73

Members of the United Nations which have or assume

responsibilities for the administration of territories whose
peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-
government recognize the principle that the interests of the
inhabitants of these territories are paramount, and accept as a
sacred trust the obligation to promote to the utmost, within
the system of international peace and security established by
the present Charter, the well- being of the inhabitants of these
territories, and, to this end:

a. to ensure, with due respect for the culture of the peoples

concerned, their political, economic, social, and educational
advancement, their just treatment, and their protection
against abuses;
b. to develop self-government, to take due account of the
political aspirations of the peoples, and to assist them in the
progressive development of their free political institutions,
according to the particular circumstances of each territory
and its peoples and their varying stages of advancement;

c. to further international peace and security;

d. to promote constructive measures of development, to

encourage research, and to co-operate with one another and,
when and where appropriate, with specialized international
bodies with a view to the practical achievement of the social,
eco- nomic, and scientific purposes set forth in this Article;
and

e. to transmit regularly to the Secretary- General for

information purposes, subject to such limitation as security
and constitutional considerations may require, statistical and
other information of a technical nature relating to economic,
social, and educational conditions in the territories for which
they are respectively responsible other than those territories
to which Chapters XII and XIII apply.

Article 74

Members of the United Nations also agree that their policy in

respect of the territories to which this Chapter applies, no less
than in respect of their metropolitan areas, must be based on
the general principle of good-neigh-bourliness, due account
being taken of the interests and well-being of the rest of the
world, in social, economic, and commercial matters.

CHAPTER XII
INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEESHIP SYSTEM
Article 75

The United Nations shall establish under its authority an

international trusteeship system for the administration and
supervision of such territories as may be placed thereunder
by subsequent individual agreements. These territories are
hereinafter referred to as trust territories.

Article 76

The basic objectives of the trusteeship system, in accordance

with the Purposes of the United Nations laid down in Article
1 of the present Charter, shall be:

a. to further international peace and security;

b. to promote the political, economic, social, and educational

advancement of the inhabitants of the trust territories, and
their progressive development towards self-government or
independence as may be appropriate to the particular
circumstances of each territory and its peoples and the freely
expressed wishes of the peoples concerned, and as may be
provided by the terms of each trusteeship agreement;

c. to encourage respect for human rights and for fundamental

freedoms for all with- out : as to race, sex, language, or
religion, and to encourage recognition of the interdependence
of the peoples of the world; and

d. to ensure equal treatment in social, economic, and

commercial matters for all Members of the United Nations
and their , and also equal treatment for the latter in the
administration of justice, with- out prejudice to the
attainment of the fore- going objectives and subject to the
provisions of Article 80.

Article 77

1. The trusteeship system shall apply to such territories in the

following categories as may be placed thereunder by means
of trusteeship agreements:

a. territories now held under mandate;

b. territories which may be detached from enemy states as a

result of the Second World War; and
c. territories voluntarily placed under the system by states
responsible for their administration.

2. It will be a matter for subsequent agreement as to which

territories in the foregoing categories will be brought under
the trustee- ship system and upon what terms.

Article 78

The trusteeship system shall not apply to territories which

have become Members of the United Nations, relationship
among which shall be based on respect for the principle of
sovereign equality.

Article 79

The terms of trusteeship for each territory to be placed under

the trusteeship system, including any alteration or
amendment, shall be agreed upon by the states directly
concerned, including the mandatory power in the case of
territories held under mandate by a Member of the United
Nations, and shall be approved as provided for in Articles 83
and 85.

Article 80

1. Except as may be agreed upon in individual trusteeship

agreements, made under Articles 77, 79, and 81, placing each
territory under the trusteeship system, and until such
agreements have been concluded, nothing in this Chapter
shall be construed in or of itself to alter in any manner the
rights whatsoever of any states or any peoples or the terms of
existing international instruments to which Members of the
United Nations may respectively be parties.

2. Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be interpreted as

giving grounds for delay or postponement of the negotiation
and conclusion of agreements for placing mandated and other
territories under the trusteeship system as provided for in
Article 77.

Article 81

The trusteeship agreement shall in each case include the

terms under which the trust territory will be administered and
designate the authority which will exercise the administration
of the trust territory. Such authority, hereinafter called the
administering authority, may be one or more states or the
Organization itself.

Article 82

There may be designated, in any trusteeship agreement, a

strategic area or areas which may include part or all of the
trust territory to which the agreement applies, without
prejudice to any special agreement or agreements made
under Article 43.
 Article 83

1. All functions of the United Nations relating to strategic

areas, including the approval of the terms of the trusteeship
agreements and of their alteration or amendment, shall be
exercised by the Security Council.

2. he basic objectives set forth in Article 76 shall be

applicable to the people of each strategic area. 43 3. The
Security Council shall, subject to the provisions of the
trusteeship agreements and without prejudice to security
considerations, avail itself of the assistance of the
Trusteeship Council to perform those functions of the United
Nations under the trusteeship system relating to political,
economic, social, and educational matters in the strategic
areas.

Article 84

It shall be the duty of the administering authority to ensure

that the trust territory shall play its part in the maintenance of
international peace and security. To this end the
administering authority may make use of volunteer forces,
facilities, and assistance from the trust territory in carrying
out the obligations towards the Security Council undertaken
in this regard by the administering authority, as well as for
local defence and the maintenance of law and order within
the trust territory.
 Article 85

1. The functions of the United Nations with regard to

trusteeship agreements for all areas not designated as
strategic, including the approval of the terms of the
trusteeship agreements and of their alteration or amendment,
shall be exercised by the General Assembly.

2. The Trusteeship Council, operating under the authority of

the General Assembly, shall assist the General Assembly in
carrying out these functions.

CHAPTER XIII
THE TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL
Composition
Article 86

1. The Trusteeship Council shall consist of the following

Members of the United Nations:

a. those Members administering trust territories;

b. such of those Members mentioned by name in Article 23

as are not administering trust territories; and

c. as many other Members elected for three-year terms by the

General Assembly as may be necessary to ensure that the
total number of members of the Trusteeship Council is
equally divided between those Members of the United
Nations which ad- minister trust territories and those which
do not.

2. Each member of the Trusteeship Council shall designate

one specially qualified person to represent it therein.

Functions and Powers

Article 87

The General Assembly and, under its authority, the

Trusteeship Council, in carrying out their functions, may:

a. consider reports submitted by the ad- ministering

authority;

b. accept petitions and examine them in consultation with the

administering authority;

c. provide for periodic visits to the respective trust territories

at times agreed upon with the administering authority; and

d. take these and other actions in conformity with the terms

of the trusteeship agreements.

Article 88
The Trusteeship Council shall formulate a questionnaire on
the political, economic, social, and educational advancement
of the inhabitants of each trust territory, and the
administering authority for each trust territory within the
competence of the General Assembly shall make an annual
report to the General Assembly upon the basis of such
questionnaire.

Voting
Article 89

1. Each member of the Trusteeship Council shall have one

vote.

2. Decisions of the Trusteeship Council shall be made by a

majority of the members present and voting.

Procedure
Article 90

1. The Trusteeship Council shall adopt its own rules of

procedure, including the method of selecting its President.

2. The Trusteeship Council shall meet as required in

accordance with its rules, which shall include provision for
the convening of meetings on the request of a majority of its
members.
 Article 91

The Trusteeship Council shall, when appropriate, avail itself

of the assistance of the Economic and Social Council and of
the specialized agencies in regard to matters with which they
are respectively concerned.

CHAPTER XIV
THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
Article 92

The International Court of Justice shall be the principal

judicial organ of the United Nations. It shall function in
accordance with the annexed Statute, which is based upon
the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice
and forms an integral part of the present Charter.

Article 93

1. All Members of the United Nations are facto parties to the

Statute of the International Court of Justice.

2. A state which is not a Member of the United Nations may

become a party to the Statute of the International Court of
Justice on conditions to be determined in each case by the
General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security
Council.
 Article 94

1. Each Member of the United Nations undertakes to comply

with the decision of the International Court of Justice in any
case to which it is a party.

2. If any party to a case fails to perform the obligations

incumbent upon it under a judgment rendered by the Court,
the other party may have recourse to the Security Council,
which may, if it deems necessary, make recommendations or
decide upon measures to be taken to give effect to the
judgment.

Article 95

Nothing in the present Charter shall prevent Members of the

United Nations from entrusting the solution of their
differences to other tribunals by virtue of agreements already
in existence or which may be concluded in the future.

Article 96

1. The General Assembly or the Security Council may

request the International Court of Justice to give an advisory
opinion on any legal question.

2. Other organs of the United Nations and specialized

agencies, which may at any time be so authorized by the
General Assembly, may also request advisory opinions of the
Court on legal questions arising within the scope of their
activities.

CHAPTER XV
THE SECRETARIAT
Article 97

The Secretariat shall comprise a Secretary- General and such

staff as the Organization may require. The Secretary-General
shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the
recommendation of the Security Council. He shall be the
chief administrative officer of the Organization.

Article 98

The Secretary-General shall act in that capacity in all

meetings of the General Assembly, of the Security Council,
of the Economic and Social Council, and of the Trusteeship
Council, and shall perform such other functions as are
entrusted to him by these organs. The Secretary-General shall
make an annual report to the General Assembly on the work
of the Organization.

Article 99
The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the
Security Council any matter which in his opinion may
threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.

Article 100

1. In the performance of their duties the Secretary-General

and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any
government or from any other authority external to the
Organization. They shall refrain from any action which might
on their position as international officials responsible only to
the Organization.

2. Each Member of the United Nations undertakes to respect

the exclusively inter- national character of the responsibilities
of the Secretary-General and the staff and not to seek to
influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Article 101

1. The staff shall be appointed by the Secretary-General

under regulations established by the General Assembly.

2. Appropriate staffs shall be permanently assigned to the

Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and,
as required, to other organs of the United Nations. These
staffs shall form a part of the Secretariat.
3. The paramount consideration in the employment of the
staff and in the determination of the conditions of service
shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of
efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard shall be
paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a
geographical basis as possible.

CHAPTER XVI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Article 102

1. Every treaty and every international agreement entered

into by any Member of the United Nations after the present
Charter comes into force shall as soon as possible be
registered with the Secretariat and published by it.

2. No party to any such treaty or international agreement

which has not been registered in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph I of this Article may invoke that
treaty or agreement before any organ of the United Nations.

Article 103

In the event of a conflict between the obligations of the

Members of the United Nations under the present Charter
and their obligations under any other international
agreement, their obligations under the present Charter shall
prevail.
 Article 104

The Organization shall enjoy in the territory of each of its

Members such legal capacity as may be necessary for the
exercise of its functions and the fulfilment of its purposes.

Article 105

1. The Organization shall enjoy in the territory of each of its

Members such privileges and immunities as are necessary for
the fulfilment of its purposes.

2. Representatives of the Members of the United Nations and

officials of the Organization shall similarly enjoy such
privileges and immunities as are necessary for the
independent exercise of their functions in connexion with the
Organization.

3. The General Assembly may make recommendations with a

view to determining the details of the application of
paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article or may propose
conventions to the Members of the United Nations for this
purpose.

CHAPTER XVII
TRANSITIONAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
Article 106
Pending the coming into force of such special agreements
referred to in Article 43 as in the opinion of the Security
Council enable it to begin the exercise of its responsibilities
under Article 42, the parties to the Four-Nation Declaration,
signed at Moscow, 30 October 1943, and France, shall, in
accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5 of that
Declaration, consult with one another and as occasion
requires with other Members of the United Nations with a
view to such joint action on behalf of the Organization as
may be necessary for the purpose of maintaining
international peace and security.

Article 107

Nothing in the present Charter shall in- validate or preclude

action, in relation to any state which during the Second
World War has been an enemy of any signatory to the
present Charter, taken or authorized as a result of that war by
the Governments having responsibility for such action.

CHAPTER XVIII
AMENDMENTS
Article 108

Amendments to the present Charter shall come into force for

all Members of the United Nations when they have been
adopted by a vote of two thirds of the members of the
General Assembly and ratified in accordance with their
respective constitutional processes by two thirds of the
Members of the United Nations, including all the permanent
members of the Security Council.

Article 109

1. A General Conference of the Members of the United

Nations for the purpose of reviewing the present Charter may
be held at a date and place to be fixed by a two-thirds vote of
the members of the General Assembly and by a vote of any
nine members of the Security Council. Each Member of the
United Nations shall have one vote in the conference.

2. Any alteration of the present Charter recommended by a

two-thirds vote of the conference shall take effect when
ratified in accordance with their respective constitutional
processes by two thirds of the Members of the United
Nations including the permanent members of the Security
Council.

3. If such a conference has not been held before the tenth

annual session of the General Assembly following the
coming into force of the present Charter, the proposal to call
such a conference shall be placed on the agenda of that
session of the General Assembly, and the conference shall be
held if so decided by a majority vote of the members of the
General Assembly and by a vote of any seven members of
the Security Council.

CHAPTER XIX
 RATIFICATION AND SIGNATURE
Article 110

1. The present Charter shall be ratified by the signatory states

in accordance with their respective constitutional processes.

2. The shall be deposited with the Government of the Unite

States of America, which shall notify all the signatory states
of each deposit as well as the Secretary-General of the
Organization when he has been appointed.

3. The present Charter shall come into force upon the deposit
of by the Republic of China, France, the Union of Soviet
Socialist, the United King- dom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, and by a
majority of the other signatory states. A protocol of the
deposited shall thereupon be drawn up by the Government of
the United States of America which shall communicate
copies thereof to all the signa- tory states.

4. The states signatory to the present Charter which ratify it

after it has come into force will become original Members of
the United Nations on the date of the deposit of their
respective ratifications.

Article 111
The present Charter, of which the Chinese, French, Russian,
English, and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall remain
deposited in the archives of the Government of -the United
States of America. Duly certified copies thereof shall be
transmitted by that Government to the Governments of the
other signatory states.

IN FAITH WHEREOF the representatives of the

Governments of the United Nations have signed the present
Charter.

DONE at the city of San Francisco the twenty-sixth day of

June, one thousand nine hundred and forty-five.