The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after

the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining

international peace and security, developing friendly relations among
nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human
rights.

History

As the Second World War raged, the leaders of the

United Kingdom, China, the United States and the Soviet Cyberschoolbus
Union, under intense pressure from the press and public,
discussed the details of a post-war organization. In 1944
representatives meeting at Dumbarton Oaks in
Washington, DC, prepared a blueprint for an international
organization. Towards the end of the war
representatives of 50 countries gathered in San
Francisco between April and June 1945 to hammer out the final text that would lay the Introduction
foundations of international cooperation. This was the Charter of the United Nations,
signed on 26 June by 50 countries. Poland, the 51st country, was not able to send a Development
representative to the San Francisco conference but is considered an original member.
Peace and Security
Purposes of the United Nations Human Rights

Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, Humanitarian Action
the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its
Member States to express their views. International Law

The UN has 4 main purposes [Country] and the UN

To keep peace throughout the world;

To develop friendly relations among nations;
To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer
hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other's rights and
About Us
freedoms;
To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals. Home

Structure and Organization of the United Nations

The Charter established six principal organs of the United Nations: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the
Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat. The
United Nations family, however, is much larger, encompassing 15 agencies and several programmes and bodies.

Organizational Chart of the UN System (PDF)

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the UN and is composed of
representatives of all Member States. The work of the United Nations year-round
derives largely from the mandates given by the General Assembly. Comprising all
Member States of the United Nations, it provides a unique forum for multilateral
discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter. The
Assembly meets in regular session intensively from September to December each
year, and thereafter as required. Decisions on important questions, such as those on
peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, require a
two-thirds majority. Decisions on other questions are by simple majority. Each country has one vote.

Security Council

The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the
maintenance of international peace and security. The Council is composed of five
permanent members - China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the
United States - and ten non-permanent members. The non-permanent members are
elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. Each Council member has one
vote. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of at least nine
of the 15 members. Decisions on substantive matters require nine votes, including
the concurring votes of all five permanent members. This rule is often referred to as
the "veto" power. A reform of the Security Council, including its membership, is under consideration.

Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the principal organ to coordinate the economic, social and related
work of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and institutions. Voting in the Council is by simple majority;
each member has one vote.

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice, located at the Hague in the Netherlands, is the principal judicial organ of the United
Nations. It settles legal disputes between States and gives advisory opinions to the UN and its specialized agencies.
Its Statute is an integral part of the United Nations Charter.

Trusteeship Council

The Trusteeship Council was established in 1945 by the UN Charter to provide international supervision for 11 Trust
Territories placed under the administration of 7 Member States, and ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare
the Territories for self-government and independence. By 1994, all Trust Territories had attained self-government or
independence. Its work completed, the Council has amended its rules of procedure to meet as and where occasion
may require.

Secretariat

The Secretariat - an international staff working in duty stations around the world - carries out the diverse day-to-day
work of the Organization. It services the other principal organs of the United Nations and administers the programmes
and policies laid down by them.

At its head is the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the
Security Council for a five-year, renewable term. The Secretary-General is a symbol of United Nations ideals and a
spokesman for the interests of the world's peoples, in particular the poor and vulnerable among them. The current
Secretary-General, and the eighth occupant of the post, is Mr. Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea, who took office
on 1 January 2007.

The duties carried out by the Secretariat are as varied as the problems dealt with by the United Nations. These range
from administering peacekeeping operations to mediating international disputes, from surveying economic and social
trends and problems to preparing studies on human rights and sustainable development. Secretariat staff also inform
the world's communications media about the work of the United Nations; organize international conferences on
 issues of worldwide concern; and interpret speeches and translate documents into
the Organization's official languages.

As international civil servants, staff members and the Secretary-General answer to

the United Nations alone for their activities, and take an oath not to seek or receive
instructions from any Government or outside authority. Under the Charter, each
Member State undertakes to respect the exclusively international character of the
responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and to refrain from seeking to
influence them improperly in the discharge of their duties.

The United Nations, while headquartered in New York, maintains a significant

presence in Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, Nairobi, Santiago and Vienna, and
has offices all over the world.

Member States of the United Nations

Currently, the United Nations has 193 Member States: List of Member States of the United Nations

How does a country become a Member of the United Nations?

Membership in the United Nations, in accordance with the Charter, "is open to all
peace-loving States that accept the obligations contained in the United Nations
Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able to carry out these
obligations". The recognition of a new State or Government is an act that only other
States and Governments may grant or withhold. It generally implies readiness to
assume diplomatic relations. The United Nations is neither a State nor a Government,
and therefore does not possess any authority to recognize either a State or a
Government. As an organization of independent States, it may admit a new State to
its membership or accept the credentials of the representatives of a new Government.

States are admitted to membership in the United Nations by decision of the General Assembly upon the
recommendation of the Security Council. The procedure is briefly as follows:

1. The State submits an application to the Secretary-General and a letter formally stating that it accepts the
obligations under the Charter.
2. The Security Council considers the application. Any recommendation for admission must receive the affirmative
votes of 9 of the 15 members of the Council, provided that none of its five permanent members have voted
against the application.
3. If the Council recommends admission, the recommendation is presented to the General Assembly for
consideration. A two-thirds majority vote is necessary in the Assembly for admission of a new State.
4. Membership becomes effective the date the resolution for admission is adopted.

The work of the United Nations today

The work of the United Nations reaches every corner of the globe. Although best
known for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and humanitarian
assistance, there are many other ways the United Nations and its System (specialized
agencies, funds and programmes) affect our lives and make the world a better place.
The Organization works on a broad range of fundamental issues, from sustainable
development, environment and refugees protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism,
disarmament and non-proliferation, to promoting democracy, human rights, gender
equality and the advancement of women, governance, economic and social
development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production, and more, in order to achieve
its goals and coordinate efforts for a safer world for this and future generations.