THE UNITED

NATIONS AND
THE UNITED
NATIONS
SYSTEM
 THE UNITED NATIONS
q 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
§ Promoting social progress
§ Better living standards and
§ Human rights.
q Due to its unique international character, the Organization can take action
on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 192 Member States
to express their views.
 THE UN STRUCTURE
q The Charter formerly established 6 principal organs of the United
Nations:

1. UN General Assembly
2. UN Security Council
3. UN Economic and Social Council
4. UN Secretariat
5. International Court of Justice
6. Trusteeship Council (suspended operations in 1994)

In addition separate organizations, often subordinate to the

principal organs, have been created to solve specialized tasks.
 THE UN MAIN BODIES
q UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Is the main deliberative organ of the UN and is composed of
representatives of all Member States.
q UN SECURITY COUNCIL
It has primary responsibility for the maintenance of
international peace and security.
q UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
Is the principal organ to coordinate the economic, social and
related work of the UN and the specialized agencies and
institutions.
 THE UN MAIN BODIES
q UN TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL
It was established to help ensure that trust territories were administered in the
best interests of their inhabitants and of international peace and security. It was
originally designed to manage colonial possessions that were former League of
Nations mandates; has been inactive since 1994, when Palau, the last trust territory,
attained independence.
q UN SECRETARIAT
It carries out the day-to-day work of the Organization. It services the other
principal organs and carries out tasks as varied as the issues dealt with by the UN:
administering peacekeeping operations, surveying economic and social trends,
preparing studies on human rights, among others.
q INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
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.
THE UN q The United Nations family, however, is
much larger, encompassing 15 agencies
SYSTEM and several programmes and bodies
q The United Nations System is the
whole network of:
– International organizations
– Treaties and
– Conventions
that were created by the United
Nations
The UN System
Structure of The UN