The

Secretariat
United Nations Charter Articles 97-101
OVERVIEW
➢ The General Assembly
➢ The Security Council
➢ The Economic and Social Council
➢ The Trusteeship Council
➢ The Secretariat
➢ The International Court of Justice
The General Assembly
This is the main deliberative organ of the United
Nations. It is composed of representatives from all
Member States, each of which has one vote.
The Security Council
This is the organ of the United Nations which is is
charged with ensuring international peace and
security.
The Economic and
Social Council
This is the place where the world’s economic, social
and environmental challenges are discussed and
debated, and policy recommendations issued.
Trusteeship Council
The Trusteeship Council was established to make
sure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the
Territories for self-government or independence.
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the principal
judicial organ of the United Nations. The Court is
charged with settling legal disputes between States
and giving advisory opinions to the United Nations
and its specialized agencies.
The Secretariat
This is the United Nations’ executive arm. It consists
of staff representing all nationalities working in
duty stations all over the world, who carries out the
day to day work of the Organization.

The head of the Secretariat is the

Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Functions
The main functions of The Secretariat are

❖ Gather and prepare background information on

various issues so that government delegates can study
the facts and make recommendations;

❖ Help carry out the decisions made by the different

organs of the United Nations;

❖ Organize international conferences;

Functions
The main functions of The Secretariat are

❖ Translate speeches and distribute documents into the

UN’s official languages;

❖ Keep the public informed about the work of the United

Nations.
The Secretary-General
The Secretary-General is the chief
administrative officer of the United
Nations. He is appointed by the
General Assembly on the
recommendation of the Security
Council for a period of five years.
The Secretary-General
The current secretary-general is
Antonio Guterres, a Portuguese
diplomat. He has served since
2017 and is the ninth person to
hold this position.
Functions
The Secretary-General’s functions include:
❖ Bringing any problem that threatens world
peace to the attention of the Security Council;
❖ Proposing issues to be discussed by the
General Assembly or any other organ of the
United Nations;
❖ Acting as a “referee” in disputes between
Member States;
❖ Each Secretary-General also defines his role
within the context of his particular time in
office.
Deputy Secretary-General
The Deputy Secretary-General’s
office was created to handle many of
the administrative responsibilities of
the secretary-general, help manage
Secretariat operations, and ensure
coherence of activities and
programs.
Deputy Secretary-General
As of 2017, the current Deputy
Secretary-General is Amina
Mohammed who was appointed by
Antonio Guterres.
Responsibilities
The Deputy Secretary-General’s responsibilities include:

❖ Assisting the Secretary-General in managing

the operations of the Secretariat;
❖ Acting for the Secretary-General at United
Nations Headquarters in the absence of the
Secretary-General and in other cases as may be
decided by the Secretary-General;
Responsibilities
The Deputy Secretary-General’s responsibilities include:
❖ Supporting the Secretary-General in ensuring
inter-sectoral and inter-institutional coherence
of activities and programs;
❖ Supporting the Secretary-General in elevating
the profile and leadership of the United
Nations in the economic and social spheres,
including further efforts to strengthen the
United Nations as a leading centre for
development policy and development
assistance;
Responsibilities
The Deputy Secretary-General’s responsibilities include:
❖ Representing the Secretary-General at
conferences, official functions and ceremonial
and other occasions as may be decided by the
Secretary-General;
❖ Undertaking such assignments as may be
determined by the Secretary-General;
Organization
The Offices under The Secretariat are the following:
❖ Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG)
❖ United Nations Office of Internal Oversight
Services (OIOS)
❖ United Nations Office of Legal Affairs (OLA)
❖ United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
(ODA)
❖ United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
❖ United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
(UNDRR)
Organization
The Offices under The Secretariat are the following:
❖ Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR)
❖ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR)
❖ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
❖ United Nations Office of the High Representative for
the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing
Countries and Small Island Developing States
(OHRLLS)
❖ United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
(UNOOSA)
Organization
These are Departments under The Secretariat:

❖ United Nations Department of Political and

Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)
❖ United Nations Department of Peace Operations
(DPO)
❖ United Nations Department of Economic and Social
Affairs (DESA)
❖ United Nations Department of Field Support (DFS)
❖ United Nations Department of Management (DM)*
Organization
These are Departments under The Secretariat:

❖ United Nations Department of General Assembly and

Conference Management (DGACM)
❖ United Nations Department of Global
Communications (DGC)
❖ United Nations Department of Safety and Security
(DSS)
Staffing
The staff shall be appointed by the
Secretary-General under regulations
established by the General Assembly.

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.
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