UNITED NATIONS: A PROJECT

STRUCTURE
The United Nations (UN) has six main organs. Five of them — the General Assembly, the Security Council,
the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council (which has suspended operations) and the
Secretariat — are based at UN Headquarters in New York. The sixth, the International Court of Justice, is
located at The Hague in the Netherlands.

The six official languages of the UN are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.[91] On the basis of
the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations , the UN and its agencies are immune from
the laws of the countries where they operate, safeguarding the UN's impartiality with regard to host and
member countries.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. It is composed of representatives
from all 193 Member States, each of which has one vote. The UNGA also makes key decisions for the UN,
including:

 appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council

 electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council

 approving the UN budget

SECURITY COUNCIL
Under the Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace
and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter, all Member States are
obligated to comply with Council decisions. The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence
of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing
sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

A founding UN Charter body established in 1946, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the place
where the world’s economic, social and environmental challenges are discussed and debated, and policy
recommendations issued, with 54 members.

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.

SECRETARIAT
The UN Secretariat, consisting of staff representing all nationalities working in duty stations all over the
world, carries out the day-to-day work of the Organization. The Secretariat supports the other UN
bodies administratively (for example, in the organization of conferences, the writing of reports and studies and
the preparation of the budget). The head of the Secretariat is the Secretary General.
MEMBERSHIP
All the world's undisputed independent states, apart from Vatican City, are members of the United
Nations. South Sudan, which joined 14 July 2011, is the most recent addition, bringing a total of 193 UN
member states. In addition, there are two non-member observer states: the Vatican City and Palestine.

THE GROUP OF 77
The Group of 77, often called G-77, is a coalition of developing nations formed in 1964 to promote
cooperation and advocate for their shared interests at the United Nations. Initially composed of 77 countries, it
has since grown to include over 130 member nations. The main focus is on enhancing economic development
and well-being for the members by collectively addressing global challenges.

OBJECTIVES
The United Nations (UN) has several main objectives:

1. **Maintaining International Peace and Security:** The UN aims to prevent conflicts and work towards
peaceful resolutions of disputes among nations.

2. **Promoting Human Rights:** The UN advocates for the protection and promotion of fundamental
human rights for all individuals, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, religion, or other characteristics.

3. **Fostering Social and Economic Development:** The UN works to alleviate poverty, improve
healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, aiming for sustainable development globally.

4. **Upholding International Law:** The UN encourages adherence to international laws and treaties,
facilitating cooperation and resolving disputes within a legal framework.

5. **Coordinating Humanitarian Assistance:** The UN coordinates international efforts to provide

humanitarian aid during crises, including natural disasters, conflicts, and other emergencies.

6. **Encouraging Environmental Sustainability:** The UN promotes sustainable development practices,

environmental conservation, and combating climate change to ensure a better future for all.

7. **Supporting Gender Equality:** The UN strives for gender equality and empowerment of women,
aiming to eliminate discrimination and violence against women and girls.

8. **Advancing Diplomacy and Negotiation:** The UN serves as a platform for dialogue and negotiation
among nations, fostering diplomacy and peaceful resolutions to global issues.

9. **Fostering International Cooperation:** The UN facilitates collaboration and partnerships among

countries to address shared challenges like health pandemics, terrorism, and transnational crime.

10. **Protecting Cultural Heritage:** The UN works to preserve cultural heritage and diversity, promoting
understanding and respect among different cultures and societies.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations has inspired the extracurricular activity Model United Nations (or MUN). MUN is a
simulation of United Nations activity based on the UN agenda and following UN procedure. It is usually
attended by high school and university students who organize conferences to simulate the various UN
committees to discuss important issues of the day.[260] Today, MUN educates tens of thousands on the
activities of the UN around the world. MUN has many famous and notable alumni, such as the former UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.