The United Nations

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The United Nations

The United Nations is an organization of sovereign nations not a world

government. It provides the machinery to help find solutions to disputes or

problems, and to deal with virtually any matter of concern to humanity.

It does not legislate like a national parliament. But in the meeting

rooms and corridors of the UN, representatives of almost all countries of the

world large and small, rich and poor, with varying political views and social

systems have a voice and vote in shaping the policies of the international

community. The year 1995 marks the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Organization.

The UN has six main organs, listed below. All are based at UN

Headquarters in New York, except the International Court of Justice, which is

located at The Hague, Netherlands.

The General Assembly

The General Assembly, sometimes called the nearest thing to a world

parliament, is the main deliberative body. All Member States are represented in

it, and each has one vote. Decisions on ordinary matters are taken by simple

majority. Important questions require a two-thirds majority.

The Assembly holds its regular sessions from mid-September to mid-

December; special or emergency sessions are held when necessary. Even when the

Assembly is not in session, its work goes on in special committees and bodies.

The Assembly has the right to discuss and make recommendations on all

matters within the scope of the UN Charter. It has no power to compel action by

any Government, but its recommendations carry the weight of world opinion. The

Assembly also sets policies and determines programmes for the UN Secretariat. It

sets goals and directs activities for development, approves the budget of peace-

keeping operations and calls for world conferences on major issues. Occupying a

central position in the UN, the Assembly receives reports from other organs,

admits new Members, approves the budget and appoints the Secretary-General.

The Security Council

The UN Charter, an international treaty, obligates States to settle

their international disputes by peaceful means. They are to refrain from the

threat or use of force against other States, and may bring any dispute before

the Security Council. The Security Council is the organ to which the Charter

gives primary responsibility for maintaining peace and security. It can be

convened at ...

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Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

World Health Organization (WHO)

World Bank

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Although not a specialized agency, the International Atomic Energy

Agency (IAEA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization under the aegis of

the UN.

The UN and its specialized agencies make up the UN system of

organizations.

For further information about the UN, please contact:

Public Inquiries

UN Secretariat

Room GA-58

New York, NY 10017

USA

or the Information Centre in your country.

The United Nations is an organization of sovereign nations not a world

government. It provides the machinery to help find solutions to disputes or

problems, and to deal with virtually any matter of concern to humanity.

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