United Nations (UN) and its Organisation

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945 that provides a forum for its members to express their views and to take action on the major issues confronting humanity.

Total Members: 193 member states

Aim: Maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations amongst nations, achieve international co-operation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations

Principal organs or components of UN:

General Assembly: It is the main deliberative body of the UN and consists of representatives of all member states. It discusses and coordinates international issues and makes recommendations on them.
Security Council: It is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It has 15 members, including five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
International Court of Justice: It is the principal judicial organ of the UN and settles legal disputes between states2. Its decisions are binding on states that have agreed to be bound by them.
Economic and Social Council: It is responsible for promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. It has 54 members elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms.
Trusteeship Council: It was established to oversee the administration of trust territories and ensure their transition to self-government or independence. Its work was completed in 1994 after Palau became independent.
Secretariat: It carries out the day-to-day work of the UN under the direction of the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year term.

The United Nations coordinates its work with the funds, programmes, specialized agencies and other organizations of the UN System. Cooperation between the UN and the other entities of the UN system is essential in order to achieve the purposes of the Organization laid out in the UN Charter.

United Nations organizations:

International Labour Organization (ILO): Promotes social justice and promotes decent working conditions worldwide.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): Leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): Promotes international collaboration through education, science, and culture.
World Health Organization (WHO): Directs and coordinates international health within the United Nations system.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): Works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): Develops international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) which States reference when developing their legally-enforceable national civil aviation regulations.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): Invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience.
International Maritime Organization (IMO): Promotes safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping through cooperation.
International Monetary Fund (IMF): Fosters global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU): Coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): Provides humanitarian and developmental assistance to children worldwide.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Works in nearly 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. Helps countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Coordinates United Nations environmental activities and assists countries in implementing environmentally sound policies.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): Protects refugees worldwide and facilitates their return home or resettlement in a third country.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO): Promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS): Helps partners deliver peace and security, humanitarian and development projects that bring sustainable benefits to communities in need1.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): Works towards a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA): Provides assistance and protection for some 5.7 million registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip.