UNITED NATIONS

Peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

One place where the world's nations can

gather together, discuss common problems
and find shared solutions.

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945.

Currently made up of 193 Member States, the UN and its work are
guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter.

The UN has evolved over the years to keep pace with a rapidly changing
world.

But one thing has stayed the same: it remains the one place on Earth
where all the world’s nations can gather together, discuss common
problems, and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity.

World War I
World War I or the First World War, often abbreviated as WWI or WW1, was a global
war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
Contemporaneously known as the Great War, the World War, and "the war to end all
wars",[7] it led to the mobilisation of more than 70 million military personnel, including
60 million Europeans, making it one of the largest wars in history,[8][9] and also one of
the deadliest conflicts in history,[10] with an estimated 8.5 million combatant deaths and
13 million civilian deaths as a direct result of the war.[11] Resulting genocides and the
related 1918 Spanish flu pandemic caused another 17–100 million deaths
worldwide including an estimated 2.64 million Spanish flu deaths in Europe and as
many as 675,000 in the United States.[14]

World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was
a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's
countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing military alliances:
the Allies and the Axis powers. In a total war directly involving more than
100 million personnel from more than 30 countries, the major participants threw their
entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the
distinction between civilian and military resources. Aircraft played a major role in the
conflict, enabling the strategic bombing of population centres and the only two uses
of nuclear weapons in war to this day. World War II was by far the deadliest conflict in
human history; it resulted in 70 to 85 million fatalities, a majority being civilians. Tens of
millions of people died due to genocides (including the
Holocaust), starvation, massacres, and disease. In the wake of the Axis
defeat, Germany and Japan were occupied, and war crimes tribunals were
conducted against German and Japanese leaders.

Member
States
The UN’s Membership has grown from the original 51 Member
States in 1945 to the current 193 Member States.

All UN Member States are members of the General Assembly. States

are admitted to membership by a decision of the General Assembly
upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
Secretary-General
In the end, it comes down to values [...] We want the world our children inherit
to be defined by the values enshrined in the UN Charter: peace, justice, respect,
human rights, tolerance and solidarity.
António Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General is Chief Administrative Officer of the UN – and is also a
symbol of the Organization's ideals and an advocate for all the world's peoples,
especially the poor and vulnerable.
The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the
recommendation of the Security Council for a 5-year, renewable term.
The current Secretary-General, and the 9th occupant of the post, is António
Guterres of Portugal, who took office on 1 January 2017.
On the 18th of June, 2021, Guterres was re-appointed to a second term, pledging
as his priority to continue helping the world chart a course out of the COVID-
19 pandemic.

Main Bodies

The General Assembly Hall during an event in 2016 to mark the one year
anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable
Development Goals. UN Photo/Cia Pak
The main bodies of the United Nations are the General Assembly, the Security
Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the
International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat. All were established under
the UN Charter when the Organization was founded in 1945.
General Assembly
The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative
organ of the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General
Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation. Each year,
in September, the full UN membership meets in the General Assembly Hall in New
York for the annual General Assembly session, and general debate, which many
heads of state attend and address. Decisions on important questions, such as
those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters,
require a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly. Decisions on other
questions are by simple majority. The General Assembly, each year, elects a GA
President to serve a one-year term of office.

Security Council
The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the
maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members (5
permanent and 10 non-permanent members). 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. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by
peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement.
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. The Security Council has a Presidency, which rotates, and changes, every
month.
 Daily programme of work of the Security Council
 Subsidiary organs of the Security Council

Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council is the principal body for coordination, policy
review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and
environmental issues, as well as implementation of internationally agreed
development goals. It serves as the central mechanism for activities of the UN
system and its specialized agencies in the economic, social and environmental
fields, supervising subsidiary and expert bodies. It has 54 Members, elected by
the General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms. It is the United Nations’
central platform for reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable
development.
Trusteeship Council
The Trusteeship Council was established in 1945 by the UN Charter,
under Chapter XIII, to provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories
that had been placed under the administration of seven Member States, and
ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the Territories for self-
government and independence. By 1994, all Trust Territories had attained self-
government or independence. The Trusteeship Council suspended operation on 1
November 1994. By a resolution adopted on 25 May 1994, the Council amended
its rules of procedure to drop the obligation to meet annually and agreed to meet
as occasion required -- by its decision or the decision of its President, or at the
request of a majority of its members or the General Assembly or the Security
Council.
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United
Nations. Its seat is at the Peace Palace in the Hague (Netherlands). It is the only
one of the six principal organs of the United Nations not located in New York
(United States of America). The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with
international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory
opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and
specialized agencies. The International Court of Justice functions in accordance
with its Statute.

Secretariat
The Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and tens of thousands of
international UN staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as
mandated by the General Assembly and the Organization's other principal
 bodies. The Secretary-General is Chief Administrative Officer of the Organization,
appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security
Council for a five-year, renewable term. The Secretary-General is also a symbol of
the Organization's ideals, and an advocate for all the world's peoples, especially
the poor and vulnerable.
UN staff members are recruited internationally and locally, and work in duty
stations and on peacekeeping missions all around the world. But serving the
cause of peace in a violent world is a dangerous occupation. Since the founding of
the United Nations, hundreds of brave men and women have given their lives in
its service.

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Secretariat

©UN Photo/Manuel Elías

The Secretariat carries out the day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by
the General Assembly and the Organization's other main bodies.
The Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat, which has tens of thousands
of international UN staff members working at duty stations all over the world.
UN System
A family in Syria pick up their monthly World Food Programme food allowance.
Almost 100 million people in around 88 countries receive assistance from WFP
every year through food or cash distributions, nutrition support programmes and
other activities. The World Food Programme was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
in 2020. Photo: WFP/Ali Habib

The United Nations is part of the UN system, which, in addition to the UN itself,
comprises many funds, programmes and specialized agencies, each of which have
their own area of work, leadership and budget. The programmes and funds are
financed through voluntary rather than assessed contributions. The Specialized
Agencies are independent international organizations funded by both voluntary
and assessed contributions. The UN coordinates its work with these separate UN
system entities, which cooperate with the Organization to help it achieve its goals.

Funds and Programmes

UNDP
Headquarters: New York City, USA
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in nearly 170
countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and
build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development
agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable
Development Goals.
UNEP
Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established in 1972, is the
voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a
catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and
sustainable development of the global environment.
UNFPA
Headquarters: New York City, USA
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency for delivering
a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young
person's potential is fulfilled.
UN-HABITAT
Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya
The mission of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-
HABITAT) is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human
settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.
UNICEF
Headquarters: New York City, USA
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in 190 countries and
territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil
their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
WFP
Headquarters: Rome, Italy
The World Food Programme aims to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. The
world’s largest humanitarian agency, WFP helps almost 100 million people in
approximately 88 countries with assistance every year through food or cash
distributions and more. The World Food Programme was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 2020.

UN Specialized Agencies
The UN specialized agencies are autonomous international organizations working
with the United Nations. All were brought into relationship with the UN through
negotiated agreements. Some existed before the First World War. Some were
associated with the League of Nations. Others were created almost
simultaneously with the UN. Others were created by the UN to meet emerging
needs.

FAO
Headquarters: Rome, Italy
The Food and Agriculture Organization leads international efforts to fight hunger.
It is both a forum for negotiating agreements between developing and developed
countries and a source of technical knowledge and information to aid
development.
ICAO
Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
The International Civil Aviation Organization develops standards for global air
transport and assists its 192 Member States in sharing the world’s skies to their
socio-economic benefit.
IFAD
Headquarters: Rome, Italy
The International Fund for Agricultural Development, since it was created in 1977,
has focused exclusively on rural poverty reduction, working with poor rural
populations in developing countries to eliminate poverty, hunger and
malnutrition; raise their productivity and incomes; and improve the quality of
their lives.
ILO
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The International Labor Organization promotes international labor rights by
formulating international standards on the freedom to associate, collective
bargaining, the abolition of forced labor, and equality of opportunity and
treatment.
IMF
Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA
The International Monetary Fund fosters economic growth and employment by
providing temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of
payments adjustment and technical assistance. The IMF currently has $28 billion
in outstanding loans to 74 nations.
IMO
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
The International Maritime Organization has created a comprehensive shipping
regulatory framework, addressing safety and environmental concerns, legal
matters, technical cooperation, security, and efficiency.
ITU
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The International Telecommunication Union is the United Nations specialized
agency for information and communication technologies. It is committed to
connecting all the world's people – wherever they live and whatever their means.
Through our work, we protect and support everyone's fundamental right to
communicate
UNESCO
Headquarters: Paris, France
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization focuses on
everything from teacher training to helping improve education worldwide to
protecting important historical and cultural sites around the world.
UNIDO
Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization is the specialized agency
of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty
reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.
UNWTO
Headquarters: Madrid, Spain
The World Tourism Organization is the United Nations agency responsible for the
promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
UPU
Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland
The Universal Postal Union is the primary forum for cooperation between postal
sector players. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products
and services.
WHO
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority on
international health within the United Nations system. The objective of WHO is
the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health, as
defined in the WHO Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and
social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
WIPO
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The World Intellectual Property Organization protects intellectual property
throughout the world through 23 international treaties.
WMO
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The World Meteorological Organization facilitates the free international exchange
of meteorological data and information and the furtherance of its use in aviation,
shipping, security, and agriculture, among other things.
WORLD BANK
Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA
The World Bank focuses on poverty reduction and the improvement of living
standards worldwide by providing low-interest loans, interest-free credit, and
grants to developing countries for education, health, infrastructure, and
communications, among other things. The World Bank works in over 100
countries.
 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
 International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)*
 International Development Association (IDA)
 International Finance Corporation (IFC)
 Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)*
* International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are not specialized agencies in
accordance with Articles 57 and 63 of the Charter, but are part of the World Bank
Group.

Other Entities and Bodies

UNAIDS
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the
world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination
and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—
UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO
and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards
ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNHCR
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR protects refugees
worldwide and facilitates their return home or resettlement.
UNIDIR
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is a voluntarily funded
autonomous institute within the United Nations. An impartial actor, the Institute
generates ideas and promotes action on disarmament and security. UNIDIR brings
together states, international organizations, civil society, the private sector and
academia to work together—internationally, regionally and locally—to build and
implement creative solutions that will benefit all states and peoples.
UNITAR
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
An autonomous UN body established in 1963, the United Nations Institute for
Training and Research is a training arm of the United Nations System, and has the
mandate to enhance the effectiveness of the UN through diplomatic training, and
to increase the impact of national actions through public awareness-raising,
education and training of public policy officials.
UNOPS
Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
The mission of the United Nations Office for Project Services is to help people
build better lives and help countries achieve peace and sustainable development.
UNOPS helps the UN, governments and other partners to manage projects, and
deliver sustainable infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way.
UNRWA
Headquarters: Amman, Jordan
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East has contributed to the welfare and human development of four generations
of Palestine refugees. It’s services encompass education, health care, relief and
social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and
emergency assistance, including in times of armed conflict. It reports only to the
UN General Assembly.
UNSSC
Headquarters: Turin, Italy
The United Nations System Staff College is the learning organization of the United
Nations system. It designs and delivers learning programmes for staff of the UN
system and its partners. It helps the United Nations become more effective by
fostering a common leadership and management culture across the system.
UNU
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
The United Nations University was established by the UN General Assembly with
the mandate to conduct “research into the pressing global problems of human
survival, development and welfare.” Today, the University comprises 14 research
and training institutes in 12 countries. As the think tank of the UN system, UNU
provides policymakers with high-quality, evidence-based research and pragmatic
advice.
UN WOMEN
Headquarters: New York City, USA
UN Women merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct
parts of the UN system, which focus exclusively on gender equality and women’s
empowerment.

Related Organizations

CTBTO
Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
Organization promotes the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (which is not
yet in force) and the build-up of the verification regime so that it is operational
when the Treaty enters into force.
IAEA
Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
The International Atomic Energy Agency, is the world's centre for cooperation in
the nuclear field. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners
worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
IOM
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The International Organization for Migration works to help ensure the orderly and
humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on
migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration
problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including
refugees and internally displaced people.
OPCW
Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the implementing
body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force in
1997. OPCW Member States work together to achieve a world free of chemical
weapons.
UNFCCC
Headquarters: Bonn, Germany
The UNFCCC Secretariat (UN Climate Change) was established in 1992 when
countries adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC). With the subsequent adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and
the Paris Agreement in 2015, Parties to these three agreements have
progressively reaffirmed the Secretariat’s role as the United Nations entity tasked
with supporting the global response to the threat of climate change.
WTO
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The World Trade Organization is a forum for governments to negotiate trade
agreements, and a place where member governments try to sort out the trade
problems they face with each other.
ITC
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the only development agency that is fully
dedicated to supporting the internationalization of small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs). Established in 1964, the ITC is the joint agency of the World
Trade Organization and the United Nations.
See also UN System Chart

History of the United Nations

As World War II was about to end in 1945, nations were in ruins, and the
world wanted peace. Representatives of 50 countries gathered at the
United Nations Conference on International Organization in San
Francisco, California from 25 April to 26 June 1945. For the next two
months, they proceeded to draft and then sign the UN Charter, which
created a new international organization, the United Nations, which, it
was hoped, would prevent another world war like the one they had just
lived through.

Four months after the San Francisco Conference ended, the United
Nations officially began, on 24 October 1945, when it came into
existence after its Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet
Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other
signatories.
Now, more than 75 years later, the United Nations is still working to
maintain international peace and security, give humanitarian assistance
to those in need, protect human rights, and uphold international law.

At the same time, the United Nations is doing new work not envisioned
for it in 1945 by its founders. The United Nations has set sustainable
development goals for 2030, in order to achieve a better and more
sustainable future for us all. UN Member States have also agreed
to climate action to limit global warming.

With many achievements now in its past, the United Nations is looking
to the future, to new achievements.

The history of the United Nations is still being written.

Take Action for the Sustainable Development

Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more
sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including poverty,
inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. Learn more and
take action.
What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were
adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty,
protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

The 17 SDGs are integrated—they recognize that action in one area will affect
outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and
environmental sustainability.

Countries have committed to prioritize progress for those who're furthest behind. The
SDGs are designed to end poverty, hunger, AIDS, and discrimination against women
and girls.

The creativity, knowhow, technology and financial resources from all of society is
necessary to achieve the SDGs in every context.

Goal 1
NO POVERTY
Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing
humanity. While the number of people living in extreme poverty dropped by more than
half between 1990 and 2015, too many are still struggling for the most basic human
needs.

As of 2015, about 736 million people still lived on less than US$1.90 a day; many lack
food, clean drinking water and sanitation. Rapid growth in countries such as China and
India has lifted millions out of poverty, but progress has been uneven. Women are more
likely to be poor than men because they have less paid work, education, and own less
property.

Progress has also been limited in other regions, such as South Asia and sub-Saharan
Africa, which account for 80 percent of those living in extreme poverty. New threats
brought on by climate change, conflict and food insecurity, mean even more work is
needed to bring people out of poverty.

Goal 2
ZERO HUNGER

The number of undernourished people has dropped by almost half in the past two
decades because of rapid economic growth and increased agricultural
productivity. Many developing countries that used to suffer from famine and
hunger can now meet their nutritional needs. Central and East Asia, Latin America
and the Caribbean have all made huge progress in eradicating extreme hunger.

Unfortunately, extreme hunger and malnutrition remain a huge barrier to

development in many countries. There are 821 million people estimated to be
chronically undernourished as of 2017, often as a direct consequence of
environmental degradation, drought and biodiversity loss. Over 90 million
children under five are dangerously underweight. Undernourishment and severe
food insecurity appear to be increasing in almost all regions of Africa, as well as in
South America.

The SDGs aim to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure
all people–especially children–have sufficient and nutritious food all year. This
involves promoting sustainable agricultural, supporting small-scale farmers and
equal access to land, technology and markets. It also requires international
cooperation to ensure investment in infrastructure and technology to improve
agricultural productivity.
Goal 3
GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
We have made great progress against several leading causes of death and
disease. Life expectancy has increased dramatically; infant and maternal mortality
rates have declined, we’ve turned the tide on HIV and malaria deaths have
halved.

Good health is essential to sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda reflects
the complexity and interconnectedness of the two. It takes into account widening
economic and social inequalities, rapid urbanization, threats to the climate and
the environment, the continuing burden of HIV and other infectious diseases, and
emerging challenges such as noncommunicable diseases. Universal health
coverage will be integral to achieving SDG 3, ending poverty and reducing
inequalities. Emerging global health priorities not explicitly included in the SDGs,
including antimicrobial resistance, also demand action.

But the world is off-track to achieve the health-related SDGs. Progress has been
uneven, both between and within countries. There’s a 31-year gap between the
countries with the shortest and longest life expectancies. And while some
countries have made impressive gains, national averages hide that many are
being left behind. Multisectoral, rights-based and gender-sensitive approaches
are essential to address inequalities and to build good health for all.