United Nations System

Introduction

The United Nations (UN) is the central global organization for international cooperation. It was established in 1945 following the Second World War with the broad purposes of maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, promoting international cooperation and supporting human rights.

The term United Nations System is broader than the UN itself. It includes the principal organs of the United Nations, specialized agencies, funds, programmes and other related organizations and bodies.

United Nations

United Nations: An international organization established in 1945 to promote international peace, security, cooperation and the development of friendly relations among states.

UN Charter: The founding treaty of the United Nations that establishes its purposes, principles, organs and institutional framework.

UN Member State: A state admitted to membership in accordance with the UN Charter.

UN Observer State: A non-member state that has been granted observer status within the UN system.

Purposes of the United Nations

The principal purposes of the UN include:

• Maintaining international peace and security
• Developing friendly relations among nations
• Achieving international cooperation
• Promoting human rights
• Providing a forum for dialogue and collective action

Principles of the UN Charter

Sovereign Equality: Member states are legally equal as sovereign states.

Good Faith: Members are expected to fulfill their Charter obligations in good faith.

Peaceful Settlement of Disputes: International disputes should be settled through peaceful means.

Prohibition of the Threat or Use of Force: States are generally prohibited from threatening or using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state, subject to the applicable exceptions under international law.

Non-Intervention: The Charter places limits on intervention in matters essentially within domestic jurisdiction, subject to the Charter’s provisions.

Principal Organs

The UN Charter establishes six principal organs.

General Assembly: The principal deliberative and representative organ of the United Nations in which all member states participate.

Security Council: The principal UN organ responsible for international peace and security.

Economic and Social Council: A principal organ responsible for coordination and discussion concerning economic, social and related international issues.

International Court of Justice: The principal judicial organ of the United Nations.

Secretariat: The administrative organ of the United Nations headed by the Secretary-General.

Trusteeship Council: A principal organ established to supervise the administration of trust territories. It suspended operations in 1994 following the completion of the trusteeship system’s main functions.

General Assembly

General Assembly: The UN’s main deliberative body with universal membership.

General Debate: The annual high-level debate during the opening of a new General Assembly session.

General Assembly Resolution: A formal decision or recommendation adopted by the General Assembly.

Committee: A subsidiary body of the General Assembly dealing with particular areas of international affairs.

Voting: The process through which the General Assembly adopts decisions according to the rules applicable to the matter.

Security Council

The Security Council has primary responsibility within the UN system for international peace and security.

Its membership consists of:

• Five permanent members
• Ten elected non-permanent members

The five permanent members are:

• China
• France
• Russia
• United Kingdom
• United States

Permanent Member: A state holding permanent membership of the Security Council.

Non-Permanent Member: A state elected by the General Assembly to serve a fixed term on the Security Council.

Veto: The ability of a permanent member to prevent adoption of certain substantive Security Council decisions by voting against them.

Secretariat

UN Secretariat: The administrative machinery of the United Nations.

Secretary-General: The chief administrative officer of the United Nations and a prominent diplomatic figure in international affairs.

UN Under-Secretary-General: A senior official responsible for major areas of UN work.

UN Special Representative: A senior official appointed to perform a particular diplomatic, political or operational function.

UN Funds and Programmes

UN Development Programme: A UN entity working on development, governance, poverty reduction, resilience and related areas.

UN Children’s Fund: A UN organization focused on children and their rights, health, education and welfare.

UN Refugee Agency: The UN organization responsible for international protection and assistance for refugees and certain displaced populations.

UN Environment Programme: The UN entity focused on environmental issues and global environmental cooperation.

World Food Programme: A UN organization providing food assistance and addressing hunger and food insecurity.

UN Population Fund: A UN agency concerned with population issues, reproductive health and demographic development.

Specialized Agencies

Specialized agencies are autonomous international organizations associated with the UN through formal agreements.

Examples include:

• World Health Organization
• International Labour Organization
• Food and Agriculture Organization
• UNESCO
• International Civil Aviation Organization
• International Maritime Organization
• International Telecommunication Union
• World Meteorological Organization
• World Intellectual Property Organization
• International Fund for Agricultural Development

UN and Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development Goals: A set of 17 global goals adopted by UN member states as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

2030 Agenda: The global development framework adopted by UN member states in 2015.

UN Peace Operations

UN Peacekeeping: Deployment of international personnel to help maintain or support peace in conflict-affected areas under an authorized mandate.

Special Political Mission: A UN mission established for political, peacebuilding, conflict-prevention or related purposes.

Peacebuilding: Efforts to address the causes and consequences of conflict and strengthen conditions for sustainable peace.

UN and International Cooperation

The UN provides a forum for states to cooperate on issues including:

• Peace and security
• Development
• Human rights
• Climate change
• Humanitarian crises
• Refugees
• Public health
• International law
• Disarmament
• Sustainable development

Key Distinctions

UN vs UN System: The United Nations refers to the organization itself; the UN System includes the UN and a wider network of associated bodies and specialized agencies.

General Assembly vs Security Council: The General Assembly has universal membership and broad deliberative responsibilities; the Security Council has primary responsibility for international peace and security.

UN Agency vs UN Fund/Programme: Specialized agencies are generally autonomous international organizations associated with the UN; funds and programmes are generally established within the UN system with specific operational mandates.

Secretary-General vs Secretariat: The Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat; the Secretariat is the broader administrative organ.

Key Terms at a Glance

United Nations | UN Charter | UN System | Member State | Observer State | General Assembly | Security Council | Economic and Social Council | International Court of Justice | Secretariat | Secretary-General | Permanent Member | Non-Permanent Member | Veto | UN Peacekeeping | Peacebuilding | UN Funds | UN Programmes | Specialized Agencies | Sustainable Development Goals | 2030 Agenda

Related Glossaries

UN Security Council and Collective Security | UN Agencies and International Institutions | Global Governance | International Law | International Organizations | Sustainable Development