Lecturer: Erika Chávez

The United Nations The United Nations is an International organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to: Maintaining international peace and security Developing friendly relations among nations Promoting social progress Better living standards and Human rights. Due to its unique international character, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 192 Member States to express their views.

The UN Structure The Charter formerly established 6 principal organs of the United Nations: 1.UN General Assembly 2.UN Security Council 3.UN Economic and Social Council 4.UN Secretariat 5.International Court of Justice 6.Trusteeship Council (suspended operations in 1994) In addition separate organizations, often subordinate to the principal organs, have been created to solve specialized tasks.

The UN Main Bodies 1.UN General Assembly Is the main deliberative organ of the UN and is composed of representatives of all Member States 2.UN Security Council It has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. 3.UN Economic and Social Council Is the principal organ to coordinate the economic, social and related work of the UN and the specialized agencies and institutions 4.UN Secretariat It carries out the day-to-day work of the Organization. It services the other principal organs and carries out tasks as varied as the issues dealt with by the UN: administering peacekeeping operations, surveying economic and social trends, preparing studies on human rights, among others. 5.International Court of Justice Is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions to the UN and its specialized agencies. Its Statute is an integral part of the United Nations Charter.

The UN System The United Nations family, however, is much larger, encompassing 15 agencies and several programmes and bodies The United Nations System is the whole network of: International organizations Treaties and Conventions that were created by the United Nations

The UN System