Organs of the United Nations (UN)
The United Nations has six main organs.
These six organs are:
1. General Assembly
2. Security Council
3. Economic and Social Council
4. Trusteeship Council
5. International Court of Justice
6. Secretariat
Each organ has distinct (separate) functions, meaning each performs different duties.
General Assembly
Composition
The General Assembly consists of representatives of all the member states of the UN.
Every member state can send up to five representatives to the General Assembly.
However, each member state is entitled to only one vote, irrespective of the number of
representatives sent.
Nature of the General Assembly
The General Assembly is like an international parliament.
It is a forum where important global issues are discussed.
Decisions are taken by a majority vote of the member states.
Functions of the General Assembly
The important functions of the General Assembly are listed below:
It makes recommendations on matters relating to international peace and security.
It discusses the powers and functions of any organ of the United Nations.
The General Assembly works for the peaceful settlement of disputes among nations.
It considers reports submitted by the Security Council and other organs of the UN.
It approves the UN budget.
It elects, jointly with the Security Council, the judges of the International Court of
Justice.
It appoints the Secretary-General, who is the chief administrative officer of the UN, on
the recommendation of the Security Council.
It elects:
o the non-permanent members of the Security Council,
o the members of the Economic and Social Council, and
o some members of the Trusteeship Council.
Security Council
Role and Functions
The Security Council performs the task of maintaining international peace.
It investigates international disputes.
It recommends ways for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
It can authorise military action to enforce its resolutions.
Such military action is carried out by combined troops contributed by various member
nations.
These troops are known as peacekeeping forces because they help maintain peace.
Composition
The Security Council has 15 members.
Five permanent members are:
o USA
o Russia
o Britain
o France
o China
There are 10 non-permanent members.
The non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly.
Their term is two years.
They cannot be re-elected immediately.
Veto Power
The permanent members enjoy the power of veto.
This means:
o Even if a resolution is supported by all other members,
o it cannot be adopted if any one permanent member votes against it.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Composition and Election
The ECOSOC fulfills the social and economic objectives of the UN.
It has 54 members.
Every year, the General Assembly elects 18 members.
Members are elected for a term of three years.
Decisions are taken by a majority vote of those present and voting.
Functions
The activities of ECOSOC cover:
o health
o children’s welfare
o women’s rights
o improvements in standards of living all over the world
The ECOSOC supervises the work of specialised agencies of the UN.
These agencies are engaged in developmental work.
The work of ECOSOC is supervised by the General Assembly.
Trusteeship Council
Purpose and Role
The Trusteeship Council was established to help territories that were not totally self-
governing.
These territories were made trust territories.
They were prepared for self-government.
Administration was carried out by nations designated by the UN as trustees.
The Trusteeship Council supervised this entire process.
Completion of Work
In 1994, the last original trust territory, Palau, became independent.
Therefore, the task of the Trusteeship Council was completed.
The Council will now meet only when required.
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Location and Status
The International Court of Justice is situated at The Hague in the Netherlands.
It is the principal judicial organ of the UN.
Composition
The General Assembly and the Security Council elect 15 judges.
Judges are chosen from different countries.
Each judge serves for a term of nine years.
Five judges retire every three years.
Retiring judges may be re-elected.
Functions
The court resolves disputes between nations, such as:
o border disputes
o territorial conflicts
It also gives legal advice to:
o other organs of the UN
o specialised agencies of the UN
Secretariat
The entire administrative work of the UN is carried out by the Secretariat.
The Secretariat has its headquarters in New York.
It conducts the official work of the United Nations.
Official Languages of the UN
The work of the United Nations is conducted in six official languages.
These languages are:
1. Arabic
2. Chinese
3. English
4. French
5. Russian
6. Spanish
Secretary-General of the UN
The Secretary-General is the chief administrative officer of the UN.
He heads the Secretariat.
He is appointed by the General Assembly.
His appointment is made on the recommendation of the Security Council.
The Secretary-General is appointed for a renewable term of five years.
He brings to the notice of the Security Council any matter that may endanger
international peace.
Specialised Agencies of the UN
The United Nations has specialised agencies.
These agencies handle different aspects of development, such as:
o education
o culture
o health
o individual rights
o utilisation of resources
o scientific and technological matters
The agencies also tackle global problems, such as:
o drug abuse
o overpopulation
o poverty
o water scarcity
o environmental problems
The specialised agencies:
o have the freedom to frame their own constitutions,
o chalk out their own plans of action,
o appoint their own staff, and
o prepare their own budgets.
Working and Information Role of Specialised Agencies
The specialised agencies of the UN publish various reports and journals.
They maintain websites.
These websites contain information related to their respective fields of work.
Mass media, such as:
o newspapers
o television
help circulate such information among people.
Some agencies spread awareness through poster campaigns.
Use of Information Provided by Specialised Agencies
The information provided by specialised agencies is especially useful for:
o governments
o NGOs
o journalists
o individuals involved in developmental work
Funding of Specialised Agencies
The specialised agencies receive donations from:
o governments
o NGOs
o individuals
These donations are used to fund their activities.
Besides donations, agencies raise money by selling items, such as:
o books
o periodicals
o calendars
o diaries
The United Nations Children’s Fund also sells greeting cards.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) coordinates the work of the specialised
agencies.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Establishment and Status
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was established in 1946.
Its original name was United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
It was set up to give emergency relief to children in countries affected by the Second World
War.
UNICEF is now a permanent body.
The abbreviation UNICEF is still used.
UNICEF has its headquarters in New York.
Functions of UNICEF
UNICEF seeks to improve the quality of life of children and mothers in less developed
countries.
It:
o arranges training of volunteers for the care of mothers and infants,
o funds projects for providing clean water,
o supports immunisation against diseases,
o promotes sanitation facilities,
o provides education facilities.
UNICEF also:
o creates awareness against child labour,
o works against exploitation of children,
o fights discrimination against the girl child.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Establishment and Aim
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was
established in 1946.
Its headquarters is in Paris.
Its main aim is to promote understanding and cooperation among the peoples of the
world.
Functions of UNESCO
UNESCO provides technical and financial help to its members.
This help is given for the promotion of:
o educational activities
o scientific activities
o cultural activities
UNESCO:
o fights illiteracy among children and adults,
o undertakes projects to improve the teaching of science,
o promotes cultural exchange,
o gets outstanding regional literature translated into different languages,
o works to renovate, protect, and preserve monuments that are the world’s cultural
heritage.
WHO-(World Health Organisation)
Establishment and Headquarters
The World Health Organization was constituted in 1948.
It has its headquarters in Geneva.
Aims and Functions
The WHO works for the improvement of health standards all over the world.
It campaigns against diseases, such as:
o malaria
o plague
o cholera
o AIDS
o and other diseases
The WHO encourages medical research.
It has set up a network of laboratories to:
o study the causes of diseases,
o develop vaccines, and
o train research workers.
The WHO also funds projects to reduce malnutrition.
These projects are mainly carried out in less developed countries.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Establishment and Headquarters
The FAO was founded in 1945.
It has its headquarters in Rome.
Aims and Functions
The main aim of the FAO is to:
o help nations increase food production, and
o fight hunger.
The FAO trains farmers in:
o better methods of cultivation,
o the use of fertilisers, and
o the use of pesticides.
It promotes agricultural research.
It also promotes global exchange of knowledge related to:
o nutrition,
o food management,
o methods of fighting diseases affecting farm animals,
o and related agricultural issues.
The FAO has helped many African and Asian countries.
It has helped them increase food production substantially.
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Purpose and Scope
The ILO works for the welfare of workers all over the world.
It pays special attention to:
o working women, and
o children.
Establishment and Early Role
The ILO was established in 1919.
It was associated with the League of Nations.
As an agency of the League of Nations, the ILO:
o recommended international labour standards.
Labour Standards and Reforms
These standards aimed to ensure:
o fair working hours (not more than eight hours a day),
o good working conditions,
o holidays with pay,
o medical insurance,
o old-age benefits,
o freedom of association, and
o other welfare measures for workers.
The ILO also sought to improve relations between:
o workers,
o employers, and
o governments.
Status under the UN
The ILO became a specialised agency of the UN in 1946.
It has its headquarters in Geneva.
World Bank
Establishment and Headquarters
The World Bank began functioning in 1946.
It has its headquarters in Washington, DC.
Functions
The World Bank provides loans to organisations to:
o improve agricultural productivity,
o provide clean drinking water,
o spread education,
o build dams,
o build rural roads, and
o support other development activities.
It also provides:
o advice, and
o technical help
for development projects.
The World Bank settles disputes between:
o states, and
o foreign investors.
World Bank Group
The World Bank Group consists of five agencies.
The term “World Bank” refers to two of these agencies, namely:
1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
2. International Development Association (IDA)