Lecturer: Erika ChávezE-mail:

kekis83@hotmail.com

The United NationsThe United Nations is an International

organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to:Maintaining international peace and securityDeveloping friendly relations among nationsPromoting social progressBetter living standards andHuman 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 StructureThe Charter formerly established 6 principal

organs of the United Nations:

1. UN General Assembly2. UN Security Council3. UN Economic and Social Council4. UN Secretariat5. International Court of Justice6. 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 Bodies1. UN General AssemblyIs the main deliberative organ of the UN and is composed of

representatives of all Member States2. UN Security CouncilIt has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international

peace and security. 3. UN Economic and Social CouncilIs the principal organ to coordinate the economic, social and related

work of the UN and the specialized agencies and institutions4. UN SecretariatIt 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 JusticeIs 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 SystemThe 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 andConventions

that were created by the United Nations

The UN System