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Organs of the United
Nations
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The United Nations has six main organs. Five of them -
the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic
and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council and the Secretariat
- are based at UN Headquarters in New York. The sixth,
the International Court of Justice, is located in The
Hague, Netherlands.
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The General Assembly
All UN Member States are represented in the General Assembly,
which is a kind of parliament of nations that meets to
consider the world's most pressing problems. Each Member
State has one vote. Decisions on important matters, such
as recommendations on matters relating to international
peace and security, admitting new members, the UN budget
and the budget for peacekeeping, are decided by two-thirds
majority. Other matters are decided by simple majority.
In recent years, a special effort has been made to reach
decisions through consensus, rather than by taking a formal
vote.
At its 1998/1999 session, the Assembly considered 166
different topics, including peace and security issues,
disarmament, development, reform of the UN, protection
of the environment and the year 2000 date-conversion problem
for computers. The Assembly cannot force action by any
State, but its recommendations are an important indication
of world opinion and represent the moral authority of
the community of nations.
The Assembly holds its annual regular session from September
to December. When necessary, it may resume its session,
or hold a special or emergency session on subjects of
particular concern. When the Assembly is not meeting,
its work is carried out by its six main committees (disarmament
and international security committee, economic and financial
committee, social, humanitarian and cultural committee,
special political and decolonization committee, administrative
and budgetary committee and legal committee), by other
subsidiary bodies and by the UN Secretariat.
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The Security Council
The UN Charter gives the Security Council primary responsibility
for maintaining international peace and security. The
Council may convene at any time, day or night, whenever
peace is threatened.
There are 15 Council members. Five of these - China, France,
the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United
States - are permanent members. The other ten are elected
by the General Assembly for two-year terms. In recent
years, Member States have discussed making changes in
Council membership to reflect today's political and economic
realities. Canada was last a member of the Security Council
from 1999-2000.
Decisions of the Council require nine yes votes. Except in votes
on procedural questions, a decision cannot be taken if
there is a no vote, or veto, by a permanent member. All
Member States are obligated to carry out the Council's
decisions.
When the Council considers a threat to international peace,
it first explores ways to settle the dispute peacefully.
It may suggest principles for a settlement or undertake
mediation. In the event of fighting, the Council tries
to secure a ceasefire. It may send a peacekeeping mission
to help the parties maintain the truce and to keep opposing
forces apart.
The Council can take measures to enforce its decisions.
It can impose economic sanctions or order an arms embargo.
On rare occasions, the Council has authorized Member States
to use 'all necessary means', including collective military
action, to see that its decisions are carried out. The
Council also makes recommendations to the General Assembly
on the appointment of a new Secretary-General and on the
admission of new Members to the UN.
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The Economic
and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), under the overall
authority of the General Assembly, coordinates the economic
and social work of the United Nations and the UN family.
As the central forum for discussing international economic
and social issues and for formulating policy recommendations,
ECOSOC plays a key role in fostering international cooperation
for development. It also consults with non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), thereby maintaining a vital link
between the United Nations and civil society. The Council
has 54 members, elected by the General Assembly for three-year
terms. It meets for one month each year, alternating its
session between New York and Geneva. A special meeting
of ministers discusses major economic and social issues.
Beginning in 1998, the Council expanded its discussions
to include humanitarian themes.
The year-round work of the Council is carried out by subsidiary
bodies that meet regularly and report back to the Council.
The Commission on Human Rights, for example, monitors
the observance of human rights throughout the world. Other
bodies focus on such issues as social development, the
status of women, crime prevention, narcotic drugs and
environmental protection. Five regional commissions promote
economic development and strengthened economic relations
in their respective areas.
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The Trusteeship
Council
The Trusteeship Council was established to provide international
supervision for 11 Trust Territories administered by 7
Member States and ensure that adequate steps were taken
to prepare the Territories for self-government or independence.
By 1994, all Trust Territories had attained self-government
or independence, either as separate States or by joining
neighbouring independent countries. The last to do so
was the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau),
administered by the United States, which became the 185th
Member State of the UN. Its work completed, the Trusteeship
Council now consists only of the five permanent members
of the Security Council. It has amended its rules of procedure
to allow it to meet as and when occasion requires.
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The International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the main
judicial organ of the UN. Consisting of 15 judges from
15 countries, elected by the General Assembly and the
Security Council, the Court decides disputes between
countries. Participation by States in a proceeding is
voluntary, but if a State agrees to participate, it
is obligated to comply with the decision. The Court
also provides advisory opinions to the General Assembly
and Security Council upon request.
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The Secretariat
The Secretariat carries out the substantive and administrative
work of the United Nations as directed by the General
Assembly, the Security Council and the other organs. At
its head is the Secretary-General, who appoints such additional
personnel as required and provides overall administrative
guidance. The current Secretary-General is Kofi Annan,
from Ghana. The Secretariat consists of departments and
offices with a total staff of about 10,000 drawn from
170 countries. Duty stations include UN Headquarters in
New York as well as UN offices in Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi.
Information on Selected UN Specialized agencies and programmes
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