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The United Nations Organization
The six principal organs of the UN are the Trusteeship Council, Security Council, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat. Follow this link to see a comprehensive chart of the UN’s organization.
(1) Trusteeship Council
Created to assure the independence of nations after the second World War. Its mission is fulfilled. Operations suspended in November, 1994. However, this body still remains because its elimination would mean a change to the UN Charter.
The Trusteeship Council in the UN Charter.
(2) Security Council
The Security Council (SC) is in charge of maintaining peace and security, and is the most powerful body of the UN. Unlike other organs that can only make recommendations, the SC has power affirmed by the UN Charter to make member states carry out the decisions made by it.
The SC consists of five permanent members, and ten elected members that have two year terms. Permanent members have the privilege to veto any resolution and block it. Elected members are selected by each region’s groups, and are approved by the General Assembly.
One issue that has to be addressed is the increasing of the number of permanent members. Countries such as Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan are pushing for seats as permanent members of the Security Council.
- Permanent members:
China, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, and France
- Current members (2006):
Argentina, Congo, Denmark, Ghana, Greece, Japan, Peru, Qatar, Slovenia, Tanzania
The Security Council in the UN Charter.
(3) General Assembly
The General Assembly (GA) consists of all the member states of the United Nations. It discusses a wide range of international issues, such as peace and security, that are relevant to the Charter or any of the organs of the UN, and makes recommendations to the Security Council or to the members of the UN.
The GA also does research and based on the studies makes recommendations to promote peace and cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields. It also does extensive work to promote human rights.
The General Assembly in the UN Charter.
(4) Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) consists of 54 members of the UN which are elected by the GA. It makes studies concerning international issues related to economic, social, cultural, educational, health matters, etc., and uses these to make recommendations to the GA and to its agencies.
The recommendations are used to promote and observe human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people.
The Economic and Social Council in the UN Charter.
(5) International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the judicial organ of the UN. The ICJ helps in resolving legal issues among countries, and also gives its advice on various legal issues that are submitted by international agencies.
Elections for judges happen every three years, and each time one third of the judges are dismissed. Judges serve for a period of nine years.
The International Court of Justice in the UN Charter.
(6) Secretariat
The Secretariat consists of the Secretary-General (SG) and its specialized agencies. The chief administrative officer of the UN, the SG, is appointed by the GA with the recommendation of the SC. The SG has to make an annual report to the GA and present the work that has been carried by the UN bodies. The SG may present the SC any matter that he/she believes is a threat to international peace and security.
The current SG is Kofi Annan (Ghana), who began his second term in January of 2002.
Past Secretary-Generals:
Sir Gladwyn Jebb (1945-46), Trygve Lie (1946-52), Dag Hammarskjold (1953-61), U Thant (1961-71), Kurt Waldheim (1972-81), Javier Perez de Cuellar (1982-91), Boutros Boutros-Ghali (1992-1996), Kofi Annan (1997-Present)
The Secretariat in the UN Charter.
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